FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020

To modify the Federal cost share of certain emergency assistance provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to modify the activities eligible for assistance under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, relating to COVID–19, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020 2. Cost share (a) Temporary Federal share Notwithstanding sections 403(b), 403(c)(4), 404(a), 406(b), 408(d), 408(g)(2), 428(e)(2)(B), and 503(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 (b) Cost share under COVID emergency declaration Notwithstanding subsection (a), assistance provided under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5191(b) 42 U.S.C. 5170 3. Clarification of assistance (a) In general For the emergency declared on March 13, 2020 by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5191 (1) activities eligible for assistance under sections 301, 415, 416, and 426 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5141 (2) backfill costs for first responders and other essential employees who are ill or quarantined; (3) increased operating costs for essential government services due to such emergency, including costs for implementing continuity plans, and sheltering or housing for first responders, emergency managers, health providers and other essential employees; (4) costs of providing guidance and information to the public and for call centers to disseminate such guidance and information, including private nonprofit organizations; (5) costs associated with establishing and operating virtual services; (6) costs for establishing and operating remote test sites, including comprehensive community based testing; (7) training provided specifically in anticipation of or in response to the event on which such emergency declaration is predicated; (8) personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and services for first responders and other essential employees, including individuals working in public schools, courthouses, law enforcement, and public transit systems; (9) medical equipment, regardless of whether such equipment is used for emergency or inpatient care; (10) public health costs, including provision and distribution of medicine and medical supplies; (11) costs associated with maintaining alternate care facilities or related facilities currently inactive but related to future needs tied to the ongoing pandemic event; (12) costs of establishing and operating shelters and providing services, including transportation, that help alleviate the need of individuals for shelter; and (13) costs, including costs incurred by private nonprofit organizations, of procuring and distributing food to individuals affected by the pandemic through networks established by State, local, or Tribal governments, or other organizations, including restaurants and farms, and for the purchase of food directly from food producers and farmers. (b) Application to subsequent major disaster The activities described in subsection (a) may also be eligible for assistance under any major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 (c) Financial assistance for funeral expenses For any emergency or major disaster described in subsection (a) or (b), the President shall provide financial assistance to an individual or household to meet disaster-related funeral expenses under section 408(e)(1) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174(e) (d) Advanced assistance (1) In general In order to facilitate activities under this section, the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, may provide assistance in advance to an eligible applicant if a failure to do so would prevent the applicant from carrying out such activities. (2) Annual report The Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs a report on assistance provided in advance pursuant to paragraph (1). (3) Audit by Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall conduct a follow-up review of assistance provided in advance pursuant to paragraph (1). (4) Review The audit under paragraph (2) shall include, at a minimum— (A) a review of the assumptions and methodologies used to determine eligibility for advanced assistance; and (B) a determination of whether the advanced assistance was used appropriately. (5) Report to Congress The Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the results of the review carried out under this subsection. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to make ineligible any assistance that would otherwise be eligible under section 403, 408, or 502 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170b (f) State; Indian Tribal government; local government defined In this section, the terms State Indian tribal government local government 42 U.S.C. 5122 4. Hazard mitigation assistance For all States or Indian tribal governments, as such terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 42 U.S.C. 5191 42 U.S.C. 5170 42 U.S.C. 5170c 5. Report on Stafford Act response capabilities Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to convene a committee of experts to conduct a comprehensive study on the use of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 (1) how non-physical damages can be quantified; (2) consideration of any factors that allow for an adjustment of cost shares; (3) recommendations to Congress on thresholds or criteria to be met to trigger a future declaration; and (4) other items that the Administrator determines necessary to increase future preparedness to such events. 6. Federal assistance to individuals and households Section 408(f)(3)(J)(iii) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174(f)(3)(J)(iii) 2 years 3 years November 16, 2020 Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020 This bill modifies the federal cost share of certain emergency assistance relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides for (1) a 100% federal cost share of assistance provided under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, relating to COVID-19 and any subsequent major disaster declaration that supersedes it; and (2) at least a 90% federal cost share of assistance provided for any emergency or major disaster declared by the President from January 1-December 31, 2020. These provisions shall apply to funds appropriated on or after this bill's enactment. With respect to the emergency declaration issued on March 13, 2020, the President may provide assistance for activities, costs, and purchases of states, Indian tribal governments, or local governments, including, among other things backfill costs for first responders and other essential employees who are ill or quarantined; increased operating costs for essential government services due to such emergency; personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and services for first responders; and costs of procuring and distributing food to individuals affected by the pandemic. The bill (1) directs the President to provide financial assistance to meet disaster-related funeral expenses (subject to the availability of appropriations), and (2) authorizes specified assistance in advance. FEMA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to convene a committee of experts to study the use of certain assistance to respond to an emergency that does not cause physical damages. The bill extends by one year federal disaster assistance to individuals and households.