I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6697 
To establish an advisory group to encourage and foster collaborative efforts 
among individuals and entities engaged in disaster recovery relating 
to debris removal, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 9, 2022 
Mr. RICE of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. PAPPAS) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish an advisory group to encourage and foster col-
laborative efforts among individuals and entities engaged 
in disaster recovery relating to debris removal, and for 
other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Disaster Contract Im-
provement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. OVERSIGHT ON DEBRIS REMOVAL. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
(2) DEBRIS
REMOVAL
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘debris removal program’’ means the program estab-
lished under section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5173). 
(b) ADVISORY WORKING GROUP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish an advisory working group to encourage and 
foster collaborative efforts among individuals and en-
tities engaged in disaster recovery relating to debris 
removal. 
(2) 
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
advisory 
working 
group established under paragraph (1) shall be com-
prised of— 
(A) representatives from the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency; 
(B) representatives from the Army Corps 
of Engineers; 
(C) representatives from the Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service of the Department 
of Agriculture; 
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(D) representatives of States, Tribal gov-
ernments, and units of local government; and 
(E) subject matter experts in debris re-
moval, including not less than 1 representative 
from the debris services contractor industry. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the advisory working group established under 
subsection (b)(1), shall— 
(1) determine whether guidance and procedures 
in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act with 
respect to the oversight and cost of debris removal 
contracts entered into under the debris removal pro-
gram are sufficient; and 
(2) if the Administrator, in consultation with 
the advisory working group established under sub-
section (b)(1), determines that the guidance and 
procedures described in paragraph (1) are insuffi-
cient, develop and implement additional such guid-
ance and procedures, including— 
(A) a requirement that each State, Tribal 
government, and unit of local government re-
ceiving a grant under the debris removal pro-
gram take the primary role in the oversight 
function of debris removal; 
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(B) guidance for State, Tribal, and local 
debris monitors relating to debris removal oper-
ations, debris operations oversight, and con-
tractor oversight, including contractor moni-
toring; 
(C) guidance for streamlining the reim-
bursement of debris costs overall, including de-
bris management planning and support for re-
silience in debris removal operations; 
(D) checklists, job aids, eligibility require-
ments, contract requirements, debris manage-
ment planning guidance, sample bids, and other 
items, as determined necessary by the Adminis-
trator, for State and local debris monitors; 
(E) a list of the specific debris removal 
monitoring responsibilities expected to be com-
pleted by a State that receives a grant under 
the debris removal grant program; 
(F) a list of the specific debris removal 
monitoring responsibilities expected to be com-
pleted by recipients of a grant under the debris 
removal grant program; and 
(G) guidance for State and Tribal govern-
ments and units of local government to reduce 
duplication and inefficiency in debris removal 
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contracting across the Federal Government, 
State and Tribal governments, and units of 
local government. 
(d) TRAINING.—The Administrator shall conduct 
outreach to States, Tribal governments, and units of local 
government with respect to any guidance or support mate-
rials developed under this section. 
(e) GAO STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study that— 
(1) studies the use and adoption rate of ad-
vance contracts for debris removal by selected 
States, Tribal governments, and units of local gov-
ernment; 
(2) identifies the benefits and challenges of ad-
vance contracts for debris removal; 
(3) with respect to the reporting and informa-
tion sharing processes, as of the date of enactment 
of this Act, for advance contracts for debris removal 
between States and units of local government and 
Federal partners— 
(A) assesses those processes; and 
(B) makes any necessary recommendations 
for those processes; 
(4) studies— 
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(A) the process for setting Federal reim-
bursement rates for the debris removal pro-
gram; 
(B) the use of penalties, as of the date of 
enactment of this Act, for violations of law and 
regulations relating to debris removal; and 
(C) fraud, waste, and abuse relating to the 
debris removal program, including case studies; 
and 
(5) makes any necessary recommendations for 
improvements to oversight and fraud prevention 
across the debris removal program. 
Æ 
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