H. R. 152—43 
‘‘SEC. 429. UNIFIED FEDERAL REVIEW. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this section, and in consultation with the Council 
on Environmental Quality and the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation, the President shall establish an expedited and unified 
interagency review process to ensure compliance with environ-
mental and historic requirements under Federal law relating to 
disaster recovery projects, in order to expedite the recovery process, 
consistent with applicable law. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The review process established under this sec-
tion shall include mechanisms to expeditiously address delays that 
may occur during the recovery from a major disaster and be 
updated, as appropriate, consistent with applicable law.’’. 
SEC. 1107. SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES. 
Section 422 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘If the Federal estimate’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
IN GENERAL.—If the Federal estimate’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(or, if the Administrator has established 
a threshold under subsection (b), the amount established under 
subsection (b))’’ after ‘‘$35,000’’ the first place it appears; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘or, if applicable, the amount established 
under subsection (b),’’ after ‘‘$35,000 amount’’ the second place 
it appears; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) THRESHOLD.— 
‘‘(1) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this subsection, the President, acting through the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Administrator’), shall— 
‘‘(A) complete an analysis to determine whether an 
increase in the threshold for eligibility under subsection 
(a) is appropriate, which shall include consideration of cost- 
effectiveness, speed of recovery, capacity of grantees, past 
performance, and accountability measures; and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report regarding the analysis con-
ducted under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—After the Administrator submits the report 
required under paragraph (1), the President shall direct the 
Administrator to— 
‘‘(A) immediately establish a threshold for eligibility 
under this section in an appropriate amount, without 
regard to chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code; and 
‘‘(B) adjust the threshold annually to reflect changes 
in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers 
published by the Department of Labor. 
‘‘(3) REVIEW.—Not later than 3 years after the date on 
which the Administrator establishes a threshold under para-
graph (2), and every 3 years thereafter, the President, acting 
through the Administrator, shall review the threshold for eligi-
bility under this section.’’.
H. R. 152—44 
SEC. 1108. ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE.—Section 408(e)(1) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading by inserting ‘‘CHILD CARE,’’ 
after ‘‘DENTAL,’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘child care,’’ after ‘‘dental,’’. 
(b) SALARIES
AND BENEFITS.—Section 403 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170b) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) SALARIES AND BENEFITS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the President declares a major disaster 
or emergency for an area within the jurisdiction of a State, 
tribal, or local government, the President may reimburse the 
State, tribal, or local government for costs relating to— 
‘‘(A) basic pay and benefits for permanent employees 
of the State, tribal, or local government conducting emer-
gency protective measures under this section, if— 
‘‘(i) the work is not typically performed by the 
employees; and 
‘‘(ii) the type of work may otherwise be carried 
out by contract or agreement with private organiza-
tions, firms, or individuals.; or 
‘‘(B) overtime and hazardous duty compensation for 
permanent employees of the State, tribal, or local govern-
ment conducting emergency protective measures under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) OVERTIME.—The guidelines for reimbursement for costs 
under paragraph (1) shall ensure that no State, tribal, or local 
government is denied reimbursement for overtime payments 
that are required pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act 
of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.). 
‘‘(3) NO EFFECT ON MUTUAL AID PACTS.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall affect the ability of the President to reimburse 
labor force expenses provided pursuant to an authorized mutual 
aid pact.’’. 
SEC. 1109. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FACTORS. 
In order to provide more objective criteria for evaluating the 
need for assistance to individuals, to clarify the threshold for eligi-
bility and to speed a declaration of a major disaster or emergency 
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this division, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with rep-
resentatives of State, tribal, and local emergency management agen-
cies, shall review, update, and revise through rulemaking the factors 
considered under section 206.48 of title 44, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (including section 206.48(b)(2) of such title relating to trauma 
and the specific conditions or losses that contribute to trauma), 
to measure the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster. 
SEC. 1110. TRIBAL REQUESTS FOR A MAJOR DISASTER OR EMERGENCY 
DECLARATION UNDER THE STAFFORD ACT. 
(a) MAJOR DISASTER REQUESTS.—Section 401 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170) is amended—
H. R. 152—45 
(1) by striking ‘‘All requests for a declaration’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—All requests for a declaration’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Executive of an affected Indian 
tribal government may submit a request for a declaration by 
the President that a major disaster exists consistent with the 
requirements of subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) REFERENCES.—In implementing assistance authorized 
by the President under this Act in response to a request of 
the Chief Executive of an affected Indian tribal government 
for a major disaster declaration, any reference in this title 
or title III (except sections 310 and 326) to a State or the 
Governor of a State is deemed to refer to an affected Indian 
tribal government or the Chief Executive of an affected Indian 
tribal government, as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this subsection shall 
prohibit an Indian tribal government from receiving assistance 
under this title through a declaration made by the President 
at the request of a State under subsection (a) if the President 
does not make a declaration under this subsection for the 
same incident. 
‘‘(c) COST SHARE ADJUSTMENTS FOR INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERN-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In providing assistance to an Indian 
tribal government under this title, the President may waive 
or adjust any payment of a non-Federal contribution with 
respect to the assistance if— 
‘‘(A) the President has the authority to waive or adjust 
the payment under another provision of this title; and 
‘‘(B) the President determines that the waiver or 
adjustment is necessary and appropriate. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA FOR MAKING DETERMINATIONS.—The Presi-
dent shall establish criteria for making determinations under 
paragraph (1)(B).’’. 
(b) EMERGENCY REQUESTS.—Section 501 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT REQUESTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Executive of an affected Indian 
tribal government may submit a request for a declaration by 
the President that an emergency exists consistent with the 
requirements of subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) REFERENCES.—In implementing assistance authorized 
by the President under this title in response to a request 
of the Chief Executive of an affected Indian tribal government 
for an emergency declaration, any reference in this title or 
title III (except sections 310 and 326) to a State or the Governor 
of a State is deemed to refer to an affected Indian tribal 
government or the Chief Executive of an affected Indian tribal 
government, as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this subsection shall 
prohibit an Indian tribal government from receiving assistance 
under this title through a declaration made by the President 
at the request of a State under subsection (a) if the President 
does not make a declaration under this subsection for the 
same incident.’’.
H. R. 152—46 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7)(B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
‘‘, that is not an Indian tribal government as defined in para-
graph (6); and’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (10) as para-
graphs (7) through (11), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: 
‘‘(6) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘Indian tribal 
government’ means the governing body of any Indian or Alaska 
Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that 
the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian 
tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act 
of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a et seq.).’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(12) CHIEF EXECUTIVE.—The term ‘Chief Executive’ means 
the person who is the Chief, Chairman, Governor, President, 
or similar executive official of an Indian tribal government.’’. 
(d) REFERENCES.—Title I of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is 
amended by adding after section 102 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 103. REFERENCES. 
‘‘Except as otherwise specifically provided, any reference in 
this Act to ‘State and local’, ‘State or local’, ‘State, and local’, 
‘State, or local’, or ‘State, local’ (including plurals) with respect 
to governments or officials and any reference to a ‘local government’ 
in sections 406(d)(3) and 417 is deemed to refer also to Indian 
tribal governments and officials, as appropriate.’’. 
(e) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) ISSUANCE.—The President shall issue regulations to 
carry out the amendments made by this section. 
(2) FACTORS.—In issuing the regulations, the President 
shall consider the unique conditions that affect the general 
welfare of Indian tribal governments. 
SEC. 1111. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCING COSTS OF FUTURE 
DISASTERS. 
(a) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this division, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress rec-
ommendations for the development of a national strategy for 
reducing future costs, loss of life, and injuries associated with 
extreme disaster events in vulnerable areas of the United States. 
(b) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The national strategy should— 
(1) respect the constitutional role and responsibilities of 
Federal, State, and local governments and the private sector; 
(2) consider the vulnerability of the United States to dam-
age from flooding, severe weather events, and other hazards; 
(3) analyze gaps and duplication of emergency prepared-
ness, response, recovery, and mitigation measures provided by 
Federal, State, and local entities; and
H. R. 152—47 
(4) include recommendations on how to improve the resil-
iency of local communities and States for the purpose of low-
ering future costs of disaster response and recovery. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.