I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7070 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness 
of certain mitigation projects, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2024 
Mr. STANTON (for himself and Mr. LAMALFA) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency to conduct a review of the criteria for 
evaluating the cost-effectiveness of certain mitigation 
projects, 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 ‘‘Wildfire Response Im-
provement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM POL-
ICY. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall recommend such regulations or 
guidance as are necessary to make eligible assessments 
and emergency stabilization to protect public safety, in-
cluding for the fire management assistance program under 
section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187), irrespective 
of the incident period for a declared fire. 
SEC. 3. CHANGES TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE POLICY GUIDE. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall amend the Public Assistance 
Program and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to include guidance on wildfire-spe-
cific recovery challenges, including debris removal, emer-
gency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of 
drinking water resources. 
SEC. 4. MITIGATION COST-EFFECTIVENESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of 
the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of projects 
intended to mitigate the impacts of wildfire under sections 
203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
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and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c), 
including— 
(1) the establishment of pre-calculated benefits 
criterion for common defensible space mitigation 
projects for wildfire mitigation; 
(2) the use of nature-based infrastructure in 
wildfire mitigation; 
(3) considerations for vegetation management 
for wildfire mitigation; 
(4) reducing the negative effects of wildfire 
smoke on public health; and 
(5) lessening the impact of wildfires on water 
infrastructure. 
(b) UPDATED CRITERIA.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
issue such guidance as is necessary to— 
(1) update criteria for evaluating the cost-effec-
tiveness of mitigation projects under sections 203 
and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 
5170c) based on the results of the review conducted 
under subsection (a); and 
(2) prioritize projects under such sections based 
on the criteria updated under paragraph (1). 
Æ 
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