I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3177 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to ensure that cost estimates, acquisition of proper materials, and any 
other activity related to certain projects under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act are performed by profes-
sionals licensed in the relevant State, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 5, 2025 
Mr. EZELL (for himself, Mr. CARBAJAL, and Mr. BUCHANAN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to ensure that cost estimates, acqui-
sition of proper materials, and any other activity related 
to certain projects under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act are performed by 
professionals licensed in the relevant State, 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. COST ESTIMATES BY APPROPRIATELY LI-
CENSED PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall use appropriately li-
censed professionals to perform any covered activity with 
respect to a project eligible for assistance under sections 
406 or 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172; 42 U.S.C. 
5189f). 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) CONSENT
OF
APPROPRIATELY
LICENSED 
PROFESSIONAL.—The Administrator may not dis-
approve, with respect to a project described under 
subsection (a), any plan, rebuilding proposal, mate-
rial suggestion for rebuilding, or direct purchase of 
materials without the direct consent of an appro-
priately licensed professional. 
(2) PURCHASE APPROVAL.—Any purchase sug-
gested by an appropriately licensed professional for 
any project described under subsection (a) shall be 
approved by the Administrator. 
(3) ACCEPTANCE
OF
PLANS, PROJECTS, AND 
MATERIALS.—Unless fraud is evident and traceable, 
any plans proposed, projects prepared, and materials 
requested or purchased by an appropriately licensed 
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professional may not be rejected, rescinded, or 
stalled by the Administrator. 
(4) CONTRACT
PROCESS.—The Administrator 
may not reject or hinder the process of entering into 
a contract with an appropriately licensed profes-
sional if such process is suggested by a State or 
local government. 
(5) STATE HIRING RESPONSIBILITY.—It shall 
be the responsibility of the State to hire an appro-
priately licensed professional to develop the scope of 
work related to performing a covered activity. 
(6) EMPLOYEE OF FEMA.—Any employee of the 
Agency that assists directly with the management of 
a rebuilding project eligible for assistance under sec-
tion 406 or 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5172; 42 U.S.C. 5189f) shall be an appropriately li-
censed professional. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall update 
regulations and policies, to the extent necessary, to imple-
ment the requirements of this Act. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATELY
LICENSED
PROFES-
SIONAL.—The term ‘‘appropriately licensed profes-
sional’’ means an individual— 
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(A) who is— 
(i) employed by the Agency to perform 
a covered activity; or 
(ii) contracted by the Agency or a 
State or local governmental entity; and 
(B) licensed— 
(i) in the State in which a project de-
scribed under this section shall be carried 
out; and 
(ii) as an engineer, architect, builder, 
tradesperson, or any other profession re-
lated to performing a covered activity re-
lating to such project. 
(2) COVERED
ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘covered 
activity’’ includes— 
(A) preparing a cost estimate for a project 
eligible for assistance under section 406 or 428 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172; 42 
U.S.C. 5189f); and 
(B) purchasing the proper materials, 
equipment, vehicles, and any other items nec-
essary to carry out a project described under 
subparagraph (A). 
Æ 
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