I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7969 
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study 
on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such 
spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relating 
to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 7, 2022 
Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. TAKANO, Mrs. CARO-
LYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. TORRES of New York, Mr. CARTER 
of Louisiana, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, and Mr. VARGAS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to 
conduct a study on disaster spending and strategies for 
reducing the need for such spending, to amend the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relat-
ing to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 
1. 
GOVERNMENT 
ACCOUNTABILITY 
OFFICE 
STUDY ON DISASTER SPENDING. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study to identify the following: 
(1) For the 5-year period ending on the date of 
enactment of this Act— 
(A) the total amount of Federal funds 
spent in response to major disasters and emer-
gencies declared pursuant to the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and 
(B) the total amount of State and Indian 
tribal government funds spent in response to 
such major disasters and emergencies. 
(2) 10 proposed Federal actions, to include re-
insurance, that, if implemented, would most effec-
tively reduce the need for spending related to such 
major disasters or emergencies. Such actions shall 
be listed in order of priority under criteria estab-
lished by the Comptroller General, including the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Cost effectiveness. 
(B) Return on investment. 
(C) Simplicity or speed of implementation 
using existing resources. 
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(3) The effect that using blockchain may have 
on delivering disaster assistance to State and Indian 
tribal governments. 
(4) 
Whether 
insurance 
protection 
against 
wildfires will remain available and affordable to 
homeowners. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the covered entities a report containing the re-
sults of the study. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered entities’’ means— 
(A) Congress; 
(B) the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency; and 
(C) for each State and Indian tribal gov-
ernment, the head of the agency for such State 
or Indian tribal government with jurisdiction 
over disaster response activities. 
(2) The terms ‘‘Indian tribal government’’ and 
‘‘State’’ have the meanings given such terms in sec-
tion 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
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SEC. 2. STATE DISASTER PLAN UPDATES. 
Section 201 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) With respect to State plans developed under this 
section, the President shall coordinate with each State to 
update such plans to incorporate strategies that decrease 
the time required to prepare for disasters, including the 
time to evacuate individuals.’’. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO ENTITIES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF 
HAZARD 
MITIGATION 
REVOLVING 
LOAN 
FUNDS. 
Section 205(f) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5135(f)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) SET ASIDE FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS.—A 
participating entity shall ensure that at least 10 per-
cent of the total dollar amount of the loans made by 
such entity under this subsection each fiscal year as-
sist projects or activities that reduce risks, for resi-
dential structures, related to the natural hazards de-
scribed in paragraph (3).’’. 
Æ 
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