Smoke-Ready Communities Act of 2019

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide wildfire smoke mitigation assistance to States and units of local government, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Smoke-Ready Communities Act of 2019 2. Wildfire smoke mitigation assistance Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 431. Wildfire smoke mitigation assistance (a) In general The President may provide assistance, including grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel, to any eligible State, unit of local government, or Indian Tribe for the mitigation, management, and control of smoke caused by one or more wildfires. (b) Eligibility A State or local government with jurisdiction of an area impacted by smoke caused by one or more wildfires shall be eligible for assistance under this section. (c) Coordination with State and Tribal departments In providing assistance under this section, the President shall coordinate with State and Tribal departments of health, forestry, and emergency management. (d) Essential assistance In providing assistance under this section, the President may use the authority provided under section 403, including providing N95 filtering facepiece respirators, mechanical air filters, portable air filters, or upgrading central heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems for public buildings. (e) Rules and regulations The President shall prescribe such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. . 3. Smoke resilient housing grant program (a) Definition In this section— (1) the term eligible entity (A) a State; (B) an Indian Tribe; (C) a homeowner; (D) an individual or family renting a dwelling unit or home; and (E) an owner of a building with rental dwelling units or of a home that is rented to an individual or family; and (2) the term Secretary (b) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities to increase the smoke resiliency of dwellings owned or occupied by vulnerable persons and pay for any associated increases in energy costs. (c) Use of funds Activities carried out using grant funds may include— (1) carrying out weatherization measures to mitigate air infiltration; (2) installing air filtration systems; and (3) providing assistance for related energy costs from the operation of those systems. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 4. Smoke resilient business grant program (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Administrator (2) the term small business concern 15 U.S.C. 632 (b) Establishment The Administrator shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide grants to owners of small business concerns to increase the smoke resiliency of the business concern. (c) Use of funds Activities carried out using grant funds may include— (1) acquiring protective gear for employees; and (2) upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air cooling system of any building in which the small business concern operates. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Summary: Smoke-Ready Communities Act of 2019 This bill creates wildfire smoke mitigation, smoke resilient housing, and smoke resilient business grant programs. The bill authorizes the President to provide assistance, including grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel, to any eligible state, unit of local government, or Indian tribe for the mitigation, management, and control of smoke caused by one or more wildfires. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall establish a program under which HUD shall provide grants to eligible entities (a state, an Indian tribe, a homeowner, an individual or family renting a dwelling unit or home, and an owner of a building with rental dwelling units or of a home that is rented to an individual or family) to increase the smoke resiliency of dwellings owned or occupied by vulnerable persons and pay for any associated increases in energy costs. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall establish a program under which the SBA shall provide grants to owners of small business concerns to increase the smoke resiliency of the business concern.