SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the Federal government should give imme-
diate attention to developing a broad risk-based
strategy for improving Federal readiness and re-
sponse to major disasters;
(2) the all hazards approach is the best way to
prepare the United States for all threats, including
terrorism and foreign attacks;
(3) all reasonable actions should be taken to
mitigate the effects of disasters;
(4) the American Red Cross and other volun-
teer organizations have made, and will continue to
make, valuable contributions in responding to disas-
ters nationwide by providing channels for the gener-
ous sharing of time and resources with those in
need;
(5) initial response to emergencies and disasters
is made by State and local agencies, whose capabili-
ties must therefore be strengthened and maintained;
(6) private nonprofit organizations play an im-
portant role in disaster relief operations, and are an
essential element of disaster preparedness, response,
and recovery efforts; and
(7) hazard mitigation is an important preven-
tive measure and is a vital element in disaster pre-
paredness and recovery.
SEC. 5. PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE PLAN.
Section 201 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131) is
amended—
(1) by striking subsections (c), and (d);
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (d); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the follow-
ing new subsections:
‘‘(b) PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE PLAN.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of the Federal Dis-
aster Preparedness and Response Act of 1993, the
President, acting through the Director, shall develop
a Presidential Response Plan to provide Federal as-
sistance, when requested, to States impacted by a
major disaster, catastrophic disaster, or emergency,
in coordination with appropriate Federal and non-
Federal agencies, as determined by the President.
‘‘(2) TRAINING EXERCISES.—The plan shall in-
clude provisions for annual training exercises to be
performed by designated participants in the plan
and State and local entities and private relief agen-
cies.
‘‘(3) OPERATIONAL PLANS.—The Director shall
prepare operational plans to accompany the Presi-
dential Response Plan, not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of the Federal Disaster Pre-
paredness and Response Act of 1993, that shall—
‘‘(A) describe the chains of command;
‘‘(B) describe the specific duties of all Fed-
eral agencies involved; and
‘‘(C) describe the relationship between, and
the respective duties of, Federal, State, and
local governments, and private relief agencies;
and
‘‘(D) the operational plans described in
this paragraph shall be prepared for specific ge-
ographic regions designated by the Director and
shall—
‘‘(i) be based on a comprehensive risk
assessment of the United States, under-
taken by the Director, which assesses the
probability, frequency, and severity of nat-
ural or man-made disasters occurring and
having a severe impact on public health,
safety, and property within various re-
gions;
‘‘(ii) take into account the emergency
operations plans of the State and local gov-
ernments in the region; and
‘‘(iii) support the development of mu-
tual aid agreements between and among
the States and local governments.
‘‘(c) NATIONAL DISASTER MEDICAL SYSTEM.—
‘‘(1) TRANSFER
OF
FUNCTIONS.—The func-
tions, personnel, facilities, and equipment of the Na-
tional Disaster Medical System (referred to in this
section as the ‘System’) are transferred from the
Department of Health and Human Services to a new
directorate established within FEMA.
‘‘(2) MISSION OF SYSTEM.—It shall be the mis-
sion of the System to prepare for and respond to
major disasters, catastrophic disasters, and emer-
gencies that require medical assistance in excess of
the medical service capabilities of the affected
States. The system shall provide for—
‘‘(A) medical assistance to a disaster area
through disaster medical assistance teams;
‘‘(B) evacuation of patients that cannot be
cared for locally; and
‘‘(C) hospitalization through a national
network of medical care facilities that agree to
provide medical care to disaster victims.
‘‘(3) LOCAL RESOURCES.—The services of the
System shall supplement and not supplant State and
local medical resources.
‘‘(4) COORDINATION OF SERVICES.—The Direc-
tor and the Secretary of Defense shall establish pro-
cedures, roles, and responsibilities for the provision
of medical care in the event of a catastrophic disas-
ter to ensure coordination between the System and
the Department of Defense.
‘‘(5) MILITARY CASUALTIES.—The System shall
be made available to care for military casualties
evacuated to the United States in the event that the
medical care capabilities of the Department of De-
fense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are
exceeded.
‘‘(6) EVALUATION.—Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Director shall evaluate the performance of the Sys-
tem and the degree to which the System fulfills the
intended mission of the System, and make rec-
ommendations to the President and Congress re-
garding potential improvements in the operations of
the System.
‘‘(7) DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS.—
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the Federal
Disaster Preparedness and Response Act of
1993, the Director shall take steps necessary to
ensure that not fewer than 20 disaster medical
assistance teams are established and are made
operational. The Director shall develop stand-
ards and guidelines for equipment, staffing, op-
erations, and regular training of the disaster
medical assistance teams not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of the Federal Dis-
aster Preparedness and Response Act of 1993.
‘‘(B) EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.—A volun-
teer who leaves a position (other than a tem-
porary position) in the service of an employer to
perform services in conjunction with a disaster
medical assistance team, and makes application
for reemployment within 90 days after the com-
pletion of service or release from hospitalization
continuing after completion of service for a pe-
riod of not more than 1 year shall—
‘‘(i) if still qualified to perform the
duties of the position or able to become
requalified with reasonable efforts by the
employer, be restored to the position or to
a position of like seniority, status, and pay;
or
‘‘(ii) if not qualified to perform the
duties of the position or able to become
requalified with reasonable efforts by the
employer, by reason of disability sustained
during service, but qualified to perform the
duties of any other position in the employ
of the employer, be offered employment
and, if the person so requests, be employed
in such other position the duties of which
the person is qualified to perform as will
provide the person like seniority, status,
and pay, or the nearest approximation of
seniority, status, and pay, consistent with
the circumstances of the case, unless the
circumstances of the employer have so
changed as to make it impossible or unrea-
sonable to do so.
‘‘(C) 
CONSTRUCTION
WITH
OTHER
LAWS.—Nothing in this subsection shall excuse
noncompliance with any law of a State or politi-
cal subdivision establishing greater or additional
rights or protections than the rights and protec-
tions established under this subsection.
‘‘(8) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
Beginning with fiscal year 1994, there are author-
ized to be appropriated to the National Disaster
Medical System $20,000,000 for each fiscal year, in-
cluding $5,000,000 for the Disaster Medical Assist-
ance Teams.
‘‘(d) ROLE OF NATIONAL GUARD.—
‘‘(1) REVIEW.—The Secretary of Defense, in
cooperation with the Director, shall direct the Chief,
National Guard Bureau, to review the role of the
National Guard in responding to major disasters
and emergencies and make recommendations to the
President. The recommendations shall address—
‘‘(A) how the National Guard could better
prepare for and respond to major disasters and
emergencies;
‘‘(B) how the force structure of the Na-
tional Guard could be adjusted to provide Gov-
ernors with improved immediate access to criti-
cal assets during an emergency;
‘‘(C) how the National Guard should be in-
tegrated with the Presidential Response Plan;
‘‘(D) how the National Guard should co-
ordinate with the Disaster Medical Assistance
Teams in preparing for and responding to dis-
asters and emergencies;
‘‘(E) the development by the Chief, Na-
tional Guard Bureau, of a format for an inter-
state compact that, when subscribed to by the
States, facilitates the mutual use of National
Guard assets across State borders during na-
tional disasters and domestic emergencies; and
‘‘(F) a study by the National Academy of
Public Administration, to determine the fea-
sibility of recommending to the Governors that
the Adjutant General of the State be identified
as the State Coordinating Official in all deal-
ings with Federal agencies during natural dis-
asters and domestic emergencies.
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of
Defense shall report to the President and Congress
on the results of the review.
‘‘(3) ALL HAZARDS RESPONSE TRAINING.—The
Chief, National Guard Bureau, shall require Na-
tional Guard units or members to participate in spe-
cialized training and exercises designed to enhance
the readiness of the National Guard to respond to
all hazards. Up to 5 percent of the funds appro-
priated for the military pay and operations and
maintenance of the Army and Air National Guard
may be used to fund the training and exercises.
‘‘(4) INTERSTATE
MUTUAL
ASSISTANCE
COM-
PACT.—The States are encouraged to enter into a
nationwide compact for the mutual use of National
Guard assets across State borders during domestic
disasters and emergencies.
‘‘(5) RESPONSE
TO
DISASTERS
AND
REIM-
BURSEMENT FOR AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—To as-
sure more effective and rapid responses by National
Guard units to natural disasters and domestic emer-
gencies, the Chief, National Guard Bureau, is au-
thorized to approve reimbursement to a State or
States for all or any part of expenses incurred as a
result of the use of the National Guard in any natu-
ral disaster or domestic emergency at the onset of
the disaster or domestic emergency in any instance
in which, in the judgment of the Governor of the af-
fected State, it is probable that the occurrence will
result in a declaration of a national emergency.
‘‘(A) ELIGIBILITY.—For a State to be eli-
gible for reimbursement under this subsection
for deployment of its National Guard units in
support of a natural disaster and domestic
emergency, the National Guard units must be
deployed in a State active duty status.
‘‘(B) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Funds available
for disbursement to the States under this sub-
section shall come from the funds appropriated
to the disaster relief fund.
‘‘(C) APPROVAL.—A request by a Governor
for reimbursement for use of the National
Guard of the State shall be submitted to the
Director, and the Director, upon validation of
eligible activities, shall issue the necessary fund-
ing documents to effect reimbursement to the
State.
‘‘(D) CONSISTENCE
WITH
ACT.—In in-
stances of natural disasters and domestic emer-
gencies that result in a Federal declaration of
a disaster or emergency by the President, the
Director shall ensure that all funding reim-
bursement is in accordance with this Act, at a
Federal share rate determined for that occur-
rence.
‘‘(6) TRAINING
AND
COORDINATION
WITH
STATE ENTITIES.—
‘‘(A) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated $5,000,000 to the National Guard
through FEMA to conduct disaster and emer-
gency training exercises in conjunction with ap-
propriate State and local entities.
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION.—The Director shall al-
locate the funds made available under subpara-
graph (A) to the States.
‘‘(C) USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Funds made avail-
able under this paragraph shall be used to
enhance the preparedness of States for dis-
asters and emergencies.
‘‘(ii) MINIMUM
TRAINING.—The Na-
tional Guard shall be required to conduct
at least 2 disaster preparedness training
exercises annually in every State, in con-
junction with appropriate State and local
entities.
‘‘(e) DISASTER RESOURCE INVENTORY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of the Federal Disaster Pre-
paredness and Response Act of 1993, the Director
shall complete an inventory of resources that are
available to the Federal Government, including med-
ical assets and foreign language communication,
through public or private entities, for use or deploy-
ment, or both, in disaster relief or search and rescue
operations following a major disaster, catastrophic
disaster, or emergency. Each item in the inventory
shall include the information necessary for prompt
access to the resource.
‘‘(2) ORGANIZATION.—The inventory shall be
organized to facilitate the dispatch of resources on
a regional basis. This paragraph shall not be con-
strued to preclude the dispatch of specialized equip-
ment or scarce resources from outside the geo-
graphic proximity of the disaster or emergency.
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY.—The Director shall ensure
that the inventory is made available to the Governor
of each State for the purposes of formulating a re-
quest for the declaration of a major disaster, cata-
strophic disaster, or emergency.
‘‘(4) MAINTENANCE.—The Director shall en-
sure that information contained in the inventory is
current and accurate.
‘‘(5) STATE PARTICIPATION.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90
days after the establishment of the inventory,
the Director shall request each Governor of a
State to identify the State Coordinating Officer
and other public safety officials who are respon-
sible for coordinating or overseeing State and
local response to disasters and emergencies in
the State.
‘‘(B) ACCESS.—A public safety official des-
ignated under subparagraph (A) shall have di-
rect and immediate access to the information
contained in the inventory to expedite State and
local responses to disasters and emergencies not
declared by the President.
‘‘(f) VOLUNTEERS.—Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of the Federal Disaster Prepared-
ness and Response Act of 1993, the Director shall—
‘‘(1) establish a system that is coordinated with
systems of private relief agencies to manage and uti-
lize spontaneous disaster volunteers to carry out pri-
ority disaster response services; and
‘‘(2) report to Congress on the system.
‘‘(g) DONATED GOODS.—Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Federal Disaster Pre-
paredness and Response Act of 1993, the Director shall—
‘‘(1) establish a system for the management of
goods donated to the Federal Government to support
disaster victims; and
‘‘(2) report to Congress on the system.’’.
SEC. 6. PREDECLARATION AUTHORITY.
Title II of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 203. PREDECLARATION AUTHORITY.
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—When, in the determination of the
Director, events indicate that an emergency, major disas-
ter or catastrophic disaster is likely to be declared, a Fed-
eral agency, in consultation with the Director, may take
such actions as the agency considers necessary to prepare
to provide Federal assistance to State and local govern-
ments and to disaster victims.
‘‘(b) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Federal agency shall be
reimbursed by the disaster relief fund for the cost of ac-
tions taken in accordance with this section.’’.
SEC. 7. DOMESTIC CRISIS MONITORING UNIT.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days of the
date after the enactment of this section, the President
shall establish a unit within the White House to be known
as the ‘‘Domestic Crisis Monitoring Unit’’.
(b) HEAD.—The Domestic Crisis Preparedness and
Monitoring Unit shall be headed by the Vice President.
(c) OTHER PARTICIPANTS.—The Cabinet Secretary,
or a designee of the Secretary, and the Director, or a des-
ignee of the Director, shall be detailed to the unit upon
activation.
(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The head of the Domestic
Crisis Monitoring Unit shall—
(1) monitor potential and pending disasters and
emergencies;
(2) notify the President and Federal agencies of
impending disasters and emergencies as soon as
practicable; and
(3) ensure effective, coordinated, and rapid
Federal agency response in the immediate aftermath
of a catastrophic disaster or emergency.
(e) COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The head of the
Domestic Crisis Monitoring Unit shall coordinate with the
Director and the Governors of States affected by a cata-
strophic disaster or emergency or in which a catastrophic
disaster or emergency is likely to be declared.
(f) ACTIVATION.—The President shall activate the
Domestic Crisis Monitoring Unit during the warning
stages of a major or catastrophic disaster, or immediately
following a catastrophic disaster when there is no warning,
and shall remain activated until the President determines
that continued activation is unwarranted.
(g) ROLE OF FEDERAL COORDINATING OFFICER.—
(1) 
CHIEF
OF
PRESIDENTIAL
RESPONSE
PLAN.—After activation of the Domestic Crisis Mon-
itoring Unit, the Federal Coordinating Officer shall
retain authority as the chief administrator of the
Presidential Response Plan.
(2) COORDINATION OF PLAN PARTICIPANTS.—
The Federal Coordinating Officer shall coordinate
the activities of the participants of the Plan, includ-
ing consulting with participating agencies to deter-
mine disaster response priorities and directing par-
ticipating agencies to carry out assignments as
needed.
SEC. 8. DAMAGE AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 322. DISASTER STRIKE TEAMS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after
the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall
establish disaster strike teams to be deployed at the dis-
cretion of the Director to an area where a major disaster,
catastrophic disaster, or emergency is likely to be declared.