I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2548 

To modify eligibility requirements for certain hazard mitigation assistance 

programs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 7, 2019 

Mrs. FLETCHER (for herself, Mr. OLSON, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, and Mr. MEADOWS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee 

on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To modify eligibility requirements for certain hazard 

mitigation assistance programs, 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 ‘‘Hazard Eligibility and 

5 Local Projects Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•HR 2548 IH

1 SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO BEGIN PLANNING AND CONSTRUC2 TION OF CERTAIN HAZARD MITIGATION 

3 PROJECTS. 

4 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi5 nitions apply: 

6 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis7 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 

8 Emergency Management Agency. 

9 (2) COVERED PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered 

10 project’’ means— 

11 (A) an acquisition or relocation project for 

12 which an entity began implementation before a 

13 grant was awarded under a hazard mitigation 

14 assistance program; and 

15 (B) a project for which an entity initiated 

16 planning or construction before or after re17 questing assistance for the project under a haz18 ard mitigation grant program qualifying for a 

19 categorical exemption under the National Envi20 ronmental Policy Act. 

21 (3) HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PRO22 GRAM.—The term ‘‘hazard mitigation assistance 

23 program’’ means— 

24 (A) the predisaster hazard mitigation 

25 grant program authorized under section 203 of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•HR 2548 IH

1 the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

2 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133); 

3 (B) the hazard mitigation grant program 

4 authorized under section 404 of the Robert T. 

5 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist6 ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c); and 

7 (C) the flood mitigation assistance pro8 gram authorized under section 1366 of the Na9 tional Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 

10 4104c). 

11 (b) ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR INITIATED

12 PROJECTS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

14 provision of law, an entity seeking hazard mitigation 

15 assistance under a hazard mitigation assistance pro16 gram shall be eligible to receive such assistance for 

17 a covered project if the entity— 

18 (A) complies with all other eligibility re19 quirements of the hazard mitigation assistance 

20 program for acquisition or relocation projects, 

21 including extinguishing all incompatible encum22 brances; and 

23 (B) complies with all Federal requirements 

24 for the project. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•HR 2548 IH

1 (2) COSTS INCURRED.—An entity seeking haz2 ard mitigation assistance under a hazard mitigation 

3 assistance program shall be responsible for any 

4 project costs incurred by the entity for a covered 

5 project if the covered project is not awarded, or is 

6 determined to be ineligible for, assistance. 

7 (c) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply to any 

8 application for hazard mitigation assistance for a covered 

9 project submitted on or after January 1, 2016. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS