S. 3092 

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty two 

An Act 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 

to improve the provision of certain disaster assistance, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘FEMA Improvement, Reform, 

and Efficiency Act of 2022’’ or the ‘‘FIRE Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act— 

(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator of 

the Agency; 

(2) the term ‘‘Agency’’ means the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency; 

(3) the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of 

the Senate; and 

(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

of Representatives; 

(4) the term ‘‘emergency’’ means an emergency declared 

or determined to exist by the President under section 501 

of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); 

(5) the terms ‘‘Indian tribal government’’, ‘‘local government’’, and ‘‘State’’ have the meanings given such terms in 

section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122); and 

(6) the term ‘‘major disaster’’ means a major disaster 

declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert 

T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

U.S.C. 5170). 

SEC. 3. REPORT ON RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report 

regarding the use of relocation assistance under sections 203, 404, 

and 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133, 5170c, 5172) for wildfire risk to 

the appropriate committees of Congress. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 

include the following: 
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(1) Any information on relocation projects that have been 

carried out due to fire risks or denied by the Agency, including 

the number and value of projects either carried out or denied. 

(2) A discussion of the possible benefits or disadvantages 

of providing relocation assistance that may reduce, but not 

eliminate, the risk of loss due to wildfires. 

(3) A discussion of how the Agency may optimize relocation 

assistance when entire States or geographic areas are considered subject to a fire risk. 

(4) An analysis of whether other mitigation measures are 

more cost-effective than relocation assistance when the 

applicant is applying to move from a high-risk to a mediumrisk or low-risk area with respect to wildfires. 

(5) An analysis of the need for the Federal Government 

to produce wildfire maps that identify high-risk, moderaterisk, and low-risk wildfire zones. 

(6) An analysis of whether other mitigation measures promote greater resilience to wildfires when compared to relocation 

or, if additional data is required in order to carry out such 

an analysis, a discussion of the additional data required. 

(7) A discussion of the ability of States, local governments, 

and Indian tribal governments to demonstrate fire risk, and 

whether the level of this ability impacts the ability of States, 

local governments, or Indian tribal governments to access 

relocation assistance, including an assessment of existing fire 

mapping products and capabilities and recommendations on 

redressing any gaps in the ability of the Agency to assist 

States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments in 

demonstrating fire risk. 

(8) An evaluation of— 

(A) the scope of the data available to the Agency 

regarding historical wildfire losses; 

(B) how such data is utilized in benefit-cost analysis 

determinations by the Agency; 

(C) what additional data, if any, may be pertinent 

to such determinations; and 

(D) what, if any, alternative methods may be relevant 

to the determination of cost effectiveness. 

(9) A discussion of the extent to which the decision process 

for relocation assistance appropriately considers the change 

in future risks for wildfires due to a changing climate. 

(10) An analysis of whether statutes and regulations 

regarding relocation assistance by the Agency present barriers 

for States, local governments, or Indian tribal governments 

trying to access funding to reduce wildfire risk. 

(11) An analysis of— 

(A) how, if at all, the Agency has modified policies 

and procedures to determine the eligibility of proposed 

relocation or mitigation projects with respect to wildfires; 

(B) the cost effectiveness of such projects, in light of 

the increasing losses and obligations for wildfires in recent 

years; and 

(C) the effectiveness of any modifications described 

in subparagraph (A). 

(12) An analysis of how, if at all, recent changes in the 

availability of fire insurance has resulted in modifications of 
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policy or procedure with respect to determining the cost efficacy 

of relocation assistance for wildfires. 

(13) An analysis of how to define repetitive loss and repetitively damaged properties in the context of wildfires. 

(14) Other related issues that the Administrator determines 

appropriate. 

SEC. 4. RED FLAG WARNINGS AND PREDISASTER ACTIONS. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the National Weather 

Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

shall— 

(1) conduct a study of, develop recommendations for, and 

initiate a process for the use of forecasts and data, including 

information that supports the Red Flag Warnings of the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and similar 

weather alert and notification methods, to establish— 

(A) plans and actions, consistent with law, that can 

be implemented prior to a wildfire event, including preimpact disaster declarations and surge operations, that 

can limit the impact, duration, or severity of the fire; 

and 

(B) mechanisms to increase interagency collaboration 

to expedite the delivery of disaster assistance; and 

(2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 

comprehensive report regarding the study described in paragraph (1), including any recommendations of the Administrator, 

and the activities of the Administrator to carry out paragraph 

(1). 

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR WILDFIRE DAMAGE. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of 

Congress regarding— 

(1) the application for assistance and consistency of assistance provided by the Agency in response to wildfires; and 

(2) the kinds of damage that result from wildfires. 

SEC. 6. GAO REPORT ON GAPS. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 

to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that examines— 

(1) gaps in the policies of the Agency related to wildfires, 

when compared to other hazards; 

(2) disparities in regulations and guidance issued by the 

Administrator, including any oversight of the programs of the 

Agency, when addressing impacts of wildfires and other hazards; 

(3) ways to shorten the period of time between the initiating 

of and the distribution of assistance, reimbursements, and 

grants; 

(4) the effectiveness of the programs of the Agency in 

addressing wildfire hazards; 

(5) ways to improve the ability of the Agency to assist 

States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments to 

prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against 

wildfire hazards; 
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(6) revising the application process for assistance relating 

to wildfires to more effectively assess uninsured and underinsured losses and serious needs; and 

(7) ways to improve the disaster assistance programs of 

agencies other than the Agency. 

SEC. 7. CRISIS COUNSELING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 416 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5183) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) TRAINING.—Each State, local agency, or private mental 

health organization providing professional counseling services 

described in subsection (a) shall ensure that, any individual providing professional counseling services to victims of a major disaster 

as authorized under subsection (a), including individuals working 

for nonprofit partners and recovery organizations, is appropriately 

trained to address impacts from major disasters in communities, 

and to individuals, with socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.’’. 

(b) RULE OF APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this 

section shall apply with respect to amounts appropriated on or 

after the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 8. CASE MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 426 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189d) is 

amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(b) TRAINING.—Each State, local government agency, or qualified private organization providing professional counseling services 

described in subsection (a) shall ensure that any individual providing case management services to victims of a major disaster 

as authorized under subsection (a), including individuals working 

for nonprofit partners and recovery organizations, is appropriately 

trained to address impacts from major disasters in communities, 

and to individuals, with socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.’’. 

(b) RULE OF APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this 

section shall apply with respect to amounts appropriated on or 

after the date of enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 9. STUDY AND PLAN FOR DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE. 

(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

of this Act, the Administrator shall— 

(1) conduct a study and develop a plan, consistent with 

law, under which the Agency will address providing housing 

assistance to survivors of major disasters or emergencies when 

presented with challenges such as— 

(A) the presence of multiple families within a single 

household; and 

(B) the near loss of a community, with the majority 

of homes destroyed in that community, including as a result 

of a wildfire, earthquake, or other event causing a major 

disaster; and 
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(2) make recommendations for legislative changes needed 

to address— 

(A) the presence of multiple families within a single 

household; and 

(B) the near loss of a community, with the majority 

of homes destroyed in that community, including as a result 

of a wildfire, earthquake, or other event causing a major 

disaster. 

(b) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.—The Administrator shall submit 

to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that provides 

a detailed discussion of the plans developed under subsection (a)(1) 

and the recommendations of the Administrator under subsection 

(a)(2). 

(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after submission of the 

report and recommendations under subsection (b), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the 

findings and any recommendations made pursuant to this section. 

SEC. 10. REIMBURSEMENT. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of 

Congress regarding the extent to which the Agency is using housing 

solutions proposed by a State or local government to reduce the 

time or cost required to implement housing solutions after a major 

disaster. 

SEC. 11. PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR TRIBAL UPGRADES TO EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 614(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196c(a)) 

is amended— 

(1) by inserting ‘‘and Indian tribal governments’’ after 

‘‘grants to States’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘State and local’’ and inserting ‘‘State, local, 

and Tribal’’. 

(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by subsection (a) 

shall apply with respect to amounts appropriated on or after the 

date of enactment of this Act. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.