I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2548 
To modify eligibility requirements for certain hazard mitigation assistance 
programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 7, 2019 
Mrs. FLETCHER (for herself, Mr. OLSON, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, and Mr. MEAD-
OWS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee 
on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To modify eligibility requirements for certain hazard 
mitigation assistance programs, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hazard Eligibility and 
Local Projects Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO BEGIN PLANNING AND CONSTRUC-
TION 
OF 
CERTAIN 
HAZARD 
MITIGATION 
PROJECTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
(2) COVERED
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered 
project’’ means— 
(A) an acquisition or relocation project for 
which an entity began implementation before a 
grant was awarded under a hazard mitigation 
assistance program; and 
(B) a project for which an entity initiated 
planning or construction before or after re-
questing assistance for the project under a haz-
ard mitigation grant program qualifying for a 
categorical exemption under the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act. 
(3) HAZARD
MITIGATION
ASSISTANCE
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘hazard mitigation assistance 
program’’ means— 
(A) the predisaster hazard mitigation 
grant program authorized under section 203 of 
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the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133); 
(B) the hazard mitigation grant program 
authorized under section 404 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c); and 
(C) the flood mitigation assistance pro-
gram authorized under section 1366 of the Na-
tional Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
4104c). 
(b) ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR INITIATED 
PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, an entity seeking hazard mitigation 
assistance under a hazard mitigation assistance pro-
gram shall be eligible to receive such assistance for 
a covered project if the entity— 
(A) complies with all other eligibility re-
quirements of the hazard mitigation assistance 
program for acquisition or relocation projects, 
including extinguishing all incompatible encum-
brances; and 
(B) complies with all Federal requirements 
for the project. 
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(2) COSTS INCURRED.—An entity seeking haz-
ard mitigation assistance under a hazard mitigation 
assistance program shall be responsible for any 
project costs incurred by the entity for a covered 
project if the covered project is not awarded, or is 
determined to be ineligible for, assistance. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply to any 
application for hazard mitigation assistance for a covered 
project submitted on or after January 1, 2016. 
Æ 
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