trator shall consult with appropriate Federal entities and 
stakeholders involved in disaster housing. 
SEC. 13. GAO REPORT ON PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESS-
MENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on the practices, in-
cluding the accuracy of such practices, that the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency uses when conducting pre-
liminary damage assessments for the purposes of providing 
assistance under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42. U.S.C. 
5174). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The Comptroller General shall in-
clude in the study conducted under subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A comparison of the process and procedures 
used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to complete preliminary damage assessments to the 
process and procedures used by private insurance 
companies following a major disaster. 
(2) A review of training provided to individuals 
conducting preliminary damage assessments. 
(3) A comparison of damage estimates for homes 
owned by individuals above the national median in-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:31 Feb 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1796.RH
H1796
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
come to homes owned by individuals at or below the 
national median income. 
SEC. 14. APPLICABILITY. 
The amendments made by sections 4, 5, 7, 8, and 11 
shall only apply to amounts appropriated on or after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 15. GAO REPORT TO CONGRESS ON CHALLENGES 
UNDER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALTERNATIVE 
PROCEDURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on the challenges to 
States and Territories of the United States in obtaining as-
sistance under section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189f). 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study described in 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall study the chal-
lenges for assistance described in subsection (a) faced by the 
following: 
(1) Rural areas, as such term is defined in sec-
tion 423 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a). 
(2) Small impoverished communities, as such 
term is defined in section 203 of such Act. 
(3) Other communities, areas, or individuals 
that the Comptroller General determines pertinent. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:31 Feb 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1796.RH
H1796
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to Congress a report describing the results 
of the study required under subsection (a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:31 Feb 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1796.RH
H1796
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:31 Feb 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H1796.RH
H1796
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 319 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1796 
[Report No. 118–390, Part I] 
A BILL 
To improve individual assistance provided by the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for 
other purposes. 
FEBRUARY 14, 2024 
Reported from the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure with an amendment 
FEBRUARY 14, 2024 
Committees on Financial Services and Small Business 
discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 
printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:31 Feb 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6651
Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\H1796.RH
H1796
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS