In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

November 17, 2022. 

Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 3092) entitled ‘‘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.’’, do pass 

with the following 

AMENDMENT: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

3 Reform, and Efficiency Act of 2022’’ or the ‘‘FIRE Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

5 In this Act— 

6 (1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Admin7 istrator of the Agency; 

8 (2) the term ‘‘Agency’’ means the Federal Emer9 gency Management Agency; 

10 (3) the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con11 gress’’ means— 

12 (A) the Committee on Homeland Security 

13 and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on 

14 Appropriations of the Senate; and 
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1 (B) the Committee on Transportation and 

2 Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropria3 tions of the House of Representatives; 

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

5 declared or determined to exist by the President under 

6 section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

7 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); 

8 (5) the terms ‘‘Indian tribal government’’, ‘‘local 

9 government’’, and ‘‘State’’ have the meanings given 

10 such terms in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 

11 Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

12 U.S.C. 5122); and 

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

14 disaster declared by the President under section 401 

15 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer16 gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170). 

17 SEC. 3. REPORT ON RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. 

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

19 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub20 mit a report regarding the use of relocation assistance 

21 under sections 203, 404, and 406 of the Robert T. Stafford 

22 Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

23 5133, 5170c, 5172) for wildfire risk to the appropriate com24 mittees of Congress. 
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1 (b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub2 section (a) shall include the following: 

3 (1) Any information on relocation projects that 

4 have been carried out due to fire risks or denied by 

5 the Agency, including the number and value of 

6 projects either carried out or denied. 

7 (2) A discussion of the possible benefits or dis8 advantages of providing relocation assistance that 

9 may reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of loss due to 

10 wildfires. 

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

12 relocation assistance when entire States or geographic 

13 areas are considered subject to a fire risk. 

14 (4) An analysis of whether other mitigation 

15 measures are more cost-effective than relocation assist16 ance when the applicant is applying to move from a 

17 high-risk to a medium-risk or low-risk area with re18 spect to wildfires. 

19 (5) An analysis of the need for the Federal Gov20 ernment to produce wildfire maps that identify high21 risk, moderate-risk, and low-risk wildfire zones. 

22 (6) An analysis of whether other mitigation 

23 measures promote greater resilience to wildfires when 

24 compared to relocation or, if additional data is re-
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1 quired in order to carry out such an analysis, a dis2 cussion of the additional data required. 

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

4 governments, and Indian tribal governments to dem5 onstrate fire risk, and whether the level of this ability 

6 impacts the ability of States, local governments, or 

7 Indian tribal governments to access relocation assist8 ance, including an assessment of existing fire map9 ping products and capabilities and recommendations 

10 on redressing any gaps in the ability of the Agency 

11 to assist States, local governments, and Indian tribal 

12 governments in demonstrating fire risk. 

13 (8) An evaluation of— 

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

15 Agency regarding historical wildfire losses; 

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

17 analysis determinations by the Agency; 

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

19 pertinent to such determinations; and 

20 (D) what, if any, alternative methods may 

21 be relevant to the determination of cost effective22 ness. 

23 (9) A discussion of the extent to which the deci24 sion process for relocation assistance appropriately 
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1 considers the change in future risks for wildfires due 

2 to a changing climate. 

3 (10) An analysis of whether statutes and regula4 tions regarding relocation assistance by the Agency 

5 present barriers for States, local governments, or In6 dian tribal governments trying to access funding to 

7 reduce wildfire risk. 

8 (11) An analysis of— 

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

10 policies and procedures to determine the eligi11 bility of proposed relocation or mitigation 

12 projects with respect to wildfires; 

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

14 light of the increasing losses and obligations for 

15 wildfires in recent years; and 

16 (C) the effectiveness of any modifications 

17 described in subparagraph (A). 

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

19 in the availability of fire insurance has resulted in 

20 modifications of policy or procedure with respect to 

21 determining the cost efficacy of relocation assistance 

22 for wildfires. 

23 (13) An analysis of how to define repetitive loss 

24 and repetitively damaged properties in the context of 

25 wildfires. 
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1 (14) Other related issues that the Administrator 

2 determines appropriate. 

3 SEC. 4. RED FLAG WARNINGS AND PREDISASTER ACTIONS. 

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

5 this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the Na6 tional Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmos7 pheric Administration, shall— 

8 (1) conduct a study of, develop recommendations 

9 for, and initiate a process for the use of forecasts and 

10 data, including information that supports the Red 

11 Flag Warnings of the National Oceanic and Atmos12 pheric Administration and similar weather alert and 

13 notification methods, to establish— 

14 (A) plans and actions, consistent with law, 

15 that can be implemented prior to a wildfire 

16 event, including pre-impact disaster declarations 

17 and surge operations, that can limit the impact, 

18 duration, or severity of the fire; and 

19 (B) mechanisms to increase interagency col20 laboration to expedite the delivery of disaster as21 sistance; and 

22 (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Con23 gress a comprehensive report regarding the study de24 scribed in paragraph (1), including any recommenda-
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1 tions of the Administrator, and the activities of the 

2 Administrator to carry out paragraph (1). 

3 SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR WILDFIRE DAMAGE. 

4 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

5 of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate 

6 committees of Congress regarding— 

7 (1) the application for assistance and consist8 ency of assistance provided by the Agency in response 

9 to wildfires; and 

10 (2) the kinds of damage that result from 

11 wildfires. 

12 SEC. 6. GAO REPORT ON GAPS. 

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

14 this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 

15 submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 

16 that examines— 

17 (1) gaps in the policies of the Agency related to 

18 wildfires, when compared to other hazards; 

19 (2) disparities in regulations and guidance 

20 issued by the Administrator, including any oversight 

21 of the programs of the Agency, when addressing im22 pacts of wildfires and other hazards; 

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

24 the initiating of and the distribution of assistance, re25 imbursements, and grants; 
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1 (4) the effectiveness of the programs of the Agen2 cy in addressing wildfire hazards; 

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

4 assist States, local governments, and Indian tribal 

5 governments to prepare for, respond to, recover from, 

6 and mitigate against wildfire hazards; 

7 (6) revising the application process for assistance 

8 relating to wildfires to more effectively assess unin9 sured and underinsured losses and serious needs; and 

10 (7) ways to improve the disaster assistance pro11 grams of agencies other than the Agency. 

12 SEC. 7. CRISIS COUNSELING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 416 of the Robert T. Staf14 ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

15 U.S.C. 5183) is amended— 

16 (1) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting 

17 the following: 

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

19 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

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

21 mental health organization providing professional coun22 seling services described in subsection (a) shall ensure that, 

23 any individual providing professional counseling services 

24 to victims of a major disaster as authorized under sub25 section (a), including individuals working for nonprofit 
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1 partners and recovery organizations, is appropriately 

2 trained to address impacts from major disasters in commu3 nities, and to individuals, with socio-economically dis4 advantaged backgrounds.’’. 

5 (b) RULE OF APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made 

6 by this section shall apply with respect to amounts appro7 priated on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 

8 SEC. 8. CASE MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 426 of the Robert T. Staf10 ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

11 U.S.C. 5189d) is amended— 

12 (1) by striking ‘‘The President’’ and inserting 

13 the following: 

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

15 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(b) TRAINING.—Each State, local government agency, 

17 or qualified private organization providing professional 

18 counseling services described in subsection (a) shall ensure 

19 that any individual providing case management services to 

20 victims of a major disaster as authorized under subsection 

21 (a), including individuals working for nonprofit partners 

22 and recovery organizations, is appropriately trained to ad23 dress impacts from major disasters in communities, and to 

24 individuals, with socio-economically disadvantaged back25 grounds.’’. 
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1 (b) RULE OF APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made 

2 by this section shall apply with respect to amounts appro3 priated on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 9. STUDY AND PLAN FOR DISASTER HOUSING ASSIST5 ANCE. 

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

7 of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— 

8 (1) conduct a study and develop a plan, con9 sistent with law, under which the Agency will address 

10 providing housing assistance to survivors of major 

11 disasters or emergencies when presented with chal12 lenges such as— 

13 (A) the presence of multiple families within 

14 a single household; and 

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

16 majority of homes destroyed in that community, 

17 including as a result of a wildfire, earthquake, or 

18 other event causing a major disaster; and 

19 (2) make recommendations for legislative changes 

20 needed to address— 

21 (A) the presence of multiple families within 

22 a single household; and 

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

24 majority of homes destroyed in that community, 
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1 including as a result of a wildfire, earthquake, or 

2 other event causing a major disaster. 

3 (b) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.—The Administrator 

4 shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 

5 report that provides a detailed discussion of the plans devel6 oped under subsection (a)(1) and the recommendations of 

7 the Administrator under subsection (a)(2). 

8 (c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after submis9 sion of the report and recommendations under subsection 

10 (b), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate commit11 tees of Congress on the findings and any recommendations 

12 made pursuant to this section. 

13 SEC. 10. REIMBURSEMENT. 

14 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

15 of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate 

16 committees of Congress regarding the extent to which the 

17 Agency is using housing solutions proposed by a State or 

18 local government to reduce the time or cost required to im19 plement housing solutions after a major disaster. 

20 SEC. 11. PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR TRIBAL UPGRADES TO 

21 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 614(a) of the Robert T. 

23 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

24 U.S.C. 5196c(a)) is amended— 
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1 (1) by inserting ‘‘and Indian tribal govern2 ments’’ after ‘‘grants to States’’; and 

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

4 ‘‘State, local, and Tribal’’. 

5 (b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub6 section (a) shall apply with respect to amounts appro7 priated on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3092 

AMENDMENT