I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1311 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act to ensure that unmet needs after a major disaster are met. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 19, 2019 
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. PLASKETT) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act to ensure that unmet needs after 
a major disaster are met. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. UNMET NEED ASSISTANCE. 
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 431. UNMET NEEDS ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—After the declaration of a major 
disaster, the President may direct the Administrator of 
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the Emergency Management Agency to provide, subject to 
amounts made available from appropriations, assistance 
necessary for meeting unmet needs as a result of such dis-
aster. 
‘‘(b) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AMOUNT OF FUNDING.—Subject to appro-
priations and not later than 30 days after a declara-
tion is made under section 401, the President acting 
through the Administrator may allocate an amount 
that equals up to 10 percent of the estimated aggre-
gate amount of the grants to be made pursuant to 
sections 406 and 408 for the major disaster in order 
to provide technical and financial assistance under 
this section and such set aside shall be deemed to 
be related to activities carried out pursuant to major 
disasters under this Act. 
‘‘(2) ESTIMATED
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT.—Not 
later than 180 days after each major disaster dec-
laration pursuant to this Act, the estimated aggre-
gate amount of grants for purposes of paragraph (1) 
shall be determined by the President and such esti-
mated amount need not be reduced, increased, or 
changed due to variations in estimates. 
‘‘(3) 
NO
REDUCTION
IN
AMOUNTS.—The 
amount set aside pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
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not reduce the amounts otherwise made available for 
sections 403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 410, 416, and 428 
under this Act. 
‘‘(c) UNMET NEEDS.—Financial assistance provided 
under this section may be used to provide assistance, in 
addition to other amounts made available under this Act, 
for the following unmet needs: 
‘‘(1) Disaster-related home repair and rebuild-
ing assistance to families for permanent housing 
purposes, including in conjunction with eligible ex-
penditures under section 408. 
‘‘(2) Disaster-related unmet needs of families 
who are unable to obtain adequate assistance from 
other sources. 
‘‘(3) Other services that alleviate human suf-
fering and promote the well-being of disaster vic-
tims. 
‘‘(4) Economic and business activities (includ-
ing food and agriculture) after a disaster to imple-
ment post-disaster economic recovery measures, in-
cluding planning and technical assistance for long- 
term economic recovery plans, infrastructure im-
provements, business or infrastructure financing, 
market or industry research, and other activities au-
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thorized under a comprehensive economic develop-
ment strategy. 
‘‘(d) ACCOUNTING AND FISCAL CONTROLS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after receipt of funds and every 6 months thereafter 
until all such funds are expended, a State shall sub-
mit a report to the Administrator that includes— 
‘‘(A) the criteria established for deter-
mining how the funds are spent; 
‘‘(B) the allocation of those funds; and 
‘‘(C) the process for public notice and com-
ment. 
‘‘(2) COMPLIANCE.—Any individual who re-
ceives assistance pursuant to this section shall com-
ply with section 312(b). 
‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—A State that re-
ceives funds under this section may expend not more 
than 5 percent of the amount of such funds for the 
administrative costs of providing financial assistance 
to individuals and households in the State.’’. 
SEC. 2. REPAIR AND REBUILDING. 
Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (2)(A)(i) by striking ‘‘to a 
safe and sanitary living or functioning condition’’ 
and inserting ‘‘to ensure that their home is habitable 
during longer term recovery. Assistance allowed 
under this section may be used in coordination with 
other sources for the repair and rebuilding of an 
owner-occupied residence.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘in cases in 
which’’ and all that follows through the end of the 
paragraph and by inserting ‘‘if the President con-
siders it a cost effective alternative to other housing 
solutions, including the costs associated with tem-
porary housing provided under this section, and 
long-term rebuilding costs associated with section 
431’’. 
SEC. 3. REVIEW BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL. 
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a review on the fiscal controls by States that 
receive funds under section 431 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and shall 
make recommendations to the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
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Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives. 
Æ 
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