69–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–425 

KIDS IN DISASTERS WELL-BEING, SAFETY, AND HEALTH 

ACT OF 2007 

NOVEMBER 5, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. OBERSTAR, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 3495] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the bill (H.R. 3495) to establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters, a National Resource Center on 

Children and Disasters, and for other purposes, having considered 

the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health 

Act of 2007’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITION. 

In this Act, the terms ‘‘child’’ and ‘‘children’’ mean an individual or individuals, 

respectively, who have not attained 18 years of age. 

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

There is established a commission to be known as the ‘‘National Commission on 

Children and Disasters’’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

SEC. 4. PURPOSES OF COMMISSION. 

The purposes of the Commission are to— 

(1) conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; 

(2) build upon the investigations of other entities and avoid unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of other 

commissions, Federal, State, and local governments, or nongovernmental entities, relating to the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response 

to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; 

and 


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(3) submit a report to the President and Congress on specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address the needs of children as they relate to 

preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies. 

SEC. 5. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. 

(a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be composed of 10 members, of whom— (1) 1 member shall be appointed by the President; 

(2) 1 member, who is of a different political party than that of the member 

appointed under paragraph (1), shall be appointed by the President; 

(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; 

(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 

(5) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 

(6) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. 

(b) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON SELECTION.—The Chairperson and Vice 

Chairperson shall be elected from among members of the Commission. 

(c) GOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—An individual appointed to the Commission may 

not be an official or employee of the Federal Government. 

(d) COMMISSION REPRESENTATION.—The Commission shall include— (1) representatives from private nonprofit entities with demonstrated expertise in addressing the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; and 

(2) State emergency managers and local emergency managers. 

(e) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members appointed under subsection (a) shall include— (1) individuals involved with providing services to children, including health, 

education, housing, and other social services, including grant and entitlement 

programs; 

(2) individuals with experience in emergency management, including coordination of resources and services among State and local governments, the Federal Government, and nongovernmental entities; 

(3) individuals with philanthropic experience focused on the needs of children; 

(4) individuals with experience in providing donated goods and services, including personnel services, to meet the needs of children and families as they 

relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including 

major disasters and emergencies; and 

(5) individuals who have conducted academic research into related issues. 

(f) APPOINTMENTS.—All members of the Commission shall be appointed not later 

than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

(g) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the 

Commission not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

(h) QUORUM AND VACANCY.—

(1) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute 

a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. 

(2) VACANCY.—Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers and 

shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. 

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

The Commission shall—

(1) conduct a comprehensive study that examines and assesses the needs of 

children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all 

hazards, including major disasters and emergencies, including specific findings 

relating to—

(A) children’s physical and mental health; 

(B) child care, including in private for-profit and nonprofit settings; 

(C) child welfare; 

(D) elementary and secondary education; 

(E) sheltering, temporary housing, and affordable housing; 

(F) transportation; 

(G) entitlement and grant programs; 

(H) juvenile justice; 

(I) evacuation; and 

(J) relevant activities in emergency management; 

(2) identify, review, and evaluate existing law relevant to the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; 

(3) identify, review, and evaluate the lessons learned from past disasters and 

emergencies relative to addressing the needs of children; and 


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(4) submit a report to the President and Congress on the Commission’s specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies, including specific recommendations on the need for planning and establishing a national resource 

center on children and disasters, coordination of resources and services, administrative actions, policies, regulations, financing, and legislative changes as the 

Commission considers appropriate. 

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such hearings, meet and act at such 

times and places, and receive such evidence as may be necessary to carry out the 

functions of the Commission. 

(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Federal Government such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the Commission considers necessary to carry 

out this Act. 

(2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On request of the Chairperson of the Commission, each department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by 

law, provide the requested information to the Commission 

(3) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION.—Information shall 

only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders. 

(c) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—

(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.—On request of the Chairperson of 

the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 

Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support and other services 

necessary for the Commission to carry out its duties. 

(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—In addition to the assistance provided for under paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the United States 

may provide to the Commission such services as they may determine advisable 

and as authorized by law. 

(d) CONTRACTING.—The Commission may enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act. 

(e) DONATIONS.—The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of donations of 

services or property. 

(f) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use the United States mails in the 

same manner and under the same conditions as a department or agency of the 

United States. 

SEC. 8. STAFF OF COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with the 

Vice Chairperson, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, may 

appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as 

may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions, in accordance 

with the provisions of title 5, United States Code, except that no rate of pay fixed 

under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at 

level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

(b) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 

office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Federal Government 

may detail, without reimbursement, any of its personnel to the Commission to assist 

it in carrying out its duties under this Act. Any detail of an employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. 

(c) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Commission is authorized to procure the services 

of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States 

Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position 

at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 

Code. 

SEC. 9. TRAVEL EXPENSES. 

Each member of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 

applicable provisions in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 

Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United 

States Code. 


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SEC. 10. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLICABILITY. 

The provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply to the Commission, including the staff of the Commission. 

SEC. 11. REPORTS OF COMMISSION; TERMINATION. 

(a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than December 31, 2008, the Commission shall 

submit to the President and Congress an interim report containing specific findings, 

conclusions, and recommendations required under this Act as have been agreed to 

by a majority of Commission members. 

(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a final report 

containing specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations required under this 

Act as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission members. 

(c) TERMINATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission, and all the authorities of this Act, shall 

terminate 180 days after the date on which the final report is submitted under 

subsection (b). 

(2) RECORDS.—Not later than the date of termination of the Commission 

under paragraph (1), all records and papers of the Commission shall be delivered to the Archivist of the United States for deposit in the National Archives. 

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, $2,000,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2008 and 2009. 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters, and for 

other purposes. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 3495, as amended, establishes a National Commission on 

Children and Disasters. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Hurricane Katrina exposed many problems with our nation’s 

ability to meet the needs of children during disasters. Approximately, one-fourth of the people who lived in areas damaged or 

flooded by Hurricane Katrina were under age 18. More than 

400,000 children under the age of five lived in or were evacuated 

from counties and parishes that were declared disaster areas by 

the Federal Emergency Management Agency (‘‘FEMA’’) in response 

to Hurricane Katrina. The vulnerability of this population presented many unique obstacles. For example, 5,192 children were 

reported missing or displaced to the National Center for Missing 

and Exploited Children as a result of the hurricanes, and it took 

61⁄2 months to reunite the last child separated from her family. In 

addition, 1,100 schools were closed immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Two years later, only 45 percent of New Orleans 

schools have reopened. These statistics reveal the importance of examining the special needs of children in preparation for, response 

to, and recovery from emergencies and disasters. 

The purposes of the Commission are to: (1) conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, 

including major disasters and emergencies; (2) build upon and review the recommendations of other government and nongovernmental entities that work on issues relating to the needs of children in disasters; and (3) report to the President and Congress on 

its specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address 

the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, 


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and recovery from all hazards, including disasters and emergencies. 

More specifically, the Commission is tasked with investigating 

the needs of children facing disasters in the areas of children’s 

health, child welfare, elementary and secondary education, affordable housing, transportation, and relevant activities in emergency 

mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. 

The Commission consists of 10 members: two members appointed 

by the President, two members appointed by the Speaker of the 

House, two members appointed by the House Minority Leader, two 

members appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, and two members appointed by the Senate Minority Leader. The bill provides 

that Commission members include representatives from private 

nonprofit entities and State emergency managers and local emergency managers. 

The Commission is required to submit a final report to the President and Congress on its specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 

The Committee also encourages FEMA to clarify its regulations 

concerning the eligibility of private nonprofit child care centers. 

The Committee notes that private nonprofit child care centers are 

eligible facilities under section 406, Repair, Restoration, and Replacement of Damaged Facilities, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172). Further, 

FEMA has recognized the eligibility of child care centers in FEMA 

Public Assistance Policy 9521.3 ‘‘Private Nonprofit Facility (PNP) 

Eligibility’’, issued on July 18, 2007. However, FEMA’s regulations 

on private nonprofit facilities (44 CFR 206.221(e)) do not specifically list child care facilities as eligible. As a result, the Committee 

is concerned that this omission has caused confusion in the implementation of assistance to these facilities. The Committee strongly 

encourages FEMA to amend it regulations to clarify the eligibility 

of private nonprofit child care facilities. Within six months of the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Committee requires FEMA to 

submit a report to the Committee on the status of this rulemaking. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 of the bill states that the short title of the Act is the 

‘‘Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health Act of 2007’’. 

Section 2. Definition 

Section 2 defines ‘‘child’’ and ‘‘children’’ as an individual or individuals, respectively, who have not attained 18 years of age. 

Section 3. Establishment of Commission 

Section 3 establishes a commission to be known as the ‘‘National 

Commission on Children in Disasters’’. 

Section 4. Purposes of Commission 

Section 4 provides the purposes of the Commission. The purpose 

are to: (1) conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess 

the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, 

and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emerVerDate Aug 31 2005 06:16 Nov 06, 2007 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR425.XXX HR425

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gencies; (2) build upon the investigations of other entities and 

avoid unnecessary duplication by reviewing their findings, conclusions, and recommendations; and (3) submit a report to the President and Congress on the Commission’s specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations to address the needs of children as 

they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all 

hazards, including major disasters and emergencies. 

Section 5. Composition of Commission 

The Commission is to be comprised of 10 members: two appointed by the President (each must be of a separate political 

party), two appointed by the Speaker of the House, two appointed 

by the House Minority Leader, two appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, and two appointed by the Senate Minority Leader. The 

Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be elected from among 

members of the Commission. 

The Commission shall include representatives from private nonprofit entities with demonstrated expertise in addressing the needs 

of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies. 

The Commission shall also include state emergency managers and 

local emergency managers. Section 5 also provides the qualifications for members appointed to the Commission. 

All appointments to the Commission shall be made not later than 

90 days after the date of enactment. The initial meeting of the 

Commission shall occur not later than 120 days after the date of 

enactment. A majority of members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers 

and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. 

Section 6. Duties of Commission 

Section 6 provides the duties of the Commission. The Commission shall: (1) conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess the needs of children as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters 

and emergencies. The study will include specific findings relating 

to: children’s physical and mental health; child care, including in 

private for-profit and nonprofit settings; child welfare; elementary 

and secondary education; sheltering, temporary housing, and affordable housing; transportation; entitlement and grant programs; 

juvenile justice; evacuation; and other relevant activities in emergency management; (2) identify, review, and evaluate existing laws 

relevant to the needs of children; (3) identify, review, and evaluate 

lessons learned from past disasters; and (4) submit a report to the 

President and Congress on its specific findings, conclusions, and 

recommendations to address the needs of children as they relate to 

preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards. 

The report shall include specific recommendations regarding: (1) 

the need for planning and establishing a national resource center 

on children and disasters; (2) coordination of resources and services; and (3) administrative actions, policies, regulations, financing, 

and legislative changes as the Commission considers appropriate. 


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Section 7. Powers of Commission 

Section 7 provides the powers of the Commission. The Commission is authorized to hold hearings, meet and act at such times and 

places, and receive such evidence as may be necessary to carry out 

the functions of the Commission. The Commission is authorized to 

secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, 

board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Federal Government such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics as the Commission considers necessary. On request of the Chairperson of the Commission, any such 

entity shall, to the extent authorized by law, provide the requested 

information to the Commission. The General Services Administration shall provide requested services to the Commission on a reimbursable basis and other departments and agencies may provide 

such services to the Commission as they deem advisable and as authorized by law. The Commission is authorized to enter into contracts; accept, use, and dispose of donations of services or property; 

and use the United States mails in the same manner and under 

the same conditions as a department or agency of the United 

States. 

Section 8. Staff of Commission 

Section 8 provides for staffing of the Commission. The Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with the Vice Chairperson, and in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and 

such other personnel as may be necessary. Any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment or instrumentality of the Federal Government may detail, without reimbursement, any of its personnel to the Commission. Any such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil 

service status or privilege. The Commission is also authorized to 

procure the services of experts and consultants. 

Section 9. Travel expenses 

Section 9 provides for travel expenses for Commission members. 

Each member shall serve without compensation, but shall receive 

travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence. 

Section 10. Federal Advisory Committee Act applicability 

Section 10 provides that the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

shall apply to the Commission and its staff. 

Section 11. Reports of Commission; Termination 

Section 11 provides for reports of the Commission and its termination. The Commission shall provide an interim report to the 

President and Congress no later than December 31, 2008. Not later 

than 24 months after the date of enactment, the Commission shall 

submit to the President and Congress a final report containing specific findings, conclusions, and recommendations required under 

this Act as agreed to by a majority of Commission members. The 

Commission shall terminate 180 days after the date on which the 

final report is submitted. Not later than the date of termination, 

the Commission shall deliver all records and papers of the Commission to the Archivist of the United States. 


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Section 12. Authorization of appropriations 

Section 12 authorizes appropriations of $2 million for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to carry out this Act. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

In the 109th Congress, Congress enacted the ‘‘Post-Katrina 

Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006’’ (Title VI of P.L. 109–

295). Section 689b of the Post-Katrina Act establishes the National 

Emergency Child Locator Center within the National Center for 

Missing and Exploited Children. Section 689c of the Post-Katrina 

Act establishes a National Emergency Family Registry and Locator 

System to help reunify families separated after an emergency or 

major disaster. 

In the 110th Congress, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management has held several hearings at which witnesses discussed the effects of disasters 

on children, including the March 20, 2007 Subcommittee hearing 

on ‘‘Post-Katrina Temporary Housing: Dilemmas and Solutions’’

and the April 26, 2007 Subcommittee hearing on ‘‘FEMA’s Preparedness and Response to All Hazards’’. In addition, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported and the 

House passed H.R. 3247, the ‘‘Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act’’. H.R. 3247 provides additional flexibility in 

programs under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, exclusively for the recovery from Hurricanes 

Katrina and Rita. Some of the assistance authorized in H.R. 3247 

benefits children. 

On September 7, 2007, Representative Corrine Brown introduced 

H.R. 3495, the ‘‘Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health 

Act of 2007’’. This bill has not been introduced in a previous Congress. 

On October 30, 2007, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management met to consider H.R. 3495 and favorably recommended the bill to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure by voice vote with a 

quorum present. 

On October 31, 2007, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session to consider H.R. 3495. During consideration of the bill, the Committee adopted an amendment in the 

nature of a substitute that made several changes to the bill. The 

amendment provided that the members of the Commission elect 

the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Further, the amendment 

made other changes to the Commission structure such as eliminating subpoena authority and pay for members of the Commission 

and requiring that the Commission include representatives of private nonprofit entities and State emergency managers and local 

emergency managers. Finally, the amendment struck Title II of the 

bill which authorized the Health and Human Services National Resource Center on Children and Disasters. The amendment provides 

that the Commission specifically consider the need for planning 

and establishing a National Resource Center on Children and Disasters and include a specific recommendation to Congress in the 

Commission’s final report. The Committee on Transportation and 


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Infrastructure ordered the bill, as amended, reported favorably to 

the House by voice vote with a quorum present. 

RECORD VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives requires 

each committee report to include the total number of votes cast for 

and against on each record vote on a motion to report and on any 

amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the names of 

those members voting for and against. There were no recorded 

votes taken in connection with the amendment offered to H.R. 3495 

or with ordering H.R. 3495, as amended, reported. A motion to 

order H.R. 3495, as amended, reported favorably to the House was 

agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 

COST OF LEGISLATION

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely 

submitted prior to the filing of the report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is included in this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee references the 

report of the Congressional Budget Office included in the report. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the performance goal 

and objective of this legislation is to create a National Commission 

on Children and Disasters. 

3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the 

enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3495, as amended, from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, November 2, 2007. 

Hon. JAMES L. OBERSTAR, 

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3495, the Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health Act of 2007. 


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If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Daniel Hoople. 

Sincerely, 

ROBERT A. SUNSHINE

(For Peter R. Orszag, Director). 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 3495—Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health Act of 

2007 

H.R. 3495 would authorize the appropriation of $4 million to establish the National Commission on Children and Disasters. The 

commission would be responsible for conducting a comprehensive 

study on the needs of children in preparing for, responding to, and 

recovering from major disasters and emergencies. Based on the historical spending patterns of similar-sized commissions, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3495 would cost $1 million in 2008 

and $4 million over the 2008–2010 period, subject to appropriation 

of the specified amounts. Enacting the bill would not affect direct 

spending or revenues. 

H.R. 3495 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of State, local, or tribal governments. 

The bill would authorize the appropriation of $2 million for each 

of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to establish the new commission, 

which would be composed of 10 members, including individuals in 

the private sector and State and local governments with experience 

in emergency management. No later than two years after the enactment of this legislation, the commission would report to the 

Congress on the needs of children as they relate to preparing for, 

responding to, and recovering from major disasters and emergencies. The commission would be disbanded 180 days after submitting its report. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Daniel Hoople. This 

estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, H.R. 3495 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 

clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint resolution 

of a public character shall include a statement citing the specific 

powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the 

measure. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

finds that Congress has the authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. 


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FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(Public Law 104–4). 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the 

report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a 

statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states 

that H.R. 3495, as amended, does not preempt any state, local, or 

tribal law. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H.R. 3495, as amended, makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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