SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2012’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 
TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF FEMA AND MODERNIZATION OF 
INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEM 
Sec. 101. Reauthorization of Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
Sec. 102. Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization. 
TITLE II—STAFFORD ACT AND OTHER PROGRAMS 
Sec. 201. Reauthorization of urban search and rescue response system. 
Sec. 202. Reauthorization of emergency management assistance compact 
grants. 
Sec. 203. Disposal of excess property to assist other disaster survivors. 
Sec. 204. Storage, sale, transfer, and disposal of housing units. 
Sec. 205. Other methods of disposal. 
Sec. 206. Establishment of criteria relating to administration of hazard mitiga-
tion assistance by States. 
Sec. 207. Review of regulations and policies. 
Sec. 208. Appeals process. 
Sec. 209. Implementation of cost estimating. 
Sec. 210. Tribal requests for a major disaster or emergency declaration under 
the Stafford Act. 
Sec. 211. Individual assistance factors. 
Sec. 212. Public assistance pilot program. 
Sec. 213. Public assistance debris removal procedures. 
Sec. 214. Use of funds. 
Sec. 215. Reduction of authorization for emergency management performance 
grants. 
Sec. 216. Technical correction. 
Sec. 217. National Dam Safety Program Act reauthorization.
TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF 
FEMA AND MODERNIZATION 
OF 
INTEGRATED 
PUBLIC 
ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM 
SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT AGENCY. 
Section 699 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Manage-
ment Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 811) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 699. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title and the amendments made by this title for the 
salaries and expenses of the Agency— 
‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2012, $1,031,378,000, in-
cluding amounts transferred from grant programs; 
‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2013, $1,031,378,000, in-
cluding amounts transferred from grant programs; 
and 
‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2014, $1,031,378,000, in-
cluding amounts transferred from grant programs.’’.
SEC. 102. INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM MODERNIZATION. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Moderniza-
tion Act of 2012’’. 
(b) INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM MODERNIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To provide timely and effec-
tive disaster warnings under this section, the Presi-
dent, acting through the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency, shall— 
(A) modernize the integrated public alert 
and warning system of the United States (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘public alert and 
warning system’’) to ensure that the President 
under all conditions is able to alert and warn 
governmental authorities and the civilian popu-
lation in areas endangered by disasters; and 
(B) implement the public alert and warn-
ing system. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, 
consistent with the recommendations in the final re-
port of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning 
System Advisory Committee (established under sub-
section (c))—
(A) establish or adopt, as appropriate, 
common alerting and warning protocols, stand-
ards, terminology, and operating procedures for 
the public alert and warning system; 
(B) include in the public alert and warning 
system the capability to adapt the distribution 
and content of communications on the basis of 
geographic location, risks, or personal user 
preferences, as appropriate; 
(C) include in the public alert and warning 
system the capability to alert and warn, and 
provide the equivalent amount of information to 
individuals with disabilities and individuals with 
access and functional needs; 
(D) ensure that training, tests, and exer-
cises are conducted for the public alert and 
warning system and that the system is incor-
porated into other training and exercise pro-
grams of the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity, as appropriate; 
(E) establish and integrate into the Na-
tional Incident Management System a com-
prehensive and periodic training program to in-
struct and educate Federal, State, Tribal, and 
local government officials in the use of the
Common Alerting Protocol enabled Emergency 
Alert System; 
(F) conduct, at least once every 3 years, 
periodic nationwide tests of the public alert and 
warning system; and 
(G) ensure that the public alert and warn-
ing system is resilient, secure, and can with-
stand acts of terrorism and other external at-
tacks. 
(3) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.—The public alert 
and warning system shall— 
(A) incorporate multiple communications 
technologies; 
(B) be designed to adapt to, and incor-
porate, future technologies for communicating 
directly with the public; 
(C) to the extent technically feasible, be 
designed to provide alerts to the largest portion 
of the affected population, including non-
resident visitors and tourists and individuals 
with disabilities and access and functional 
needs, and improve the ability of remote areas 
to receive alerts;
(D) promote local and regional public and 
private partnerships to enhance community pre-
paredness and response; 
(E) provide redundant alert mechanisms if 
practicable so as to reach the greatest number 
of people regardless of whether they have access 
to, or utilize, any specific medium of commu-
nication or any particular device; and 
(F) include a mechanism to ensure the 
protection of individual privacy. 
(4) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of submission of the report 
of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
Advisory Committee, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture and the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a detailed plan to implement the public alert 
and warning system. The plan shall include a 
timeline for implementation, a spending plan, and 
recommendations for any additional authority that 
may be necessary to fully implement this subsection. 
(5) MAXIMUM FUNDS.—The Administrator may 
use not more than $13,287,000 of the amount made
available pursuant to section 699 of the Post- 
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 
2006 (6 U.S.C. 811) for each of fiscal years 2012, 
2013, and 2014 to carry out the provisions of this 
section. 
(c) INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy shall establish an advisory committee to be known 
as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
Advisory Committee (in this subsection referred to 
as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of the following members (or their 
designees) to be appointed by the Administrator as 
soon as practicable after the date of enactment of 
this Act: 
(A) The Chairman of the Federal Commu-
nications Commission. 
(B) The Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the 
Department of Commerce.
(C) The Assistant Secretary for Commu-
nications and Information of the Department of 
Commerce. 
(D) Representatives of State and local gov-
ernments, representatives of emergency man-
agement agencies, and representatives of emer-
gency response providers, selected from among 
individuals nominated by national organizations 
representing governments and personnel. 
(E) Representatives from federally recog-
nized Indian tribes and national Indian organi-
zations. 
(F) Individuals who have the requisite 
technical knowledge and expertise to serve on 
the Advisory Committee, including representa-
tives of— 
(i) communications service providers; 
(ii) vendors, developers, and manufac-
turers of systems, facilities, equipment, 
and capabilities for the provision of com-
munications services; 
(iii) third-party service bureaus; 
(iv) the broadcasting industry; 
(v) the national organization rep-
resenting the licensees and permittees of
noncommercial broadcast television sta-
tions; 
(vi) the cellular industry; 
(vii) the cable industry; 
(viii) the satellite industry; and 
(ix) 
national 
organizations 
rep-
resenting individuals with disabilities and 
access and functional needs and national 
organizations representing the elderly. 
(G) Qualified representatives of such other 
stakeholders and interested and affected parties 
as the Administrator considers appropriate. 
(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Administrator shall 
serve as the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee. 
(4) MEETINGS.— 
(A) INITIAL MEETING.—The initial meet-
ing of the Advisory Committee shall take place 
not later than 120 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(B) OTHER MEETINGS.—After the initial 
meeting, the Advisory Committee shall meet at 
the call of the Chairperson. 
(C) NOTICE; OPEN MEETINGS.—Meetings 
held by the Advisory Committee shall be duly
noticed at least 14 days in advance and shall be 
open to the public. 
(5) RULES.— 
(A) QUORUM.—One-third of the members 
of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a 
quorum for conducting business of the Advisory 
Committee. 
(B) SUBCOMMITTEES.—To assist the Advi-
sory Committee in carrying out its functions, 
the Chairperson may establish appropriate sub-
committees composed of members of the Advi-
sory Committee and other subject matter ex-
perts as the Chairperson considers necessary. 
(C) ADDITIONAL
RULES.—The Advisory 
Committee may adopt such other rules as are 
necessary to carry out its duties. 
(6) CONSULTATION WITH NONMEMBERS.—The 
Advisory Committee and the program offices for the 
integrated public alert and warning system for the 
United States shall regularly meet with groups that 
are not represented on the Advisory Committee to 
consider new and developing technologies that may 
be beneficial to the public alert and warning system. 
Such groups may include—
(A) 
the 
Defense 
Advanced 
Research 
Projects Agency; 
(B) entities engaged in federally funded re-
search; and 
(C) academic institutions engaged in rel-
evant work and research. 
(7) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall develop recommendations for an inte-
grated public alert and warning system, including— 
(A) recommendations for common alerting 
and warning protocols, standards, terminology, 
and operating procedures for the public alert 
and warning system; and 
(B) recommendations to provide for a pub-
lic alert and warning system that— 
(i) has the capability to adapt the dis-
tribution and content of communications 
on the basis of geographic location, risks, 
or personal user preferences, as appro-
priate; 
(ii) has the capability to alert and 
warn individuals with disabilities and indi-
viduals with limited English proficiency; 
(iii) incorporates multiple communica-
tions technologies;
(iv) is designed to adapt to, and incor-
porate, future technologies for commu-
nicating directly with the public; 
(v) is designed to provide alerts to the 
largest portion of the affected population 
feasible, including nonresident visitors and 
tourists, and improve the ability of remote 
areas to receive alerts; 
(vi) promotes local and regional public 
and private partnerships to enhance com-
munity preparedness and response; and 
(vii) provides redundant alert mecha-
nisms if practicable in order to reach the 
greatest number of people regardless of 
whether they have access to, or utilize, any 
specific medium of communication or any 
particular device. 
(8) INITIAL AND ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Admin-
istrator, the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate a report containing the rec-
ommendations of the Advisory Committee. 
(9) FEDERAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
ACT.— 
Neither the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) nor any rule, order, or regulation pro-
mulgated under that Act shall apply to the Advisory 
Committee. 
(10) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee 
shall terminate not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(d) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the 
authority of the Department of Commerce or the Federal 
Communications Commission. 
TITLE II—STAFFORD ACT AND 
OTHER PROGRAMS 
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF URBAN SEARCH AND RES-
CUE RESPONSE SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘SEC. 327. NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RE-
SPONSE SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Adminis-
trator’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
‘‘(2) AGENCY.—The term ‘Agency’ means the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
‘‘(3) HAZARD.—The term ‘hazard’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 602. 
‘‘(4) NON-EMPLOYEE
SYSTEM
MEMBER.—The 
term ‘non-employee System member’ means a Sys-
tem member not employed by a sponsoring agency 
or participating agency. 
‘‘(5) PARTICIPATING AGENCY.—The term ‘par-
ticipating agency’ means a State or local govern-
ment, nonprofit organization, or private organization 
that has executed an agreement with a sponsoring 
agency to participate in the System. 
‘‘(6) SPONSORING AGENCY.—The term ‘spon-
soring agency’ means a State or local government 
that is the sponsor of a task force designated by the 
Administrator to participate in the System.
‘‘(7) SYSTEM.—The term ‘System’ means the 
National Urban Search and Rescue Response Sys-
tem to be administered under this section. 
‘‘(8) SYSTEM
MEMBER.—The term ‘System 
member’ means an individual who is not a full-time 
employee of the Federal Government and who serves 
on a task force or on a System management or other 
technical team. 
‘‘(9) TASK
FORCE.—The term ‘task force’ 
means an urban search and rescue team designated 
by the Administrator to participate in the System. 
‘‘(b) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Subject to the require-
ments of this section, the Administrator shall continue to 
administer the emergency response system known as the 
National Urban Search and Rescue Response System. 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—In administering the System, the 
Administrator shall provide for a national network of 
standardized search and rescue resources to assist States 
and local governments in responding to hazards. 
‘‘(d) TASK FORCES.— 
‘‘(1) DESIGNATION.—The Administrator shall 
designate task forces to participate in the System. 
The Administrator shall determine the criteria for 
such participation.
‘‘(2) SPONSORING AGENCIES.—Each task force 
shall have a sponsoring agency. The Administrator 
shall enter into an agreement with the sponsoring 
agency with respect to the participation of each task 
force in the System. 
‘‘(3) COMPOSITION.— 
‘‘(A) PARTICIPATING
AGENCIES.—A task 
force may include, at the discretion of the spon-
soring agency, 1 or more participating agencies. 
The sponsoring agency shall enter into an 
agreement with each participating agency of the 
task force with respect to the participation of 
the participating agency on the task force. 
‘‘(B) OTHER INDIVIDUALS.—A task force 
may also include, at the discretion of the spon-
soring agency, other individuals not otherwise 
associated with the sponsoring agency or a par-
ticipating agency of the task force. The spon-
soring agency of a task force may enter into a 
separate agreement with each such individual 
with respect to the participation of the indi-
vidual on the task force. 
‘‘(e) MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL TEAMS.—The 
Administrator shall maintain such management teams and
other technical teams as the Administrator determines are 
necessary to administer the System. 
‘‘(f) APPOINTMENT
OF SYSTEM MEMBERS INTO 
FEDERAL SERVICE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may ap-
point a System member into Federal service for a 
period of service to provide for the participation of 
the System member in exercises, preincident staging, 
major disaster and emergency response activities, 
and training events sponsored or sanctioned by the 
Administrator. 
‘‘(2) NONAPPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
CIVIL 
SERVICE LAWS.—The Administrator may make ap-
pointments under paragraph (1) without regard to 
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service. 
‘‘(3) RELATIONSHIP
TO
OTHER
AUTHORI-
TIES.—The authority of the Administrator to make 
appointments under this subsection shall not affect 
any other authority of the Administrator under this 
Act. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—A System member who is 
appointed into Federal service under paragraph (1) 
shall not be considered an employee of the United
States for purposes other than those specifically set 
forth in this section. 
‘‘(g) COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(1) PAY
OF
SYSTEM
MEMBERS.—Subject to 
such terms and conditions as the Administrator may 
impose by regulation, the Administrator shall make 
payments to the sponsoring agency of a task force— 
‘‘(A) to reimburse each employer of a Sys-
tem member on the task force for compensation 
paid by the employer to the System member for 
any period during which the System member is 
appointed into Federal service under subsection 
(f)(1); and 
‘‘(B) to make payments directly to a non- 
employee System member on the task force for 
any period during which the non-employee Sys-
tem member is appointed into Federal service 
under subsection (f)(1). 
‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMPLOYEES FILL-
ING POSITIONS OF SYSTEM MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to such terms 
and conditions as the Administrator may im-
pose by regulation, the Administrator shall 
make payments to the sponsoring agency of a 
task force to reimburse each employer of a Sys-
shall, for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 
of title 5, United States Code, be treated as though 
the member were an employee (as defined by section 
8101 of that title) who had sustained the injury in 
the performance of duty. 
‘‘(2) ELECTION OF BENEFITS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a System member 
(or, in the case of the death of the System 
member, the System member’s dependent) is 
entitled— 
‘‘(i) under paragraph (1) to receive 
benefits under subchapter I of chapter 81 
of title 5, United States Code, by reason of 
personal injury, illness, disability, or death, 
and 
‘‘(ii) to receive benefits from a State 
or local government by reason of the same 
personal injury, illness, disability, or death, 
the System member or dependent shall elect to 
receive either the benefits referred to in clause 
(i) or (ii). 
‘‘(B) DEADLINE.—A System member or 
dependent shall make an election of benefits 
under subparagraph (A) not later than 1 year 
after the date of the personal injury, illness,
disability, or death that is the reason for the 
benefits or until such later date as the Sec-
retary of Labor may allow for reasonable cause 
shown. 
‘‘(C) EFFECT OF ELECTION.—An election 
of benefits made under this paragraph is irrev-
ocable unless otherwise provided by law. 
‘‘(3) REIMBURSEMENT FOR STATE OR LOCAL 
BENEFITS.—Subject to such terms and conditions as 
the Administrator may impose by regulation, in the 
event that a System member or dependent elects 
benefits from a State or local government under 
paragraph (2)(A), the Administrator shall reimburse 
the State or local government for the value of those 
benefits. 
‘‘(i) LIABILITY.—A System member appointed into 
Federal service under subsection (f)(1), while acting with-
in the scope of the appointment, is deemed an employee 
of the Government under section 1346(b) of title 28, 
United States Code, and chapter 171 of that title, relating 
to tort claims procedure. 
‘‘(j) EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.— 
With respect to a System member who is not a regular 
full-time employee of a sponsoring agency or participating 
agency, the following terms and conditions apply:
‘‘(1) Service as a System member is deemed 
‘service in the uniformed services’ for purposes of 
chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, relating 
to employment and reemployment rights of individ-
uals who have performed service in the uniformed 
services (regardless of whether the individual re-
ceives compensation for such participation). All 
rights and obligations of such persons and proce-
dures for assistance, enforcement, and investigation 
shall be as provided for in such chapter. 
‘‘(2) Preclusion of giving notice of service by 
necessity of appointment under this section is 
deemed preclusion by ‘military necessity’ for pur-
poses of section 4312(b) of title 38, United States 
Code, pertaining to giving notice of absence from a 
position of employment. A determination of such ne-
cessity shall be made by the Administrator and shall 
not be subject to judicial review. 
‘‘(k) LICENSES AND PERMITS.—If a System member 
holds a valid license, certificate, or other permit issued by 
any State or other governmental jurisdiction evidencing 
the member’s qualifications in any professional, mechan-
ical, or other skill or type of assistance required by the 
System, the System member is deemed to be performing 
a Federal activity when rendering aid involving such skill
or assistance during a period of appointment into Federal 
service under subsection (f)(1). 
‘‘(l) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish and maintain an advisory committee to pro-
vide expert recommendations to the Administrator in 
order to assist the Administrator in administering 
the System. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The advisory committee 
shall be composed of members from geographically 
diverse areas, and shall include— 
‘‘(A) the chief officer or senior executive 
from at least three sponsoring agencies; 
‘‘(B) the senior emergency manager from 
at least two States that include sponsoring 
agencies; and 
‘‘(C) at least one representative rec-
ommended by the leaders of the task forces. 
‘‘(3) INAPPLICABILITY
OF
TERMINATION
RE-
QUIREMENT.—Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
to the advisory committee under this subsection. 
‘‘(m) 
PREPAREDNESS
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations for such purpose, the Adminis-
trator shall enter into an annual preparedness coop-
erative agreement with each sponsoring agency. 
Amounts made available to a sponsoring agency 
under such a preparedness cooperative agreement 
shall be for the following purposes: 
‘‘(A) Training and exercises, including 
training and exercises with other Federal, 
State, and local government response entities. 
‘‘(B) Acquisition and maintenance of 
equipment, including interoperable communica-
tions and personal protective equipment. 
‘‘(C) Medical monitoring required for re-
sponder safety and health in anticipation of and 
following a major disaster, emergency, or other 
hazard, as determined by the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Not-
withstanding section 1552(b) of title 31, United 
States Code, amounts made available for cooperative 
agreements under this subsection that are not ex-
pended shall be deposited in an Agency account and 
shall remain available for such agreements without 
fiscal year limitation.
‘‘(n) RESPONSE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The 
Administrator shall enter into a response cooperative 
agreement with each sponsoring agency, as appropriate, 
under which the Administrator agrees to reimburse the 
sponsoring agency for costs incurred by the sponsoring 
agency in responding to a major disaster or emergency. 
‘‘(o) OBLIGATIONS.—The Administrator may incur 
all necessary obligations consistent with this section in 
order to ensure the effectiveness of the System. 
‘‘(p) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the System and the provi-
sions of this section $35,250,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2012, 2013, and 2014. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—The Ad-
ministrator may use not to exceed 6 percent of the 
funds appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to 
paragraph (1) for salaries, expenses, and other ad-
ministrative costs incurred by the Administrator in 
carrying out this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) APPLICABILITY
OF
TITLE
5, 
UNITED 
STATES CODE.—Section 8101(1) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) by moving subparagraph (F) to appear 
after subparagraph (E); 
(C) in subparagraph (F)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘United States Code,’’; 
and 
(ii) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (F) 
the following: 
‘‘(G) an individual who is a System mem-
ber of the National Urban Search and Rescue 
Response System during a period of appoint-
ment into Federal service pursuant to section 
327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act;’’. 
(2) INCLUSION AS PART OF UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES FOR PURPOSES OF USERRA.—Section 4303 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (13) by inserting ‘‘, a pe-
riod for which a System member of the Na-
tional Urban Search and Rescue Response Sys-
tem is absent from a position of employment 
due to an appointment into Federal service 
under section 327 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act’’ 
before ‘‘, and a period’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (16) by inserting after 
‘‘Public Health Service,’’ the following: ‘‘System 
members of the National Urban Search and 
Rescue Response System during a period of ap-
pointment into Federal service under section 
327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act,’’. 
SEC. 202. REAUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGE-
MENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title VI of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5196 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 617. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COM-
PACT GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency may make grants to 
provide for implementation of the Emergency Manage-
ment Assistance Compact consented to by Congress in the 
joint resolution entitled ‘Joint resolution granting the con-
sent of Congress to the Emergency Management Assist-
ance Compact’ (Public Law 104–321; 110 Stat. 3877).
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE GRANT RECIPIENTS.—States and the 
Administrator of the Emergency Management Assistance 
Compact shall be eligible to receive grants under sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant received under this 
section shall be used— 
‘‘(1) to carry out recommendations identified in 
the Emergency Management Assistance Compact 
after-action reports for the 2004 and 2005 hurricane 
seasons; 
‘‘(2) to administer compact operations on behalf 
of States, as such term is defined in the compact, 
that have enacted the compact; 
‘‘(3) to continue coordination with the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency and appropriate 
Federal agencies; 
‘‘(4) to continue coordination with States and 
local governments and their respective national orga-
nizations; and 
‘‘(5) to assist State and local governments, 
emergency response providers, and organizations 
representing such providers with credentialing the 
providers and the typing of emergency response re-
sources.
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—The Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall consult 
with the Administrator of the Emergency Management 
Assistance Compact to ensure effective coordination of ef-
forts in responding to requests for assistance. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012, 2013, and 
2014. Such sums shall remain available until expended.’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 661 of the Post-Katrina 
Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 
761) is repealed. 
SEC. 203. DISPOSAL OF EXCESS PROPERTY TO ASSIST 
OTHER DISASTER SURVIVORS. 
Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act as amended by this Act 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 328. DISPOSAL OF EXCESS MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, 
AND EQUIPMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, if the President determines that materials, 
supplies, or equipment acquired by the President pursuant 
to title IV or V for response or recovery efforts in connec-
tion with a major disaster or emergency are in excess of 
the amount needed for those efforts, the President may
transfer the excess materials, supplies, or equipment di-
rectly to a State, local government, or relief or disaster 
assistance organization for the purpose of— 
‘‘(1) assisting disaster survivors in other major 
disasters and emergencies; and 
‘‘(2) assisting survivors in incidents caused by 
a hazard that do not result in a declaration of a 
major disaster or emergency if the Governor of the 
affected State certifies that— 
‘‘(A) there is an urgent need for the mate-
rials, supplies, or equipment; and 
‘‘(B) the State is unable to provide the ma-
terials, supplies, or equipment in a timely man-
ner. 
‘‘(b) HAZARD DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘hazard’ has the meaning given that term by section 
602.’’. 
SEC. 204. STORAGE, SALE, TRANSFER, AND DISPOSAL OF 
HOUSING UNITS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of FEMA. 
(2) EMERGENCY; MAJOR DISASTER.—The terms 
‘‘emergency’’ and ‘‘major disaster’’ have the mean-
ings given such terms in section 102 of the Stafford 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
(3) FEMA.—The term ‘‘FEMA’’ means the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
(4) HAZARD.—The term ‘‘hazard’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 602 of the Staf-
ford Act (42 U.S.C. 5195a). 
(5) STAFFORD ACT.—The term ‘‘Stafford Act’’ 
means the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
(b) NEEDS ASSESSMENT; ESTABLISHMENT OF CRI-
TERIA.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall complete an as-
sessment to determine the number of temporary housing 
units that FEMA needs to maintain in stock to respond 
appropriately to emergencies or major disasters occurring 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall establish a plan and guidelines for— 
(A) storing the number of temporary hous-
ing units that FEMA needs to maintain in 
stock, as determined by the Administrator 
under subsection (b); and
(3) UPDATE.—The Administrator shall update 
the plan established under paragraph (1) as nec-
essary to ensure that the Administrator maintains in 
the inventory of FEMA only those temporary hous-
ing units that are needed to respond appropriately 
to emergencies or major disasters. 
(d) TRANSFER OF TEMPORARY HOUSING UNITS TO 
STATES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
408(d)(2) 
of 
the 
Stafford 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
5174(d)(2)), and subject to the requirements of 
paragraph (2), the Administrator may transfer or 
donate to States, on a priority basis, pursuant to 
subsection (c)(1)(B), excess temporary housing units 
in the inventory of FEMA. 
(2) STATE REQUESTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, a 
State may submit to the Administrator a re-
quest to receive excess temporary housing units 
under paragraph (1). 
(B) ELIGIBILITY.—A State shall be eligible 
to receive excess temporary housing units under 
paragraph (1) if the State agrees—
(i) to use the units to provide tem-
porary housing to survivors of incidents 
that are caused by hazards and that the 
Governor of the State determines require 
State assistance; 
(ii) to pay to store and maintain the 
units; 
(iii) in the event of a major disaster 
or emergency declared for the State by the 
President under the Stafford Act, to make 
the units available to the President or to 
use the units to provide housing directly to 
survivors of the major disaster or emer-
gency in the State; 
(iv) to comply with the nondiscrimina-
tion provisions of section 308 of the Staf-
ford Act (42 U.S.C. 5151); and 
(v) to obtain and maintain hazard and 
flood insurance on the units. 
(C) INCIDENTS.—The incidents referred to 
in subparagraph (B)(i) may include incidents 
that do not result in a declaration of a major 
disaster or emergency by the President under 
the Stafford Act. 
(3) DISTRIBUTION.—
(A) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
PROCESS.—The 
Administrator shall establish a process— 
(i) to review requests submitted by 
States under paragraph (2); and 
(ii) to distribute excess temporary 
housing units that are in the inventory of 
FEMA. 
(B) ALLOCATION.—If the number of tem-
porary housing units requested by States under 
paragraph (2) exceeds the number of excess 
temporary housing units available, the Adminis-
trator shall allocate the available units among 
the States that have submitted a request. 
(4) REMAINING TEMPORARY HOUSING UNITS.— 
Temporary housing units that are not transferred or 
donated under paragraph (1) shall be sold, trans-
ferred, donated, or otherwise disposed of subject to 
the requirements of section 408(d)(2) of the Staf-
ford Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(d)(2)) and other applica-
ble provisions of law. 
(5) LIMITATION
ON
STATUTORY
CONSTRUC-
TION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
affect section 689k of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
Management Reform Act of 2006 (120 Stat. 1456). 
For purposes of that section, a transfer or donation
to a State of a temporary housing unit under para-
graph (1) shall be treated as a disposal to house in-
dividuals or households under section 408 of the 
Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5174). 
SEC. 205. OTHER METHODS OF DISPOSAL. 
Section 408(d)(2)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(d)(2)(B)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘or’’; 
(2) in clause (ii) by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) may be sold, transferred, or do-
nated directly to a State or other govern-
mental entity or to a voluntary organiza-
tion for the sole purpose of providing tem-
porary housing to disaster victims in disas-
ters and incidents caused by a hazard (as 
such term is defined in section 602) that 
do not result in a declaration of a major 
disaster or emergency if, as a condition of 
the sale, transfer, or donation, the State, 
other governmental agency, or voluntary 
organization agrees—
‘‘(I) to comply with the non-
discrimination provisions of section 
308; and 
‘‘(II) to obtain and maintain haz-
ard and flood insurance for the hous-
ing units.’’. 
SEC. 206. ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITERIA RELATING TO AD-
MINISTRATION OF HAZARD MITIGATION AS-
SISTANCE BY STATES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President shall establish the criteria re-
quired under section 404(c)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170c(c)(2)). 
SEC. 207. REVIEW OF REGULATIONS AND POLICIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the President, acting 
through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, shall review regulations and policies 
relating to Federal disaster assistance to eliminate regula-
tions the President determines are no longer relevant, to 
harmonize contradictory regulations, and to simplify and 
expedite disaster recovery and assistance. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
ate a report describing changes made to regulations as a 
result of the review required under subsection (a), together 
with any legislative recommendations relating thereto. 
(c) STATE HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS.—The Presi-
dent, acting through the Administrator, shall revise regu-
lations related to the submission of State Hazard Mitiga-
tion Plans to extend the hazard mitigation planning cycle 
to every 5 years, consistent with local planning cycles. 
SEC. 208. APPEALS PROCESS. 
Section 423(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a(b)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) PERIOD FOR DECISION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A decision regarding an ap-
peal under subsection (a) shall be rendered within 
60 days after the date on which the Federal official 
designated to administer such appeal receives notice 
of such appeal. 
‘‘(2) FAILURE TO SATISFY DEADLINE.—If the 
Federal official fails to satisfy the requirement 
under paragraph (1), the Federal official shall pro-
vide a written explanation of such failure to the ap-
plicant. The President, acting through the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy, shall transmit quarterly 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 such failures.’’. 
SEC. 209. IMPLEMENTATION OF COST ESTIMATING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the President, acting through the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
shall issue and begin to implement the regulations re-
quired by section 406(e)(3)(C) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5172(e)(3)(C)) to provide for cost estimation procedures 
that expedite recovery and to reduce the costs and time 
for completion of recovery projects through the creation 
of financial and performance incentives. 
SEC. 210. TRIBAL REQUESTS FOR A MAJOR DISASTER OR 
EMERGENCY 
DECLARATION 
UNDER 
THE 
STAFFORD ACT. 
(a) MAJOR DISASTER REQUESTS.—Section 401 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘All requests for a declaration’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—All requests for a 
declaration’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Executive of an 
affected Indian tribal government may submit a re-
quest for a declaration by the President that a 
major disaster exists consistent with the require-
ments of subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) REFERENCES.—In implementing assist-
ance authorized by the President under this Act in 
response to a request of the Chief Executive of an 
affected Indian tribal government for a major dis-
aster declaration, any reference in this title or sec-
tion 319 to a State or the Governor of a State is 
deemed to refer to an affected Indian tribal govern-
ment or the Chief Executive of an affected Indian 
tribal government, as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this sub-
section shall prohibit an Indian tribal government 
from receiving assistance under this title through a 
declaration made by the President at the request of 
a State under subsection (a) if the President does
not make a declaration under this subsection for the 
same incident. 
‘‘(c) COST SHARE ADJUSTMENTS FOR INDIAN TRIB-
AL GOVERNMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In providing assistance to 
an Indian tribal government under this title, the 
President may waive or adjust any payment of a 
non-Federal contribution with respect to the assist-
ance if— 
‘‘(A) the President has the authority to 
waive or adjust the payment under another pro-
vision of this title; and 
‘‘(B) the President determines that the 
waiver or adjustment is necessary and appro-
priate. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA
FOR
MAKING
DETERMINA-
TIONS.—The President shall establish criteria for 
making determinations under paragraph (1)(B).’’. 
(b) EMERGENCY REQUESTS.—Section 501 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(c) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Executive of an 
affected Indian tribal government may submit a re-
quest for a declaration by the President that an 
emergency exists consistent with the requirements of 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) REFERENCES.—In implementing assist-
ance authorized by the President under this title in 
response to a request of the Chief Executive of an 
affected Indian tribal government for an emergency 
declaration, any reference in this title or section 319 
to a State or the Governor of a State shall be 
deemed to refer to an affected Indian tribal govern-
ment or the Chief Executive of an affected Indian 
tribal government, as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this sub-
section shall prohibit an Indian tribal government 
from receiving assistance under this title through a 
declaration made by the President at the request of 
a State under subsection (a) if the President does 
not make a declaration under this subsection for the 
same incident.’’. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—Section 102 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7)(B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, that is not an Indian tribal government 
as defined in paragraph (6); and’’;
‘‘(4) develop and implement a comprehensive 
dam safety hazard education and public awareness 
program to assist the public in mitigating against, 
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from 
dam incidents;’’. 
(B) BOARD.—Section 8(f)(4) of such Act 
(33 U.S.C. 467f(f)(4)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘, representatives from nongovernmental orga-
nizations,’’ after ‘‘State agencies’’. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(A) NATIONAL DAM SAFETY PROGRAM.— 
(i) 
ANNUAL
AMOUNTS.—Section 
13(a)(1) 
of 
such 
Act 
(33 
U.S.C. 
467j(a)(1)) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘$6,500,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2007, 
$7,100,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2008, 
$7,600,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2009, 
$8,300,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
$9,200,000 for fiscal year 2011’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$8,024,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2012 through 2015’’. 
(ii) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
ALLOCA-
TION.— 
(I) 
IN
GENERAL.—Section 
13(a)(2)(B) of such Act (33 U.S.C.