(4) in subsection (h)(1) by striking ‘‘$25,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$50,000’’. 
SEC. 5. IMPROVING COORDINATION AND RESPONSE EF-
FORTS AT LOCAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 
CENTERS. 
Section 302(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5143(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (5); 
(2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); 
(3) by and inserting after paragraph (3) the 
following: 
‘‘(4) designate a local coordinating officer per 
affected county for the duration of a major disaster 
who is either an employee of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency or has significant experience in 
administering Federal disaster assistance for the 
purpose of maintaining consistent Federal represen-
tation in the affected county and assisting in the co-
ordination of State and local disaster assistance ef-
forts with those of the Federal Government; and’’.
SEC. 6. USE OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IN DETERMINING 
AND ADMINISTERING FEDERAL DISASTER AS-
SISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 307 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5150) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL’’ before ‘‘In 
the’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULE.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(a), only employees of the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity or any other appropriate Federal department or agen-
cy may allocate, distribute, or approve Federal financial 
assistance under this Act.’’. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) PREPARATION.—The Under Secretary of 
Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness 
and Response shall prepare a report on the role and 
effectiveness of private organizations, firms, or indi-
viduals, in approving, coordinating and admin-
istering Federal emergency disaster assistance, in-
cluding the results of any internal or external audits 
of private organizations, firms, or individuals on the 
administration of disaster assistance by these private 
organizations.
(2) DEADLINE FOR TRANSMITTAL.—The Under 
Secretary shall transmit the report to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Environ-
ment and Public Works of the Senate not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7. DISASTER EXPERT PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.—Title VII of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5201–5205) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 706. DISASTER EXPERT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of Home-
land Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response 
shall establish and carry out a disaster expert grant pro-
gram in accordance with this section. Grants under the 
program shall be made on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(b) GRANT PURPOSES.—Under the grant program, 
grants may only be made— 
‘‘(1) to establish and maintain a disaster strike 
force team consisting of emergency planners, public 
safety officers, administrators, and other State and 
local officials with first-hand experience and knowl-
edge in the coordination and administration of Fed-
eral, State, and local emergency assistance that are