I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3495
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act to modify eligibility requirements under an emergency preparedness 
demonstration program to assist disadvantaged communities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 17, 2003
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act to modify eligibility requirements 
under an emergency preparedness demonstration pro-
gram to assist disadvantaged communities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DEMONSTRA-
TION PROGRAM TO ASSIST DISADVANTAGED 
COMMUNITIES. 
Section 629 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5197h) is 
amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 629. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM TO ASSIST DISADVANTAGED COM-
MUNITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish an 
emergency preparedness demonstration program to re-
search and promote the capacity of disadvantaged commu-
nities to carry out programs to provide data, information, 
and awareness education by providing grants to or exe-
cuting contracts or cooperative agreements with eligible 
nonprofit organizations to establish and conduct such pro-
grams. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.—An eligible nonprofit 
organization may use a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement awarded under this section—
‘‘(1) to conduct research into the status of 
emergency preparedness and disaster response 
awareness in households of disadvantaged individ-
uals located in urban and rural communities, par-
ticularly in those States and regions most impacted 
by natural and manmade disasters and emergencies; 
and 
‘‘(2) to develop and promote awareness of emer-
gency preparedness education programs within dis-
advantaged communities, including development and 
preparation of culturally competent educational and 
awareness materials that can be used to disseminate
information to organizations and institutions serving 
disadvantaged individuals. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.—An organization 
shall be eligible to be awarded a grant, contract, or cooper-
ative agreement under this section with respect to a pro-
gram if the organization is a nonprofit organization that 
is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) and exempt from tax 
under section 501(a) of such Code, whose primary mission 
is to provide services to disadvantaged communities, and 
that can demonstrate a partnership with a disadvantaged 
business enterprise, including enterprises located in a 
HUBZone, with respect to the program. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant, con-
tract, or cooperative agreement awarded under this section 
may only use the proceeds of the grant, contract, or agree-
ment to—
‘‘(1) acquire expert professional services nec-
essary to conduct research in disadvantaged commu-
nities, including African American and Hispanic 
communities; 
‘‘(2) develop and prepare informational mate-
rials to promote awareness among disadvantaged 
communities about emergency preparedness and how
to protect their households and communities in ad-
vance of disasters; 
‘‘(3) establish consortia with national organiza-
tions serving disadvantaged individuals, institutions 
of higher education serving disadvantaged individ-
uals, and faith-based institutions to disseminate in-
formation about emergency preparedness to dis-
advantaged communities; and 
‘‘(4) implement a joint project with an institu-
tion serving disadvantaged individuals, including a 
part B institution (as defined in section 322(2) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061(2))), an institution described in subparagraph 
(A), (B), or (C) of section 326(e)(1) of that Act (20 
U.S.C. 1063b(e)(1)(A), (B), or (C)), and a His-
panic-serving institution (as defined in section 
502(a)(5) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))). 
‘‘(e) APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURE.—To 
be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement under this section, an organization must sub-
mit an application to the Director at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Di-
rector may reasonably require. The Director shall estab-
lish a procedure by which to accept such applications.