IB 

Union Calendar No. 763 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7070 

[Report No. 118–933] 

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 

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Ms. TITUS, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. HARDER of California, Mr. 

CASE, Mr. NEGUSE, and Mr. LEVIN

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 22, 2024] 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 7070 RH

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. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 7070 RH

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’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM POLICY. 

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

8 this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man9 agement Agency shall recommend such regulations or guid10 ance as are necessary to make eligible assessments and 

11 emergency stabilization to protect public safety, including 

12 for the fire management assistance program under section 

13 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer14 gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187), irrespective of the 

15 incident period for a declared fire. 

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

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

18 this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man19 agement Agency shall amend the Public Assistance Program 

20 and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency Management 

21 Agency to include guidance on wildfire-specific recovery 

22 challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective 

23 measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water re24 sources. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 7070 RH

1 SEC. 4. MITIGATION COST-EFFECTIVENESS. 

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

3 Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of 

4 the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of projects 

5 intended to mitigate the impacts of wildfire under sections 

6 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

7 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c), includ8 ing— 

9 (1) the establishment of pre-calculated benefits 

10 criterion for common defensible space mitigation 

11 projects for wildfire mitigation; 

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

13 wildfire mitigation; 

14 (3) considerations for vegetation management for 

15 wildfire mitigation; 

16 (4) reducing the negative effects of wildfire smoke 

17 on public health; and 

18 (5) lessening the impact of wildfires on water in19 frastructure. 

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

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

22 issue such guidance as is necessary to— 

23 (1) update criteria for evaluating the cost-effec24 tiveness of mitigation projects under sections 203 and 

25 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

26 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c) 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HR 7070 RH

1 based on the results of the review conducted under 

2 subsection (a); and 

3 (2) prioritize projects under such sections based 

4 on the criteria updated under paragraph (1). 

5 SEC. 5. WAIVER OF DUPLICATE BENEFITS. 

6 Section 1210(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 

7 2018 (Public Law 115–254) is amended— 

8 (1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘between Janu9 ary 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021’’ and inserting 

10 ‘‘during the period beginning on January 1, 2016, 

11 and ending on the date on which the provision con12 tained in such amendment is struck pursuant to 

13 paragraph (4)’’; 

14 (2) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘5’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘10’’; 

16 (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para17 graph (6); and 

18 (4) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol19 lowing: 

20 ‘‘(5) PROHIBITION ON INCOME THRESHOLD.—In 

21 carrying out the amendment made by paragraph (1), 

22 no income threshold may be applied to limit the eligi23 bility of a recipient from qualifying for a waiver 

24 under the amendment made by such paragraph.’’. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Union Calendar No. 763 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7070 

[Report No. 118–933] 

A BILL 

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emerpurposes. ness of certain mitigation projects, and for other of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effective- gency Management Agency to conduct a review 

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB