I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2017 
To modify certain requirements to encourage the recovery of Puerto Rico 
and the United States Virgin Islands. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2021 
Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To modify certain requirements to encourage the recovery 
of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES. 
In providing assistance pursuant to section 428 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189f), for critical services as set 
forth in section 406(a)(3) for the duration of the recovery 
for incidents DR–4336–PR, DR–4339–PR, DR–4340– 
USVI, and DR–4335–USVI, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall— 
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(1) revise the guidance definitions for applica-
tion of section 20601 of the Bipartisan Budget Act 
of 2018 (Public Law 115–123) to provide explicitly 
that multicomponent systems or facilities be in-
spected, evaluated, and estimated as a single project 
rather than requiring every component of the system 
to be inspected, evaluated, and estimated; 
(2) at the request of an applicant, put into ef-
fect a procedure for evaluation and authorization of 
projects through professionally licensed engineers, as 
provided by subparagraphs (F) and (G) subsection 
(d)(1) of section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and 
(3) extend the deadline for the presentation of 
cost estimates and project worksheets under such in-
cidents until October 31, 2021. 
SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT RECOVERY. 
Section 20601 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–123) is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and 
inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
SEC. 3. TIMELY BASIS FOR PAYMENT AND REIMBURSE-
MENT. 
Section 428(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189f) is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) ensuring that work performed by pro-
viders, suppliers, and contractors to the Federal, 
State, local, or tribal governments or nonprofit fa-
cilities under the provisions of this Act is paid for 
and reimbursed in a timely manner.’’. 
SEC. 4. SUBRECIPIENT PAYMENTS. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—For incidents DR–4336–PR, 
DR–4339–PR, DR–4340–USVI, and DR–4335–USVI/ 
For any major disaster or emergency declared under the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C 5121 et seq.) in Puerto Rico or the 
United States Virgin Islands, a subrecipient in meeting 
any Federal cost-sharing requirement may use available 
funds from any disaster recovery program/source, includ-
ing Community Development Block Grants—Disaster Re-
covery, Community Development Block Grants, commu-
nity disaster loans, and any in-kind contributions (unless 
prohibited by law) to meet any Federal cost-sharing re-
quirement. Such funds or loans shall cover the cumulative 
costs of any approved obligation under the specific public 
assistance category determined by the Federal Emergency 
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Management Administration under such Act rather than 
having to apply individually to each specific cost estimate 
or project worksheet issued under such obligation. 
(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘subrecipient’’ means a local government or a non- 
governmental organization (NGO). 
Æ 
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