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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7070 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7070

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
      to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-
 effectiveness of certain mitigation projects, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 22, 2024

  Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
      to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-
 effectiveness of certain mitigation projects, 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 ``Wildfire Response Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM POLICY.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall 
recommend such regulations or guidance as are necessary to make 
eligible assessments and emergency stabilization to protect public 
safety, including for the fire management assistance program under 
section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187), irrespective of the incident period 
for a declared fire.

SEC. 3. CHANGES TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE POLICY GUIDE.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall amend 
the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to include guidance on wildfire-specific recovery 
challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, 
and the resulting toxicity of drinking water resources.

SEC. 4. MITIGATION COST-EFFECTIVENESS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating 
the cost-effectiveness of projects intended to mitigate the impacts of 
wildfire under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c), 
including--
            (1) the establishment of pre-calculated benefits criterion 
        for common defensible space mitigation projects for wildfire 
        mitigation;
            (2) the use of nature-based infrastructure in wildfire 
        mitigation;
            (3) considerations for vegetation management for wildfire 
        mitigation;
            (4) reducing the negative effects of wildfire smoke on 
        public health; and
            (5) lessening the impact of wildfires on water 
        infrastructure.
    (b) Updated Criteria.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such guidance as 
is necessary to--
            (1) update criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness 
        of mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5133; 5170c) based on the results of the review 
        conducted under subsection (a); and
            (2) prioritize projects under such sections based on the 
        criteria updated under paragraph (1).
                                 <all>
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