IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8266 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2020 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
To modify the Federal cost share of certain emergency assist-
ance provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to modify the ac-
tivities eligible for assistance under the emergency dec-
laration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, 
relating to COVID–19, and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘FEMA Assistance Re-
lief Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. COST SHARE. 
(a) 
TEMPORARY
FEDERAL
SHARE.—Notwith-
standing sections 403(b), 403(c)(4), 404(a), 406(b), 
408(d), 408(g)(2), 428(e)(2)(B), and 503(a) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), for any emergency or major dis-
aster declared by the President under such Act during the 
period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on De-
cember 31, 2020, the Federal share of assistance provided 
under such sections shall be not less than 90 percent of 
the eligible cost of such assistance. 
(b) COST SHARE UNDER COVID EMERGENCY DEC-
LARATION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), assistance 
provided under the emergency declaration issued by the 
President on March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 501(b) 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191(b)), and under any subse-
quent major disaster declaration under section 401 of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes such emergency 
declaration, shall be at a 100 percent Federal cost share. 
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(c) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply to 
funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the emergency declared on 
March 13, 2020 by the President under section 501 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191), the President may provide 
assistance for activities, costs, and purchases of States, 
Indian tribal governments, or local governments, includ-
ing— 
(1) activities eligible for assistance under sec-
tions 301, 415, 416, and 426 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5141, 5182, 5183, 5189d); 
(2) backfill costs for first responders and other 
essential employees who are ill or quarantined; 
(3) increased operating costs for essential gov-
ernment services due to such emergency, including 
costs for implementing continuity plans, and shel-
tering or housing for first responders, emergency 
managers, health providers and other essential em-
ployees; 
(4) costs of providing guidance and information 
to the public and for call centers to disseminate such 
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guidance and information, including private non-
profit organizations; 
(5) costs associated with establishing and oper-
ating virtual services; 
(6) costs for establishing and operating remote 
test sites, including comprehensive community based 
testing; 
(7) training provided specifically in anticipation 
of or in response to the event on which such emer-
gency declaration is predicated; 
(8) personal protective equipment and other 
critical supplies and services for first responders and 
other essential employees, including individuals 
working in public schools, courthouses, law enforce-
ment, and public transit systems; 
(9) medical equipment, regardless of whether 
such equipment is used for emergency or inpatient 
care; 
(10) public health costs, including provision and 
distribution of medicine and medical supplies; 
(11) costs associated with maintaining alternate 
care facilities or related facilities currently inactive 
but related to future needs tied to the ongoing pan-
demic event; 
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(12) costs of establishing and operating shelters 
and providing services, including transportation, that 
help alleviate the need of individuals for shelter; and 
(13) costs, including costs incurred by private 
nonprofit organizations, of procuring and distrib-
uting food to individuals affected by the pandemic 
through networks established by State, local, or 
Tribal governments, or other organizations, includ-
ing restaurants and farms, and for the purchase of 
food directly from food producers and farmers. 
(b) APPLICATION
TO SUBSEQUENT MAJOR DIS-
ASTER.—The activities described in subsection (a) may 
also be eligible for assistance under any major disaster de-
clared by the President under section 401 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes the emergency declaration 
described in such subsection. 
(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR FUNERAL EX-
PENSES.—For any emergency or major disaster described 
in subsection (a) or (b) and subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the President shall provide financial as-
sistance to an individual or household to meet disaster- 
related funeral expenses under section 408(e)(1) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(e)). 
(d) ADVANCED ASSISTANCE.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to facilitate activities 
under this section, the President, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy, may provide assistance in advance to an eligible appli-
cant if a failure to do so would prevent the applicant from 
carrying out such activities. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs a report 
on assistance provided in advance pursuant to paragraph 
(1). 
(3) AUDIT BY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECU-
RITY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General 
of the Department of Homeland Security shall conduct a 
follow-up review of assistance provided in advance pursu-
ant to paragraph (1). 
(4) REVIEW.—The audit under paragraph (2) shall 
include, at a minimum— 
(A) a review of the assumptions and methodolo-
gies used to determine eligibility for advanced assist-
ance; and 
(B) a determination of whether the advanced 
assistance was used appropriately. 
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