ment of this Act for which construction has not begun as 
of the date of enactment of this Act. 
‘‘(b) ADOPTION.—The Administrator, in coordination 
with States, tribal and local governments, and owners or 
operators of private nonprofit facilities, may adopt alter-
native procedures to administer assistance provided under 
sections 403(a)(3)(A), 406, 407, and 502(a)(5). 
‘‘(c) GOALS OF PROCEDURES.—The alternative pro-
cedures adopted under subsection (a) shall further the 
goals of— 
‘‘(1) reducing the costs to the Federal Govern-
ment of providing such assistance; 
‘‘(2) increasing flexibility in the administration 
of such assistance; 
‘‘(3) expediting the provision of such assistance 
to a State, tribal or local government, or owner or 
operator of a private nonprofit facility; and 
‘‘(4) providing financial incentives and disincen-
tives for a State, tribal or local government, or 
owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility for 
the timely and cost-effective completion of projects 
with such assistance. 
‘‘(d) PARTICIPATION.—Participation in the alter-
native procedures adopted under this section shall be at 
the election of a State, tribal or local government, or 
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owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility consistent 
with procedures determined by the Administrator. 
‘‘(e) MINIMUM PROCEDURES.—The alternative pro-
cedures adopted under this section shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) For repair, restoration, and replacement of 
damaged facilities under section 406— 
‘‘(A) making grants on the basis of fixed 
estimates, if the State, tribal or local govern-
ment, or owner or operator of the private non-
profit facility agrees to be responsible for any 
actual costs that exceed the estimate; 
‘‘(B) providing an option for a State, tribal 
or local government, or owner or operator of a 
private nonprofit facility to elect to receive an 
in-lieu contribution, without reduction, on the 
basis of estimates of— 
‘‘(i) the cost of repair, restoration, re-
construction, or replacement of a public fa-
cility owned or controlled by the State, 
tribal or local government or owner or op-
erator of a private nonprofit facility; and 
‘‘(ii) management expenses; 
‘‘(C) consolidating, to the extent deter-
mined appropriate by the Administrator, the fa-
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cilities of a State, tribal or local government, or 
owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility 
as a single project based upon the estimates 
adopted under the procedures; 
‘‘(D) if the actual costs of a project com-
pleted under the procedures are less than the 
estimated costs thereof, the Administrator may 
permit a grantee or subgrantee to use all or 
part of the excess funds for— 
‘‘(i) cost-effective activities that re-
duce the risk of future damage, hardship, 
or suffering from a major disaster; and 
‘‘(ii) other activities to improve future 
Public Assistance operations or planning; 
‘‘(E) in determining eligible costs under 
section 406, the Administrator shall make avail-
able, at an applicant’s request and where the 
Administrator or the certified cost estimate pre-
pared by the applicant’s professionally licensed 
engineers has estimated an eligible Federal 
share for a project of at least $5,000,000, an 
independent expert panel to validate the esti-
mated eligible cost consistent with applicable 
regulations and policies implementing this sec-
tion; and 
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‘‘(F) in determining eligible costs under 
section 406, the Administrator shall, at the ap-
plicant’s request, consider properly conducted 
and certified cost estimates prepared by profes-
sionally licensed engineers (mutually agreed 
upon by the Administrator and the applicant), 
to the extent that such estimates comply with 
applicable regulations, policy, and guidance. 
‘‘(2) 
For 
debris 
removal 
under 
sections 
403(a)(3)(A), 407, and 502(a)(5)— 
‘‘(A) making grants on the basis of fixed 
estimates to provide financial incentives and 
disincentives for the timely or cost-effective 
completion if the State, tribal or local govern-
ment, or owner or operator of the private non-
profit facility agrees to be responsible to pay for 
any actual costs that exceed the estimate; 
‘‘(B) using a sliding scale for determining 
the Federal share for removal of debris and 
wreckage based on the time it takes to complete 
debris and wreckage removal; 
‘‘(C) allowing use of program income from 
recycled debris without offset to the grant 
amount; 
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‘‘(D) reimbursing base and overtime wages 
for employees and extra hires of a State, tribal 
or local government, or owner or operator of a 
private nonprofit facility performing or admin-
istering debris and wreckage removal; 
‘‘(E) providing incentives to a State or 
tribal or local government to have a debris 
management plan approved by the Adminis-
trator and have pre-qualified 1 or more debris 
and wreckage removal contractors before the 
date of declaration of the major disaster; and 
‘‘(F) if the actual costs of projects under 
subparagraph (A) are less than the estimated 
costs of the project, the Administrator may per-
mit a grantee or subgrantee to use all or part 
of the excess funds for— 
‘‘(i) debris management planning; 
‘‘(ii) acquisition of debris management 
equipment for current or future use; and 
‘‘(iii) other activities to improve future 
debris removal operations, as determined 
by the Administrator. 
‘‘(f) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—Until such time as the 
Administrator promulgates regulations to implement this 
section, the Administrator may— 
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‘‘(1) waive notice and comment rulemaking, if 
the Administrator determines the waiver is necessary 
to expeditiously implement this section; and 
‘‘(2) carry out the alternative procedures under 
this section as a pilot program. 
‘‘(g) OVERTIME PAYMENTS.—The guidelines for re-
imbursement for costs under subsection (e)(2)(D) shall 
ensure that no State or local government is denied reim-
bursement for overtime payments that are required pursu-
ant to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 
201 et seq.). 
‘‘(h) REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not earlier than 3 years, 
and not later than 5 years, after the date of enact-
ment of this section, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security shall submit to 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report on the alternative proce-
dures for the repair, restoration, and replacement of 
damaged facilities under section 406 authorized 
under this section. 
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‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall contain an 
assessment of the effectiveness of the alternative 
procedures, including— 
‘‘(A) whether the alternative procedures 
helped to improve the general speed of disaster 
recovery; 
‘‘(B) the accuracy of the estimates relied 
upon; 
‘‘(C) whether the financial incentives and 
disincentives were effective; 
‘‘(D) whether the alternative procedures 
were cost effective; 
‘‘(E) whether the independent expert panel 
described in subsection (e)(1)(E) was effective; 
and 
‘‘(F) recommendations for whether the al-
ternative procedures should be continued and 
any recommendations for changes to the alter-
native procedures.’’. 
SEC. 5. 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— 
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(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 title 
III (except sections 310 and 326) to a State or the 
Governor of a State is deemed to refer to an affected 
Indian tribal government or the Chief Executive of 
an affected Indian tribal government, as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(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 
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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-
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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 title III 
(except sections 310 and 326) to a State or the Gov-
ernor of a State is deemed to refer to an affected 
Indian tribal government or the Chief Executive of 
an affected Indian tribal government, as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(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— 
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(1) in paragraph (7)(B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, that is not an Indian tribal government 
as defined in paragraph (6); and’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through 
(10) as paragraphs (7) through (11), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(6) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term 
‘Indian tribal government’ means the governing body 
of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, 
pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of 
the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe 
under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List 
Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a et seq.).’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(12) CHIEF EXECUTIVE.—The term ‘Chief Ex-
ecutive’ means the person who is the Chief, Chair-
man, Governor, President, or similar executive offi-
cial of an Indian tribal government.’’. 
(d) REFERENCES.—Title I of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5121 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 102 the 
following: 
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‘‘SEC. 103. REFERENCES. 
‘‘Except as otherwise specifically provided, any ref-
erence in this Act to ‘State and local’, ‘State or local’, 
‘State, and local’, ‘State, or local’, or ‘State, local’ (includ-
ing plurals) with respect to governments or officials and 
any reference to a ‘local government’ in sections 406(d)(3) 
and 417 is deemed to refer also to Indian tribal govern-
ments and officials, as appropriate.’’. 
(e) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) ISSUANCE.—The President shall issue regu-
lations to carry out the amendments made by this 
section. 
(2) FACTORS.—In issuing the regulations, the 
President shall consider the unique conditions that 
affect the general welfare of Indian tribal govern-
ments. 
SEC. 6. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND 
HOUSEHOLDS. 
Section 408(c)(1)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(c)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as 
clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after clause (i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) LEASE AND REPAIR OF RENTAL 
UNITS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING.— 
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‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—The Presi-
dent, to the extent the President de-
termines it would be a cost-effective 
alternative to other temporary housing 
options, may— 
‘‘(aa) enter into lease agree-
ments with owners of multifamily 
rental property located in areas 
covered by a major disaster dec-
laration to house individuals and 
households eligible for assistance 
under this section; and 
‘‘(bb) make repairs or im-
provements to properties under 
such lease agreements, to the ex-
tent necessary to serve as safe 
and adequate temporary housing. 
‘‘(II) IMPROVEMENTS
OR
RE-
PAIRS.—Under the terms of any lease 
agreement for property entered into 
under this subsection, the value of the 
improvements or repairs— 
‘‘(aa) shall be deducted from 
the value of the lease agreement; 
and 
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‘‘(bb) may not exceed the 
value of the lease agreement.’’; 
and 
(3) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated) by strik-
ing ‘‘clause (ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘clause (iii)’’. 
SEC. 7. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES. 
Section 422 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘If the Federal estimate’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Federal esti-
mate’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(or, if the Administrator has 
established a threshold under subsection (b), the 
amount established under subsection (b))’’ after 
‘‘$35,000’’ the first place it appears; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘or, if applicable, the amount 
established under subsection (b),’’ after ‘‘$35,000 
amount’’ the second place it appears; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) THRESHOLD.— 
‘‘(1) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the President, 
acting through the Administrator of the Federal 
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Emergency Management Agency (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘Administrator’), shall— 
‘‘(A) complete an analysis to determine 
whether an increase in the threshold for eligi-
bility under subsection (a) is appropriate, which 
shall include consideration of cost-effectiveness, 
speed of recovery, capacity of grantees, past 
performance, and accountability measures; and 
‘‘(B) submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress (as defined in section 602 of the 
Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 
Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 701)) a report regarding 
the analysis conducted under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—After the Administrator sub-
mits the report required under paragraph (1), the 
President shall direct the Administrator to— 
‘‘(A) immediately establish a threshold for 
eligibility under this section in an appropriate 
amount, without regard to chapter 5 of title 5, 
United States Code; and 
‘‘(B) adjust the threshold annually to re-
flect changes in the Consumer Price Index for 
all Urban Consumers published by the Depart-
ment of Labor. 
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‘‘(3) REVIEW.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date on which the Administrator establishes a 
threshold under paragraph (2), and every 3 years 
thereafter, the President, acting through the Admin-
istrator, shall review the threshold for eligibility 
under this section.’’. 
SEC. 8. UNIFIED FEDERAL REVIEW. 
Title IV 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. 429. UNIFIED FEDERAL REVIEW. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this section, and in consultation 
with the Council on Environmental Quality and the Advi-
sory Council on Historic Preservation, the President shall 
establish an expedited and unified interagency review 
process to ensure compliance with environmental and his-
toric requirements under Federal law relating to disaster 
recovery projects, in order to expedite the recovery proc-
ess, consistent with applicable law. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The review process established 
under this section shall include mechanisms to expedi-
tiously address delays that may occur during the recovery 
from a major disaster and be updated, as appropriate, 
consistent with applicable law.’’. 
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SEC. 9. CHILD CARE. 
Section 408(e)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading by inserting 
‘‘CHILD CARE,’’ after ‘‘DENTAL,’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘child care,’’ after ‘‘dental,’’. 
SEC. 10. ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) SALARIES AND BENEFITS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the President declares a 
major disaster or emergency for an area within the 
jurisdiction of a State, tribal, or local government, 
the President may reimburse the State, tribal, or 
local government for costs relating to— 
‘‘(A) basic pay and benefits for permanent 
employees of the State, tribal, or local govern-
ment conducting emergency protective measures 
under this section, if— 
‘‘(i) the work is not typically per-
formed by the employees; and 
‘‘(ii) the type of work may otherwise 
be carried out by contract or agreement 
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with private organizations, firms, or indi-
viduals.; or 
‘‘(B) overtime and hazardous duty com-
pensation for permanent employees of the 
State, tribal, or local government conducting 
emergency protective measures under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(2) OVERTIME.—The guidelines for reimburse-
ment for costs under paragraph (1) shall ensure that 
no State, tribal, or local government is denied reim-
bursement for overtime payments that are required 
pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
(29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.). 
‘‘(3) NO
EFFECT
ON
MUTUAL
AID
PACTS.— 
Nothing in this subsection shall affect the ability of 
the President to reimburse labor force expenses pro-
vided pursuant to an authorized mutual aid pact.’’. 
SEC. 11. STATE HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS. 
The President, acting through the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall revise 
regulations related to the submission of State Hazard 
Mitigation Plans to extend the hazard mitigation planning 
cycle to every 5 years, consistent with local planning cy-
cles. 
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SEC. 12. OTHER METHODS OF DISPOSAL. 
Section 408(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(d)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘and emer-
gencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, emergencies, or, if the President 
determines that the sale, transfer, or donation would be 
cost effective to the Federal Government, for an incident 
caused by a hazard (as defined in section 602), for which 
the Governor has taken appropriate action under State 
law and directed execution of the State emergency plan, 
but that does not result in a Presidential declaration of 
a major disaster or emergency’’. 
SEC. 13. 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 warnings regarding disasters and other hazards 
to public safety, the President, acting through the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Ad-
ministrator’’), shall— 
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(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 under all con-
ditions the President and, except to the extent 
the public alert and warning system is in use by 
the President, Federal agencies and State, trib-
al, and local governments can alert and warn 
the civilian population in areas endangered by 
disasters or other hazards to public safety; and 
(B) implement the public alert and warn-
ing system. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall— 
(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, and multiple commu-
nication systems and technologies, as appro-
priate; 
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(C) include in the public alert and warning 
system the capability to alert, warn, and pro-
vide equivalent information to individuals with 
disabilities, individuals with access and func-
tional needs, and individuals with limited- 
English proficiency, to the extent technically 
feasible; 
(D) ensure that training, tests, and exer-
cises are conducted for the public alert and 
warning system, including by— 
(i) incorporating the system into other 
training and exercise programs of the De-
partment of Homeland Security, as appro-
priate; 
(ii) establishing and integrating into 
the National Incident Management System 
a comprehensive and periodic training pro-
gram to instruct and educate Federal, 
State, tribal, and local government officials 
in the use of the Common Alerting Pro-
tocol enabled Emergency Alert System; 
and 
(iii) conducting, at least once every 3 
years, periodic nationwide tests of the pub-
lic alert and warning system; 
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(E) ensure that the public alert and warn-
ing system is resilient, secure, and can with-
stand acts of terrorism and other external at-
tacks; 
(F) conduct public education efforts so 
that State, tribal, and local governments, pri-
vate entities, and the people of the United 
States reasonably understand the functions of 
the public alert and warning system and how to 
access, use, and respond to information from 
the public alert and warning system through a 
general market awareness campaign; 
(G) consult, coordinate, and cooperate with 
the appropriate private sector entities and Fed-
eral, State, tribal, and local governmental au-
thorities, including the regional administrators 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
and emergency response providers; 
(H) coordinate with, and consider the rec-
ommendations of the subcommittee established 
under subsection (c); and 
(I) to the extent that the development of 
the public alert and warning system is not con-
sistent with the recommendations of the sub-
committee, report such inconsistences to the 
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Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House 
of Representatives. 
(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— 
(i) to provide alerts to the largest por-
tion of the affected population feasible, in-
cluding nonresident visitors and tourists, 
individuals with disabilities and access and 
functional needs, and individuals with lim-
ited-English proficiency; and 
(ii) to 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; 
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(E) provide redundant alert mechanisms 
where practicable so as 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; 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 subcommittee under subsection (c)(7), the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental 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 addi-
tional authority that may be necessary to fully im-
plement this subsection. 
(5) USE OF SYSTEM.— 
(A) LIMITATION.—Except to the extent 
necessary for testing the public alert and warn-
ing system, the public alert and warning system 
shall not be used to transmit a message that 
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does not relate to a disaster or other hazard to 
public safety. 
(B) CONSUMER OPT-OUT.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to supersede section 
602 of the SAFE Port Act (47 U.S.C. 1201). 
(6) PERFORMANCE REPORTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter through 2017, the Adminis-
trator shall make available on the public Web 
site of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency a performance report, which shall— 
(i) establish performance goals for the 
implementation of the public alert and 
warning system by the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency; 
(ii) describe the performance of the 
public alert and warning system, includ-
ing— 
(I) the type of technology used 
for alerts and warnings issued under 
the system; 
(II) the measures taken to alert, 
warn, and provide equivalent informa-
tion to individuals with disabilities 
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and individuals with limited-English 
proficiency; and 
(III) the training, tests, and ex-
ercises performed and the outcomes 
obtained by the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency; 
(iii) identify significant challenges to 
the effective operation of the public alert 
and warning system and any plans to ad-
dress these challenges; 
(iv) identify other necessary improve-
ments to the system; and 
(v) provide an analysis comparing the 
performance of the public alert and warn-
ing system with the performance goals es-
tablished under clause (i). 
(B) CONGRESS.—The Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture and the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives each report re-
quired under subparagraph (A). 
(c) INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYS-
TEM SUBCOMMITTEE.— 
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(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall establish a Subcommittee to the Na-
tional Advisory Council established under section 
508 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 318) to be known as the Integrated Public 
Alert and Warning System Subcommittee (in this 
subsection referred to as the ‘‘Subcommittee’’). 
(2) 
MEMBERSHIP.—Notwithstanding 
section 
508(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 318(c)), the Subcommittee shall be composed 
of the following members (or their designees) to be 
appointed by the Administrator as soon as prac-
ticable 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) The Under Secretary for Science and 
Technology of the Department of Homeland Se-
curity. 
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(E) The Under Secretary for the National 
Protection and Programs Directorate. 
(F) The Director of Disability Integration 
and Coordination of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency. 
(G) The National Council on Disability. 
(H) Qualified individuals appointed by the 
Administrator as soon as practicable after the 
date of enactment of this Act from among the 
following: 
(i) Representatives of State and local 
governments, representatives of emergency 
management agencies, and representatives 
of emergency response providers, with the 
Administrator considering individuals nom-
inated by national organizations rep-
resenting governments and personnel. 
(ii) Representatives from federally rec-
ognized Indian tribes and national Indian 
organizations. 
(iii) Individuals who have the requisite 
technical knowledge and expertise to serve 
on the Subcommittee, including representa-
tives of— 
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(I) communications service pro-
viders; 
(II) vendors, developers, and 
manufacturers of systems, facilities, 
equipment, and capabilities for the 
provision of communications services; 
(III) third-party service bureaus; 
(IV) the broadcasting industry; 
(V) the cellular industry; 
(VI) the cable industry; 
(VII) the satellite industry; 
(VIII) national organizations rep-
resenting individuals with disabilities, 
the blind, deaf, and hearing-loss com-
munities, individuals with access and 
functional needs, and the elderly; 
(IX) consumer or privacy advo-
cates; and 
(X) organizations representing 
individuals with limited-English pro-
ficiency. 
(iv) Qualified representatives of such 
other stakeholders and interested and af-
fected parties as the Administrator con-
siders appropriate. 
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(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Administrator shall 
serve as the Chairperson of the Subcommittee. 
(4) MEETINGS.— 
(A) INITIAL MEETING.—The initial meet-
ing of the Subcommittee shall take place not 
later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(B) OTHER MEETINGS.—After the initial 
meeting, the Subcommittee shall meet, at least 
annually, at the call of the Chairperson. 
(5) CONSULTATION WITH NONMEMBERS.—The 
Subcommittee and the program offices for the inte-
grated public alert and warning system for the 
United States shall consult with groups that are not 
represented on the Subcommittee 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. 
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(6) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Subcommittee 
shall develop recommendations for an integrated 
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 
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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. 
(7) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee 
shall submit to the Administrator, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
containing 
the 
recommendations 
of 
the 
Sub-
committee. 
(8) TERMINATION.—The Subcommittee shall 
terminate not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(d) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY AND EFFECT ON OB-
LIGATIONS.—Nothing in this section shall be construed— 
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(1) to provide the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity authority to require any action by the Federal 
Communications Commission, the Department of 
Commerce, or any nongovernment entity; or 
(2) to affect any existing obligations of the Fed-
eral Communications Commission, the Department 
of Commerce, or any nongovernment entity. 
SEC. 14. REPORT ON IMPACTS OF HURRICANE SANDY. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Chair of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding 
Task Force established by the President, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency, the Secretary of the Treasury, and oth-
ers whom the Chair determines to be appropriate, shall 
submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report that includes a dis-
cussion of— 
(1) the impacts of Hurricane Sandy on local 
government budgets in States where a major dis-
aster has been declared, including revenues from 
taxes, fees, and other sources, and expenses related 
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to operations, debt obligations, and unreimbursed 
disaster-related costs; 
(2) the availability of loans from private sources 
to address such impacts, including information on 
interest rates, repayment terms, securitization re-
quirements, and the ability of affected local govern-
ments to qualify for such loans; 
(3) the availability of Federal resources to ad-
dress the budgetary impacts of Hurricane Sandy 
upon local governments; 
(4) the ability of the Community Disaster Loan 
program authorized under section 417 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184) to effectively and expedi-
tiously address budgetary impacts of Hurricane 
Sandy and other disasters upon local governments, 
including— 
(A) an assessment of the current statutory 
limits on loan amounts; 
(B) the regulations, policies, and proce-
dures governing program mobilization to com-
munities in need and expeditious processing of 
loan applications; 
(C) information on interest rates, repay-
ment terms, securitization requirements, and 
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ability of affected local governments to qualify 
for such loans; 
(D) criteria governing the cancellation of 
such loans, including appropriate classification 
of available revenues and eligible expenses, and 
the consistency of program rules with cus-
tomary local government budgetary practices 
and State or local laws that affect the specific 
budgetary practices of local governments af-
fected by Hurricane Sandy and other disasters; 
(E) repayment terms and timeframes on 
loans that do not qualify for cancellation; 
(F) options for Congressional consideration 
related to legislative modifications of this pro-
gram, and any other applicable provisions of 
Federal law, in order to address the budgetary 
impacts of Hurricane Sandy and other disasters 
upon local governments; and 
(G) recommendations on steps the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency may take in 
order to improve program administration, effec-
tiveness, communications, and speed; and 
(5) potential consequences of Federal action or 
inaction to address the budgetary impacts of Hurri-
cane Sandy upon local governments. 
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SEC. 15. URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE 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. 
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‘‘(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.— 
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‘‘(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 
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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. 
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‘‘(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-
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pose by regulation, the Administrator shall 
make payments to the sponsoring agency of a 
task force to reimburse each employer of a Sys-
tem member on the task force for compensation 
paid by the employer to an employee filling a 
position normally filled by the System member 
for any period during which the System mem-
ber is appointed into Federal service under sub-
section (f)(1). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Costs incurred by an 
employer shall be eligible for reimbursement 
under subparagraph (A) only to the extent that 
the costs are in excess of the costs that would 
have been incurred by the employer had the 
System member not been appointed into Fed-
eral service under subsection (f)(1). 
‘‘(3) METHOD OF PAYMENT.—A System mem-
ber shall not be entitled to pay directly from the 
Agency for a period during which the System mem-
ber is appointed into Federal service under sub-
section (f)(1). 
‘‘(h) 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, 
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United States Code, and chapter 171 of that title, relating 
to tort claims procedure. 
‘‘(i) 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. 
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‘‘(j) 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). 
‘‘(k) 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. 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(l) PREPAREDNESS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(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 
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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. 
‘‘(m) 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. 
‘‘(n) OBLIGATIONS.—The Administrator may incur 
all necessary obligations consistent with this section in 
order to ensure the effectiveness of the System.’’. 
(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 
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(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 
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327 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act,’’. 
SEC. 16. RECOVERY COMMISSIONS. 
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. RECOVERY COMMISSIONS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘Administrator’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency; 
‘‘(2) the term ‘Chairperson’ means the Chair-
person of a Commission selected under subsection 
(b)(2); and 
‘‘(3) the term ‘Commission’ means a commis-
sion established under subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(b) COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the President determines 
it is appropriate after a large and complex major 
disaster, the President may establish a commission 
to facilitate and support States and local govern-
ments in achieving an efficient, effective, and expedi-
tious recovery from the major disaster. 
‘‘(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The President shall select 
an official to serve as the Chairperson of each Com-
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mission established by the President to ensure the 
responsibilities of the Commission are fulfilled. The 
duties of the Chairperson shall include coordination 
of the efforts of Federal agencies in a manner con-
sistent with authorities under this Act, in support of 
the efficient, effective, and expeditious recovery from 
the major disaster. 
‘‘(3) MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONS.—Each Com-
mission shall include as a member the Adminis-
trator, the head of appropriate coordinating and pri-
mary Federal agencies under the National Disaster 
Recovery Framework, and the head of any other 
Federal agency that the President determines nec-
essary. 
‘‘(4) STAFFING.—Appropriate senior officials 
and employees may be detailed to a Commission to 
serve full-time or part-time, as appropriate, on the 
Commission to ensure efficient coordination of the 
assistance provided by the Federal Government. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF A COMMISSION.—The re-
sponsibilities of a Commission may include, consistent 
with this Act, to— 
‘‘(1) develop and implement a strategic support 
plan under subsection (d) for the Federal support of 
the recovery from the major disaster and to mitigate 
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against the effects of and foster resilience against 
subsequent disasters; 
‘‘(2) coordinate the activities of Federal agen-
cies represented by the members of the Commission 
and other Federal agencies that the President deter-
mines necessary, resolve disagreements relating to 
recovery from the major disaster between or among 
Federal agencies, and support implementation of the 
National Disaster Recovery Framework; 
‘‘(3) compile data relating to the recovery from 
the major disaster, including on the Federal assist-
ance provided and the status of meeting recovery 
goals; 
‘‘(4) identify Federal regulations, policies, and 
procedures that need to be streamlined and coordi-
nated to enable an efficient, expeditious, and effec-
tive recovery from the major disaster; 
‘‘(5) identify and facilitate the provision of Fed-
eral funds to address gaps in the recovery from the 
major disaster; 
‘‘(6) coordinate with State and local govern-
ments and nongovernmental partners and stake-
holders in the affected area to support recovery from 
the major disaster; and 
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‘‘(7) take actions to prevent waste, fraud, and 
abuse in the recovery from the major disaster. 
‘‘(d) STRATEGIC RECOVERY SUPPORT PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as feasible, but not 
later than 180 days after the date of a major dis-
aster relating to which the President establishes a 
Commission, the Commission shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a strategic recovery support plan for 
how the Federal Government will expeditiously assist 
State and local governments in the recovery of the 
area affected by the major disaster. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each strategic recovery sup-
port plan submitted under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) shall be written in coordination with 
State and local governments affected by the 
major disaster; and 
‘‘(B) may include, as appropriate— 
‘‘(i) an assessment of challenges and 
needs faced in the recovery from the major 
disaster; 
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‘‘(ii) specific outcomes, goals and ac-
tions, with a plan for monitoring progress 
towards such outcomes and goals; 
‘‘(iii) a description of how each Fed-
eral agency will support State and local 
governments in the recovery efforts, includ-
ing technical, financial, and planning as-
sistance, and the roles and responsibilities 
of each Federal agency in fulfilling the 
strategic recovery support plan; 
‘‘(iv) a description of how each Fed-
eral agency on the Commission will admin-
ister and provide staffing to support recov-
ery from the major disaster; 
‘‘(v) a description of any procedures 
of a Federal agency that will be stream-
lined to help ensure an efficient and effec-
tive recovery from the major disaster; and 
‘‘(vi) a description of any legislative 
authority needed to help ensure an effi-
cient, expeditious, and effective recovery 
from the major disaster. 
‘‘(3) UPDATE.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which a Commission submits a strategic 
recovery support plan under paragraph (1), and 
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every 180 days thereafter until the date on which 
the Commission terminates under subsection (e), the 
Commission shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a re-
port describing— 
‘‘(A) progress in achieving the major dis-
aster outcomes and goals since the date on 
which the most recent strategic support strat-
egy or report relating to the major disaster was 
submitted; and 
‘‘(B) major challenges and unmet needs re-
maining in the recovery from the major dis-
aster. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall termi-
nate a Commission established in relation to a major 
disaster when the President determines that all 
issues relating to the Federal coordination of the re-
covery have been substantially resolved. 
‘‘(2) WITHDRAWAL.—Upon a determination by 
the President that the matters with which a Federal 
agency has been involved as part of a Commission 
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have been substantially resolved, the Federal agency 
may withdraw from the Commission. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to impair, alter, or otherwise affect the author-
ity of any agency of the Federal Government including 
under section 302.’’. 
SEC. 17. ENHANCING RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OPER-
ATIONS AND PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 526. ADMINISTRATION OF RESPONSE AND RECOVERY 
OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘annuitant’ means an annuitant 
under a Government retirement system; 
‘‘(2) the terms ‘deployed’ and ‘deployment’ 
mean the performance of services under the response 
and recovery operations and programs of the Agen-
cy, including exercises and training for such oper-
ations and programs; 
‘‘(3) the term ‘disaster reserve workforce’ 
means the disaster reserve workforce established 
under subsection (b); 
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‘‘(4) the term ‘employee’ has the meaning given 
under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code; 
‘‘(5) the term ‘employee designated for short 
term deployments’ means an employee hired under 
section 306(b)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5149(b)(1)) designated only for short-term deploy-
ments; 
‘‘(6) the term ‘Government retirement system’ 
means a retirement system established by law for 
employees of the Government of the United States; 
‘‘(7) the term ‘major project’ means any project 
for which the total costs are greater than $400,000; 
‘‘(8) the term ‘permanent seasonal employee’ 
means an employee, including an employee hired 
under section 306(b)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)), working under seasonal employ-
ment as defined under section 340.401 of title 5 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations or any successor 
regulation; 
‘‘(9) the term ‘reservist’ means an employee 
who is a member of the disaster reserve workforce; 
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