I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3348

To direct the President to establish standards and criteria for the provision

of major disaster and emergency assistance in response to snow-related events.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 29, 1996

Mr. QUINN (for himself, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr.

RANGEL, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. CLINGER, Mr. KILDEE, Mr.

HOLDEN, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mrs. KELLY, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. TORKILDSEN,

Mr. KING, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. GOODLING, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. BLUTE, and Mr. PETRI) introduced the following

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To direct the President to establish standards and criteria

for the provision of major disaster and emergency assistance in response to snow-related events.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Snow Removal Policy

5 Act of 1996’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress finds that—
2

•HR 3348 IH

1 (1) winter snow storms in 1995 interrupted es2 sential public services and utilities, caused wide3 spread disruption of vital transportation networks,

4 stranded many motorists, and isolated many homes

5 and businesses;

6 (2) the impact of the winter snow storms was

7 of such severity and magnitude that effective re8 sponse was beyond the capability of State and local

9 governments;

10 (3) the policy of the Federal Emergency Man11 agement Agency for providing major disaster and

12 emergency assistance in response to snow-related

13 events is unclear;

14 (4) regulations of the Federal Emergency Man15 agement Agency for providing fire suppression as16 sistance, contained in subpart L of part 206 of title

17 44, Code of Federal Regulations, provide an example

18 of a clearly articulated emergency assistance policy;

19 and

20 (5) regulations should be promulgated for pro21 viding major disaster and emergency assistance in

22 response to snow-related events in order to ensure

23 the fair treatment of States and local governments

24 that have incurred costs associated with such a re25 sponse.
3

•HR 3348 IH

1 SEC. 3. RULEMAKING TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND CRI2 TERIA FOR SNOW-RELATED EVENTS.

3 (a) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING.—The

4 President, acting through the Director of the Federal

5 Emergency Management Agency, shall issue a notice of

6 proposed rulemaking to promulgate—

7 (1) standards and criteria for declaring a major

8 disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford

9 Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in re10 sponse to a snow-related event; and

11 (2) standards and criteria for providing assist12 ance under such Act in the case of a snow-related

13 major disaster or emergency, including reimburse14 ment for snow removal and for debris removal and

15 emergency protective measures.

16 (b) REQUIREMENT.—Rules to be promulgated under

17 this section shall ensure that in determining the eligibility

18 of a State or local government for assistance in connection

19 with a snow-related event, the President will give consider20 ation to existing capabilities of the State or local govern21 ment.

22 (c) DEADLINES.—The President, acting through the

23 Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,

24 shall issue—
4

•HR 3348 IH

1 (1) a proposed rule under this section not later

2 than 3 months after the date of the enactment of

3 this Act; and

4 (2) a final rule under this section not later than

5 6 months after such date of enactment.

Æ