I 

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. 

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 ‘‘Wildfire Response Im5 provement Act’’. 


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•HR 7070 IH

1 SEC. 2. FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM POL2 ICY. 

3 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

4 of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

5 Management Agency shall recommend such regulations or 

6 guidance as are necessary to make eligible assessments 

7 and emergency stabilization to protect public safety, in8 cluding for the fire management assistance program under 

9 section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

10 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187), irrespective 

11 of the incident period for a declared fire. 

12 SEC. 3. CHANGES TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE POLICY GUIDE. 

13 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

14 of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

15 Management Agency shall amend the Public Assistance 

16 Program and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency 

17 Management Agency to include guidance on wildfire-spe18 cific recovery challenges, including debris removal, emer19 gency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of 

20 drinking water resources. 

21 SEC. 4. MITIGATION COST-EFFECTIVENESS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 

23 Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of 

24 the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of projects 

25 intended to mitigate the impacts of wildfire under sections 

26 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 


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•HR 7070 IH

1 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c), 

2 including— 

3 (1) the establishment of pre-calculated benefits 

4 criterion for common defensible space mitigation 

5 projects for wildfire mitigation; 

6 (2) the use of nature-based infrastructure in 

7 wildfire mitigation; 

8 (3) considerations for vegetation management 

9 for wildfire mitigation; 

10 (4) reducing the negative effects of wildfire 

11 smoke on public health; and 

12 (5) lessening the impact of wildfires on water 

13 infrastructure. 

14 (b) UPDATED CRITERIA.—Not later than 1 year after 

15 the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 

16 issue such guidance as is necessary to— 

17 (1) update criteria for evaluating the cost-effec18 tiveness of mitigation projects under sections 203 

19 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

20 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 

21 5170c) based on the results of the review conducted 

22 under subsection (a); and 

23 (2) prioritize projects under such sections based 

24 on the criteria updated under paragraph (1). 

Æ 


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