H. R. 302—258 
losses as a result of a major disaster or emergency, if 
the President finds such waiver is in the public interest 
and will not result in waste, fraud, or abuse. In making 
this decision, the President may consider the following: 
‘‘(i) The recommendations of the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency made in 
consultation with the Federal agency or agencies 
administering the duplicative program. 
‘‘(ii) If a waiver is granted, the assistance to be 
funded is cost effective. 
‘‘(iii) Equity and good conscience. 
‘‘(iv) Other matters of public policy considered 
appropriate by the President. 
‘‘(B) GRANT OR DENIAL OF WAIVER.—A request under 
subparagraph (A) shall be granted or denied not later than 
45 days after submission of such request. 
‘‘(C) PROHIBITION ON DETERMINATION THAT LOAN IS A 
DUPLICATION.—Notwithstanding subsection (c), in carrying 
out subparagraph (A), the President may not determine 
that a loan is a duplication of assistance, provided that 
all Federal assistance is used toward a loss suffered as 
a result of the major disaster or emergency.’’. 
(2) LIMITATION.—This subsection, including the amendment 
made by paragraph (1), shall not be construed to apply to 
section 406 or 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172, 5174). 
(3) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by paragraph 
(1) shall apply to any major disaster or emergency declared 
by the President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) between January 1, 2016, 
and December 31, 2021. 
(4) SUNSET.—On the date that is 5 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, section 312(b) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5155(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (4), as added by 
subsection (a)(1) of this section. 
(5) REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination 
with other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the 
congressional committees of jurisdiction a report conducted 
by all relevant Federal agencies to improve the comprehen-
sive delivery of disaster assistance to individuals following 
a major disaster or emergency declaration under the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report required under subpara-
graph (A) shall include both administrative actions taken, 
or planned to be taken, by the agencies as well as legislative 
proposals, where appropriate, of the following: 
(i) Efforts to improve coordination between the 
Agency and other relevant Federal agencies when 
delivering disaster assistance to individuals. 
(ii) Clarify the sequence of delivery of disaster 
assistance to individuals from the Agency, and other 
relevant Federal agencies.
H. R. 302—259 
(iii) Clarify the interpretation and implementation 
of section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155) when 
providing disaster assistance to individuals, including 
providing a common interpretation across the Agency, 
and other relevant Federal agencies, of the definitions 
and requirements under such section 312. 
(iv) Increase the effectiveness of communication 
to applicants for assistance programs for individuals 
after a disaster declaration, including the breadth of 
programs available and the potential impacts of uti-
lizing one program versus another. 
(C) REPORT UPDATE.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator, 
in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
submit to the congressional committees of jurisdiction an 
update to the report required under subparagraph (A). 
(b) FUNDING OF A FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED WATER RESOURCES 
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Notwithstanding section 312 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155) and its implementing regulations, 
assistance provided pursuant to section 404 of such Act may 
be used to fund activities authorized for construction within 
the scope of a federally authorized water resources development 
project of the Army Corps of Engineers if such activities are 
also eligible activities under such section. 
(2) FEDERAL FUNDING.—All Federal funding provided under 
section 404 pursuant to this section shall be applied toward 
the Federal share of such project. 
(3) NON-FEDERAL MATCH.—All non-Federal matching funds 
required under section 404 pursuant to this section shall be 
applied toward the non-Federal share of such project. 
(4) TOTAL FEDERAL SHARE.—Funding provided under sec-
tion 404 pursuant to this section may not exceed the total 
Federal share for such project. 
(5) NO EFFECT.—Nothing in this section shall— 
(A) affect the cost-share requirement of a hazard miti-
gation measure under section 404; 
(B) affect the eligibility criteria for a hazard mitigation 
measure under section 404; 
(C) affect the cost share requirements of a federally 
authorized water resources development project; and 
(D) affect the responsibilities of a non-Federal interest 
with respect to the project, including those related to the 
provision of lands, easements, rights-of-way, dredge mate-
rial disposal areas, and necessary relocations. 
(6) LIMITATION.—If a federally authorized water resources 
development project of the Army Corps of Engineers is con-
structed with funding provided under section 404 pursuant 
to this subsection, no further Federal funding shall be provided 
for construction of such project.
H. R. 302—260 
SEC. 1211. STATE ADMINISTRATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DIRECT TEM-
PORARY 
HOUSING 
AND 
PERMANENT 
HOUSING 
CONSTRUCTION. 
(a) STATE ROLE.—Section 408(f) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(f)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking the paragraph heading and inserting 
‘‘STATE- OR
INDIAN
TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT-ADMINISTERED 
ASSISTANCE AND OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE.—’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘financial’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
sections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e) if the President and 
the State or Indian tribal government comply, as deter-
mined by the Administrator, with paragraph (3)’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘financial’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
sections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) APPLICATION.—A State or Indian tribal govern-
ment desiring to provide assistance under subsection 
(c)(1)(B), (c)(4), or (e) shall submit to the President an 
application for a grant to provide financial assistance under 
the program. 
‘‘(B) CRITERIA.—The President, in consultation and 
coordination with State and Indian tribal governments, 
shall establish criteria for the approval of applications sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A). The criteria shall include, 
at a minimum— 
‘‘(i) a requirement that the State or Indian tribal 
government submit a housing strategy under subpara-
graph (C); 
‘‘(ii) the demonstrated ability of the State or Indian 
tribal government to manage the program under this 
section; 
‘‘(iii) there being in effect a plan approved by the 
President as to how the State or Indian tribal govern-
ment will comply with applicable Federal laws and 
regulations and how the State or Indian tribal govern-
ment will provide assistance under its plan; 
‘‘(iv) a requirement that the State or Indian tribal 
government comply with rules and regulations estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (j); and 
‘‘(v) a requirement that the President, or the des-
ignee of the President, comply with subsection (i). 
‘‘(C) REQUIREMENT OF HOUSING STRATEGY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian tribal govern-
ment submitting an application under this paragraph 
shall have an approved housing strategy, which shall 
be developed and submitted to the President for 
approval. 
‘‘(ii) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
housing 
strategy 
required under clause (i) shall—
H. R. 302—261 
‘‘(I) outline the approach of the State in 
working with Federal partners, Indian tribal 
governments, local communities, nongovernmental 
organizations, and individual disaster survivors to 
meet disaster-related sheltering and housing 
needs; and 
‘‘(II) include the establishment of an activation 
plan for a State Disaster Housing Task Force, 
as outlined in the National Disaster Housing 
Strategy, to bring together State, tribal, local, Fed-
eral, nongovernmental, and private sector exper-
tise to evaluate housing requirements, consider 
potential solutions, recognize special needs popu-
lations, and propose recommendations. 
‘‘(D) 
QUALITY
ASSURANCE.—Before 
approving 
an 
application submitted under this section, the President, 
or the designee of the President, shall institute adequate 
policies, procedures, and internal controls to prevent waste, 
fraud, abuse, and program mismanagement for this pro-
gram and for programs under subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), 
and (e). The President shall monitor and conduct quality 
assurance activities on a State or Indian tribal govern-
ment’s implementation of programs under subsections 
(c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e). If, after approving an application 
of a State or Indian tribal government submitted under 
this paragraph, the President determines that the State 
or Indian tribal government is not administering the pro-
gram established by this section in a manner satisfactory 
to the President, the President shall withdraw the 
approval. 
‘‘(E) AUDITS.—The Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security shall provide for periodic audits 
of the programs administered by States and Indian tribal 
governments under this subsection. 
‘‘(F) APPLICABLE
LAWS.—All Federal laws applicable 
to the management, administration, or contracting of the 
programs by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
under this section shall be applicable to the management, 
administration, or contracting by a non-Federal entity 
under this section. 
‘‘(G) REPORT ON EFFECTIVENESS.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland 
Security shall submit a report to the Committee on Home-
land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives on the State or Indian tribal 
government’s role to provide assistance under this section. 
The report shall contain an assessment of the effectiveness 
of the State or Indian tribal government’s role in providing 
assistance under this section, including— 
‘‘(i) whether the State or Indian tribal govern-
ment’s role helped to improve the general speed of 
disaster recovery; 
‘‘(ii) whether the State or Indian tribal government 
providing assistance under this section had the 
capacity to administer this section; and
H. R. 302—262 
‘‘(iii) recommendations for changes to improve the 
program if the State or Indian tribal government’s 
role to administer the programs should be continued. 
‘‘(H) REPORT
ON
INCENTIVES.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall submit a report to the Committee on Home-
land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives on a potential incentive struc-
ture for awards made under this section to encourage 
participation by eligible States and Indian tribal govern-
ments. In developing this report, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall consult with 
State, local, and Indian tribal entities to gain their input 
on any such incentive structure to encourage participation 
and shall include this information in the report. This report 
should address, among other options, potential adjustments 
to the cost-share requirement and management costs to 
State and Indian tribal governments. 
‘‘(I) PROHIBITION.—The President may not condition 
the provision of Federal assistance under this Act on a 
State or Indian tribal government requesting a grant under 
this section. 
‘‘(J) MISCELLANEOUS.— 
‘‘(i) NOTICE AND COMMENT.—The Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency may 
waive notice and comment rulemaking with respect 
to rules to carry out this section, if the Administrator 
determines doing so is necessary to expeditiously 
implement this section, and may carry out this section 
as a pilot program until such regulations are promul-
gated. 
‘‘(ii) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
shall issue final regulations to implement this sub-
section as amended by the Disaster Recovery Reform 
Act of 2018. 
‘‘(iii) WAIVER
AND
EXPIRATION.—The authority 
under clause (i) and any pilot program implemented 
pursuant to such clause shall expire 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph or upon 
issuance of final regulations pursuant to clause (ii), 
whichever occurs sooner.’’. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) shall reimburse State and local units of government 
(for requests received within a period of 3 years after the declaration 
of a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170)) 
upon determination that a locally implemented housing solution, 
implemented by State or local units of government— 
(1) costs 50 percent of comparable FEMA solution or what-
ever the locally implemented solution costs, whichever is lower; 
(2) complies with local housing regulations and ordinances; 
and
H. R. 302—263 
(3) the housing solution was implemented within 90 days 
of the disaster. 
SEC. 1212. ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS. 
Section 408(h) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(h)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, excluding financial 
assistance to rent alternate housing accommodations under 
subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) and financial assistance to address other 
needs under subsection (e)’’ after ‘‘disaster’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE.—The maximum financial 
assistance any individual or household may receive under sub-
section (e) shall be equivalent to the amount set forth in para-
graph (1) with respect to a single major disaster.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1) and (2)’’; and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(4) EXCLUSION OF NECESSARY EXPENSES FOR INDIVIDUALS 
WITH DISABILITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The maximum amount of assistance 
established under paragraph (1) shall exclude expenses 
to repair or replace damaged accessibility-related improve-
ments under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection 
(c) for individuals with disabilities. 
‘‘(B) 
OTHER
NEEDS
ASSISTANCE.—The 
maximum 
amount of assistance established under paragraph (2) shall 
exclude expenses to repair or replace accessibility-related 
personal property under subsection (e)(2) for individuals 
with disabilities.’’. 
SEC. 1213. MULTIFAMILY LEASE AND REPAIR ASSISTANCE. 
(a) LEASE
AND REPAIR
OF RENTAL UNITS
FOR TEMPORARY 
HOUSING.—Section 408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster 
Relief 
and 
Emergency 
Assistance 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(II) IMPROVEMENTS OR REPAIRS.—Under the 
terms of any lease agreement for property entered 
into under this subsection, the value of the 
improvements or repairs shall be deducted from 
the value of the lease agreement.’’. 
(b) 
RENTAL
PROPERTIES
IMPACTED.—Section 
408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(aa) enter into lease agreements with 
owners 
of 
multifamily 
rental 
property 
impacted by a major disaster or located in 
areas covered by a major disaster declaration 
to house individuals and households eligible 
for assistance under this section; and’’. 
(c) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the inspector general of 
the Department of Homeland Security shall—
H. R. 302—264 
(1) assess the use of the authority provided under section 
408(c)(1)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)), as amended 
by this division, including the adequacy of any benefit-cost 
analysis done to justify the use of this alternative; and 
(2) submit a report on the results of the assessment con-
ducted under paragraph (1) to the appropriate committees of 
Congress. 
SEC. 1214. PRIVATE NONPROFIT FACILITY. 
Section 102(11)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(11)(B)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘food banks,’’ after ‘‘shelter workshops,’’. 
SEC. 1215. MANAGEMENT COSTS. 
Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘any administrative 
expense, and any other expense not directly chargeable to’’ 
and inserting ‘‘any direct administrative cost, and any other 
administrative expense associated with’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), as added by subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘establish’’ and inserting ‘‘implement’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT COSTS.—The Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide the 
following percentage rates, in addition to the eligible project 
costs, to cover direct and indirect costs of administering the 
following programs: 
‘‘(A) HAZARD MITIGATION.—A grantee under section 404 
may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the total 
amount of the grant award under such section of which 
not more than 10 percent may be used by the grantee 
and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE.—A grantee under sections 
403, 406, 407, and 502 may be reimbursed not more than 
12 percent of the total award amount under such sections, 
of which not more than 7 percent may be used by the 
grantee and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.’’. 
SEC. 1216. FLEXIBILITY. 
(a) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘covered 
assistance’’ means assistance provided— 
(A) under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174); 
and 
(B) in relation to a major disaster or emergency 
declared by the President under section 401 or 501, respec-
tively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) on or after 
October 28, 2012. 
(2) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 
31, United States Code, the Administrator—
H. R. 302—265 
(A) subject to subparagraph (B), may waive a debt 
owed to the United States related to covered assistance 
provided to an individual or household if— 
(i) the covered assistance was distributed based 
on an error by the Agency; 
(ii) there was no fault on behalf of the debtor; 
and 
(iii) the collection of the debt would be against 
equity and good conscience; and 
(B) may not waive a debt under subparagraph (A) 
if the debt involves fraud, the presentation of a false claim, 
or misrepresentation by the debtor or any party having 
an interest in the claim. 
(3) MONITORING
OF
COVERED
ASSISTANCE
DISTRIBUTED 
BASED ON ERROR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security shall monitor the distribution 
of covered assistance to individuals and households to 
determine the percentage of such assistance distributed 
based on an error. 
(B) REMOVAL OF WAIVER AUTHORITY BASED ON EXCES-
SIVE ERROR RATE.—If the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security determines, with respect to 
any 12-month period, that the amount of covered assistance 
distributed based on an error by the Agency exceeds 4 
percent of the total amount of covered assistance distrib-
uted— 
(i) the Inspector General shall notify the Adminis-
trator and publish the determination in the Federal 
Register; and 
(ii) with respect to any major disaster or emergency 
declared by the President under section 401 or section 
501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170; 
42 U.S.C. 5191) after the date on which the determina-
tion is published under subparagraph (A), the authority 
of the Administrator to waive debt under paragraph 
(2) shall no longer be effective. 
(b) RECOUPMENT OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 
31, United States Code, and unless there is evidence of civil 
or criminal fraud, the Agency may not take any action to 
recoup covered assistance from the recipient of such assistance 
if the receipt of such assistance occurred on a date that is 
more than 3 years before the date on which the Agency first 
provides to the recipient written notification of an intent to 
recoup. 
(2) COVERED ASSISTANCE DEFINED.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘‘covered assistance’’ means assistance provided— 
(A) under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174); 
and 
(B) in relation to a major disaster or emergency 
declared by the President under section 401 or 501, respec-
tively, of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170; 42 U.S.C. 5191) on 
or after January 1, 2012. 
(c) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—
H. R. 302—266 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) 
is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Except’’ and inserting ‘‘Notwith-
standing section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, 
and except’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘report for the disaster or emer-
gency’’ and inserting ‘‘report for project completion as 
certified by the grantee’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘report for the 
disaster or emergency’’ and inserting ‘‘report for project 
completion as certified by the grantee’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘for project 
completion as certified by the grantee’’ after ‘‘final 
expenditure report’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to disaster or emer-
gency assistance provided to a State or local government 
on or after January 1, 2004— 
(i) no administrative action may be taken to 
recover a payment of such assistance after the date 
of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited 
under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5205(a)(1)), as amended by paragraph (1); and 
(ii) any administrative action to recover a payment 
of such assistance that is pending on such date of 
enactment shall be terminated if the action is prohib-
ited under section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended 
by paragraph (1). 
(B) LIMITATION.—This section, including the amend-
ments made by this section, may not be construed to invali-
date or otherwise affect any administration action com-
pleted before the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1217. ADDITIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DISASTER MITIGATION.—Section 209 of the Public Works 
and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3149) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) DISASTER MITIGATION.—In providing assistance pursuant 
to subsection (c)(2), if appropriate and as applicable, the Secretary 
may encourage hazard mitigation in assistance provided pursuant 
to such subsection.’’. 
(b) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT GRANTS.— 
Section 661(d) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 
Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 761(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘for fiscal 
year 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of fiscal years 2018 through 
2022’’. 
(c) EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE
GRANTS
PRO-
GRAM.—Section 662(f) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 
Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘the 
program’’ and all that follows through ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
program, for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022’’.
H. R. 302—267 
(d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170b(a)(3)) is amended by striking the second subparagraph (J). 
SEC. 1218. NATIONAL VETERINARY EMERGENCY TEAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency may establish one or more national veterinary 
emergency teams at accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—A national veterinary emergency team 
shall— 
(1) deploy with a team of the National Urban Search and 
Rescue Response System to assist with— 
(A) veterinary care of canine search teams; 
(B) locating and treating companion animals, service 
animals, livestock, and other animals; and 
(C) surveillance and treatment of zoonotic diseases; 
(2) recruit, train, and certify veterinary professionals, 
including veterinary students, in accordance with an estab-
lished set of plans and standard operating guidelines to carry 
out the duties associated with planning for and responding 
to major disasters and emergencies as described in paragraph 
(1); 
(3) assist State governments, Indian tribal governments, 
local governments, and nonprofit organizations in developing 
emergency management and evacuation plans that account for 
the care and rescue of animals and in improving local readiness 
for providing veterinary medical response during an emergency 
or major disaster; and 
(4) coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, 
the Department of Health and Human Services, the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, State, local, and Indian tribal governments 
(including departments of animal and human health), veteri-
nary and health care professionals, and volunteers. 
SEC. 1219. RIGHT OF ARBITRATION. 
Section 423 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) RIGHT OF ARBITRATION.— 
‘‘(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
this 
section, 
an 
applicant for assistance under this title may request arbitration 
to dispute the eligibility for assistance or repayment of assist-
ance provided for a dispute of more than $500,000 for any 
disaster that occurred after January 1, 2016. Such arbitration 
shall be conducted by the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals 
and the decision of such Board shall be binding. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW.—The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals shall 
consider from the applicant all original and additional docu-
mentation, testimony, or other such evidence supporting the 
applicant’s position at any time during arbitration. 
‘‘(3) RURAL AREAS.—For an applicant for assistance in a 
rural area under this title, the assistance amount eligible for 
arbitration pursuant to this subsection shall be $100,000. 
‘‘(4) RURAL AREA DEFINED.—For the purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘rural area’ means an area with a population 
of less than 200,000 outside an urbanized area. 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBILITY.—To participate in arbitration under this 
subsection, an applicant—
H. R. 302—268 
‘‘(A) shall submit the dispute to the arbitration process 
established under the authority granted under section 601 
of Public Law 111–5; and 
‘‘(B) may submit a request for arbitration after the 
completion of the first appeal under subsection (a) at any 
time before the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency has issued a final agency determina-
tion or 180 days after the Administrator’s receipt of the 
appeal if the Administrator has not provided the applicant 
with a final determination on the appeal. The applicant’s 
request shall contain documentation from the administra-
tive record for the first appeal and may contain additional 
documentation supporting the applicant’s position.’’. 
SEC. 1220. UNIFIED FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC 
PRESERVATION REVIEW. 
(a) REVIEW AND ANALYSIS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review the 
Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation review 
process established pursuant to section 429 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189g), 
and submit a report to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate that 
includes the following: 
(1) An analysis of whether and how the unified process 
has expedited the interagency review process to ensure compli-
ance with the environmental and historic requirements under 
Federal law relating to disaster recovery projects. 
(2) A survey and analysis of categorical exclusions used 
by other Federal agencies that may be applicable to any activity 
related to a major disaster or emergency declared by the Presi-
dent under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170, 5191). 
(3) Recommendations on any further actions, including any 
legislative proposals, needed to expedite and streamline the 
review process. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—After completing the review, survey, and 
analyses under subsection (a), but not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and after providing notice and 
opportunity for public comment, the Administrator shall issue regu-
lations to implement any regulatory recommendations, including 
any categorical exclusions identified under subsection (a), to the 
extent that the categorical exclusions meet the criteria for a categor-
ical exclusion under section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and section II of DHS Instruction Manual 023–01– 
001–01. 
SEC. 1221. CLOSEOUT INCENTIVES. 
(a) FACILITATING CLOSEOUT.—Section 705 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) FACILITATING CLOSEOUT.— 
‘‘(1) INCENTIVES.—The Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency may develop incentives and pen-
alties that encourage State, local, or Indian tribal governments
H. R. 302—269 
to close out expenditures and activities on a timely basis related 
to disaster or emergency assistance. 
‘‘(2) AGENCY
REQUIREMENTS.—The Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall, consistent with applicable regula-
tions and required procedures, meet its responsibilities to 
improve closeout practices and reduce the time to close disaster 
program awards.’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall issue regulations 
to implement the amendment made by this section. 
SEC. 1222. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES. 
Section 306 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(c) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency is authorized to appoint temporary personnel, after serving 
continuously for 3 years, to positions in the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency in the same manner that competitive service 
employees with competitive status are considered for transfer, 
reassignment, or promotion to such positions. An individual 
appointed under this subsection shall become a career-conditional 
employee, unless the employee has already completed the service 
requirements for career tenure.’’. 
SEC. 1223. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION 
COLLECTION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator— 
(1) in coordination with the Small Business Administration, 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Dis-
aster Assistance Working Group of the Council of the Inspectors 
General on Integrity and Efficiency, and other appropriate 
agencies, conduct a study and develop a plan, consistent with 
law, under which the collection of information from disaster 
assistance applicants and grantees will be modified, stream-
lined, expedited, efficient, flexible, consolidated, and simplified 
to be less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for 
applicants and grantees; 
(2) in coordination with the Small Business Administration, 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Dis-
aster Assistance Working Group of the Council of the Inspectors 
General on Integrity and Efficiency, and other appropriate 
agencies, develop a plan for the regular collection and reporting 
of information on Federal disaster assistance awarded, 
including the establishment and maintenance of a website for 
presenting the information to the public; and 
(3) submit the plans developed under paragraphs (1) and 
(2) to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Home-
land Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
SEC. 1224. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY. 
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
H. R. 302—270 
‘‘SEC. 430. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY. 
‘‘(a) PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.—Not later than 5 days after an award 
of a public assistance grant is made under section 406 that is 
in excess of $1,000,000, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall publish on the website of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency the specifics of each such grant 
award, including— 
‘‘(1) identifying the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency Region; 
‘‘(2) the disaster or emergency declaration number; 
‘‘(3) the State, county, and applicant name; 
‘‘(4) if the applicant is a private nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(5) the damage category code; 
‘‘(6) the amount of the Federal share obligated; and 
‘‘(7) the date of the award. 
‘‘(b) MISSION ASSIGNMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 days after the issuance 
of a mission assignment or mission assignment task order, 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall publish on the website of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency any mission assignment or mission assign-
ment task order to another Federal department or agency 
regarding a major disaster in excess of $1,000,000, including— 
‘‘(A) the name of the impacted State or Indian Tribe; 
‘‘(B) the disaster declaration for such State or Indian 
Tribe; 
‘‘(C) the assigned agency; 
‘‘(D) the assistance requested; 
‘‘(E) a description of the disaster; 
‘‘(F) the total cost estimate; 
‘‘(G) the amount obligated; 
‘‘(H) the State or Indian tribal government cost share, 
if applicable; 
‘‘(I) the authority under which the mission assignment 
or mission assignment task order was directed; and 
‘‘(J) if applicable, the date a State or Indian Tribe 
requested the mission assignment. 
‘‘(2) RECORDING CHANGES.—Not later than 10 days after 
the last day of each month until a mission assignment or 
mission assignment task order described in paragraph (1) is 
completed and closed out, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall update any changes to 
the total cost estimate and the amount obligated. 
‘‘(c) DISASTER RELIEF MONTHLY REPORT.—Not later than 10 
days after the first day of each month, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall publish on the 
website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency reports, 
including a specific description of the methodology and the source 
data used in developing such reports, including— 
‘‘(1) an estimate of the amounts for the fiscal year covered 
by the President’s most recent budget pursuant to section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, including— 
‘‘(A) the unobligated balance of funds to be carried 
over from the prior fiscal year to the budget year; 
‘‘(B) the unobligated balance of funds to be carried 
over from the budget year to the budget year plus 1;
H. R. 302—271 
‘‘(C) the amount of obligations for noncatastrophic 
events for the budget year; 
‘‘(D) the amount of obligations for the budget year 
for catastrophic events delineated by event and by State; 
‘‘(E) the total amount that has been previously obli-
gated or will be required for catastrophic events delineated 
by event and by State for all prior years, the current 
fiscal year, the budget year, and each fiscal year thereafter; 
‘‘(F) the amount of previously obligated funds that 
will be recovered for the budget year; 
‘‘(G) the amount that will be required for obligations 
for emergencies, as described in section 102(1), major disas-
ters, as described in section 102(2), fire management assist-
ance grants, as described in section 420, surge activities, 
and disaster readiness and support activities; and 
‘‘(H) the amount required for activities not covered 
under section 251(b)(2)(D)(iii) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency 
Deficit 
Control 
Act 
of 
1985 
(2 
U.S.C. 
901(b)(2)(D)(iii)); and 
‘‘(2) an estimate or actual amounts, if available, of the 
following for the current fiscal year, which shall be submitted 
not later than the fifth day of each month, published by the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
on the website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
not later than the fifth day of each month: 
‘‘(A) A summary of the amount of appropriations made 
available by source, the transfers executed, the previously 
allocated funds recovered, and the commitments, alloca-
tions, and obligations made. 
‘‘(B) A table of disaster relief activity delineated by 
month, including— 
‘‘(i) the beginning and ending balances; 
‘‘(ii) the total obligations to include amounts obli-
gated for fire assistance, emergencies, surge, and dis-
aster support activities; 
‘‘(iii) the obligations for catastrophic events delin-
eated by event and by State; and 
‘‘(iv) the amount of previously obligated funds that 
are recovered. 
‘‘(C) A summary of allocations, obligations, and 
expenditures for catastrophic events delineated by event. 
‘‘(D) The cost of the following categories of spending: 
‘‘(i) Public assistance. 
‘‘(ii) Individual assistance. 
‘‘(iii) Mitigation. 
‘‘(iv) Administrative. 
‘‘(v) Operations. 
‘‘(vi) Any other relevant category (including emer-
gency measures and disaster resources) delineated by 
disaster. 
‘‘(E) The date on which funds appropriated will be 
exhausted. 
‘‘(d) CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) INFORMATION.—Not later than 10 days after the first 
day of each month, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall publish on the website of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency the specifics of each contract
H. R. 302—272 
in excess of $1,000,000 that the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency enters into, including— 
‘‘(A) the name of the party; 
‘‘(B) the date the contract was awarded; 
‘‘(C) the amount and scope of the contract; 
‘‘(D) if the contract was awarded through a competitive 
bidding process; 
‘‘(E) if no competitive bidding process was used, the 
reason why competitive bidding was not used; and 
‘‘(F) the authority used to bypass the competitive bid-
ding process. 
The information shall be delineated by disaster, if applicable, 
and specify the damage category code, if applicable. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 10 days after the last day 
of the fiscal year, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall provide a report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress summarizing the following information 
for the preceding fiscal year: 
‘‘(A) The number of contracts awarded without competi-
tive bidding. 
‘‘(B) The reasons why a competitive bidding process 
was not used. 
‘‘(C) The total amount of contracts awarded with no 
competitive bidding. 
‘‘(D) The damage category codes, if applicable, for con-
tracts awarded without competitive bidding. 
‘‘(e) COLLECTION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENT AND SUB-
RECIPIENT CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency shall initiate and main-
tain an effort to collect and store information, prior to the 
project closeout phase on any contract entered into by a public 
assistance recipient or subrecipient that through the base 
award, available options, or any subsequent modifications has 
an estimated value of more than $1,000,000 and is funded 
through section 324, 403, 404, 406, 407, 428, or 502, including— 
‘‘(A) the disaster number, project worksheet number, 
and the category of work associated with each contract; 
‘‘(B) the name of each party; 
‘‘(C) the date the contract was awarded; 
‘‘(D) the amount of the contract; 
‘‘(E) the scope of the contract; 
‘‘(F) the period of performance for the contract; and 
‘‘(G) whether the contract was awarded through a 
competitive bidding process. 
‘‘(2) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
INFORMATION
COLLECTED.—The 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
shall make the information collected and stored under para-
graph (1) available to the Inspector General of the Department 
of Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office, 
and appropriate committees of Congress, upon request. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 365 days after the date of 
enactment of this subsection, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
H. R. 302—273 
of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives on the efforts of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to collect the 
information described in paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 1225. AUDIT OF CONTRACTS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall not reimburse 
a State or local government, an Indian tribal government (as defined 
in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), or the owner or operator 
of a private nonprofit facility (as defined in section 102 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122) for any activities made pursuant to a contract 
entered into after August 1, 2017, that prohibits the Administrator 
or the Comptroller General of the United States from auditing 
or otherwise reviewing all aspects relating to the contract. 
SEC. 1226. INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT OF FEMA CONTRACTS FOR 
TARPS AND PLASTIC SHEETING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department 
of Homeland Security shall initiate an audit of the contracts 
awarded by the Agency for tarps and plastic sheeting for the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands 
in response to Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the audit under sub-
section (a), the inspector general shall review— 
(1) the contracting process used by the Agency to evaluate 
offerors and award the relevant contracts to contractors; 
(2) the assessment conducted by the Agency of the past 
performance of the contractors, including any historical 
information showing that the contractors had supported large- 
scale delivery quantities in the past; 
(3) the assessment conducted by the Agency of the capacity 
of the contractors to carry out the relevant contracts, including 
with respect to inventory, production, and financial capabilities; 
(4) how the Agency ensured that the contractors met the 
terms of the relevant contracts; and 
(5) whether the failure of the contractors to meet the terms 
of the relevant contracts and the subsequent cancellation by 
the Agency of the relevant contracts affected the provision 
of tarps and plastic sheeting to the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date of initiation 
of the audit under subsection (a), the inspector general shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the results of 
the audit, including findings and recommendations. 
SEC. 1227. RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS. 
Section 309 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5152) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘and other relief or’’ and 
inserting ‘‘long-term recovery groups, domestic hunger relief, 
and other relief, or’’; and
H. R. 302—274 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and other relief or’’ and 
inserting ‘‘long-term recovery groups, domestic hunger relief, 
and other relief, or’’. 
SEC. 1228. GUIDANCE ON INUNDATED AND SUBMERGED ROADS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal High-
way Administration, shall develop and issue guidance for State, 
local, and Indian tribal governments regarding repair, restoration, 
and replacement of inundated and submerged roads damaged or 
destroyed by a major disaster, and for associated expenses incurred 
by the Government, with respect to roads eligible for assistance 
under section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172). 
SEC. 1229. EXTENSION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
in the case of an individual eligible to receive unemployment assist-
ance under section 410(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5177(a)) as a result 
of a disaster declaration made for Hurricane Irma and Hurricane 
Maria in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States 
Virgin Islands, the President shall make such assistance available 
for 52 weeks after the date of the disaster declaration effective 
as if enacted at the time of the disaster declaration. 
(b) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.—No additional funds 
are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section. 
SEC. 1230. GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) GUIDANCE.—The Administrator shall provide guidance to 
a common interest community that provides essential services of 
a governmental nature on actions that a common interest commu-
nity may take in order to be eligible to receive reimbursement 
from a grantee that receives funds from the Agency for certain 
activities performed after an event that results in a major disaster 
declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170). 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a legislative proposal on how 
to provide eligibility for disaster assistance with respect to common 
areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall be effective on the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1231. GUIDANCE ON HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue guidance 
regarding the acquisition of property for open space as a mitigation 
measure under section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) that includes— 
(1) a process by which the State hazard mitigation officer 
appointed for such an acquisition shall, not later than 60 days 
after the applicant for assistance enters into an agreement
H. R. 302—275 
with the Administrator regarding the acquisition, provide writ-
ten notification to each affected unit of local government for 
such acquisition that includes— 
(A) the location of the acquisition; 
(B) the State-local assistance agreement for the hazard 
mitigation grant program; 
(C) a description of the acquisition; and 
(D) a copy of the deed restriction; and 
(2) recommendations for entering into and implementing 
a memorandum of understanding between units of local govern-
ment and covered entities that includes provisions to allow 
an affected unit of local government notified under paragraph 
(1) to— 
(A) use and maintain the open space created by such 
a project, consistent with section 404 (including related 
regulations, standards, and guidance) and consistent with 
all adjoining property, subject to the notification of the 
adjoining property, so long as the cost of the maintenance 
is borne by the local government; and 
(B) maintain the open space pursuant to standards 
exceeding any local government standards defined in the 
agreement with the Administrator described under para-
graph (1). 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AFFECTED
UNIT
OF
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.—The term 
‘‘affected unit of local government’’ means any entity covered 
by the definition of local government in section 102 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), that has jurisdiction over the property 
subject to the acquisition described in subsection (a). 
(2) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered entity’’ means— 
(A) the grantee or subgrantee receiving assistance for 
an open space project described in subsection (a); 
(B) the State in which such project is located; and 
(C) the applicable Regional Administrator of the 
Agency. 
SEC. 1232. LOCAL IMPACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In making recommendations to the President 
regarding a major disaster declaration, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall give greater consid-
eration to severe local impact or recent multiple disasters. Further, 
the Administrator shall make corresponding adjustments to the 
Agency’s policies and regulations regarding such consideration. Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Administrator shall report to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate on the changes made to regulations and policies and the 
number of declarations that have been declared based on the new 
criteria. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall be effective on the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1233. ADDITIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION ACTIVITIES. 
Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c), as amended by this division, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 302—276 
‘‘(g) USE OF ASSISTANCE FOR EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS.—Recipi-
ents of hazard mitigation assistance provided under this section 
and section 203 may use the assistance to conduct activities to 
help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering 
in any area affected by earthquake hazards, including— 
‘‘(1) improvements to regional seismic networks in support 
of building a capability for earthquake early warning; 
‘‘(2) improvements to geodetic networks in support of 
building a capability for earthquake early warning; and 
‘‘(3) improvements to seismometers, Global Positioning 
System receivers, and associated infrastructure in support of 
building a capability for earthquake early warning.’’. 
SEC. 
1234. 
NATIONAL 
PUBLIC 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PREDISASTER 
HAZARD MITIGATION. 
(a) PREDISASTER HAZARD MITIGATION.—Section 203 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5133) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘Public Infrastructure’’ 
after ‘‘the National’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)(1)(B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of clause (ii); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) to establish and carry out enforcement activi-
ties and implement the latest published editions of 
relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and 
standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant 
designs and establish minimum acceptable criteria for 
the design, construction, and maintenance of residen-
tial structures and facilities that may be eligible for 
assistance under this Act for the purpose of protecting 
the health, safety, and general welfare of the buildings’ 
users against disasters.’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘for mitigation activi-
ties that are cost effective’’ after ‘‘competitive basis’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) REDISTRIBUTION
OF
UNOBLIGATED
AMOUNTS.—The 
President may— 
‘‘(A) withdraw amounts of financial assistance made 
available to a State (including amounts made available 
to local governments of a State) under this subsection 
that remain unobligated by the end of the third fiscal 
year after the fiscal year for which the amounts were 
allocated; and 
‘‘(B) in the fiscal year following a fiscal year in which 
amounts were withdrawn under subparagraph (A), add 
the amounts to any other amounts available to be awarded 
on a competitive basis pursuant to paragraph (1).’’; 
(4) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘provide financial assistance only in 
States that have received a major disaster declaration in 
the previous 7 years, or to any Indian tribal government 
located partially or entirely within the boundaries of such 
States, and’’ after ‘‘the President shall’’;