I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1174 
To establish the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a cabinet-level 
independent agency in the executive branch, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2009 
Mr. OBERSTAR (for himself, Mr. MICA, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. MARIO DIAZ- 
BALART of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to 
the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
as a cabinet-level independent agency in the executive 
branch, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘FEMA Independence Act of 2009’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.— 
1. Short title; table of contents. 
2. Definitions. 
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TITLE I—ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT AGENCY 
101. Establishment of independent agency. 
102. Administrator; Deputy Administrator; and other officials of the Agency. 
103. Authority and responsibilities. 
104. Office of the Inspector General. 
105. Transfer of functions. 
106. Personnel and other transfers. 
107. Savings provisions. 
108. Conforming and technical amendments. 
109. Amendments to Homeland Security Act of 2002. 
110. Recommended legislation. 
TITLE II—RELATED MATTERS 
201. National Advisory Council. 
202. National Integration Center. 
203. Credentialing and typing. 
204. Disability coordinator. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency appointed under 
section 102. 
(2) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Agency’’ means the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency established 
under section 101. 
(3) EMERGENCY.—The term ‘‘emergency’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 102 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
(4) EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.—The term 
‘‘emergency management’’ means preparedness for, 
response to, recovery from, and mitigating hazards. 
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(5) HAZARD.—The term ‘‘hazard’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 602(b) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196(b)) and includes 
any major disaster or emergency. 
(6) MAJOR DISASTER.—The term ‘‘major dis-
aster’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
TITLE 
I—ESTABLISHMENT 
OF 
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MAN-
AGEMENT AGENCY 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT AGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency is established as a cabinet-level independent 
establishment in the executive branch. 
(b) MISSION.—The primary mission of the Agency 
shall be to reduce the loss of life and property and protect 
the Nation from hazards by leading and supporting the 
Nation in a comprehensive emergency management system 
of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. 
SEC. 102. ADMINISTRATOR; DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR; AND 
OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE AGENCY. 
(a) ADMINISTRATOR.— 
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