I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3348
To direct the President to establish standards and criteria for the provision
of major disaster and emergency assistance in response to snow-related events.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 29, 1996
Mr. QUINN (for himself, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr.
RANGEL, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. CLINGER, Mr. KILDEE, Mr.
HOLDEN, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mrs. KELLY, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. TORKILDSEN,
Mr. KING, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. GOOD-
LING, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. BLUTE, and Mr. PETRI) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure
A BILL
To direct the President to establish standards and criteria
for the provision of major disaster and emergency assist-
ance in response to snow-related events.
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 ‘‘Snow Removal Policy
Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) winter snow storms in 1995 interrupted es-
sential public services and utilities, caused wide-
spread disruption of vital transportation networks,
stranded many motorists, and isolated many homes
and businesses;
(2) the impact of the winter snow storms was
of such severity and magnitude that effective re-
sponse was beyond the capability of State and local
governments;
(3) the policy of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency for providing major disaster and
emergency assistance in response to snow-related
events is unclear;
(4) regulations of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency for providing fire suppression as-
sistance, contained in subpart L of part 206 of title
44, Code of Federal Regulations, provide an example
of a clearly articulated emergency assistance policy;
and
(5) regulations should be promulgated for pro-
viding major disaster and emergency assistance in
response to snow-related events in order to ensure
the fair treatment of States and local governments
that have incurred costs associated with such a re-
sponse.
SEC. 3. RULEMAKING TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND CRI-
TERIA FOR SNOW-RELATED EVENTS.
(a) NOTICE
OF
PROPOSED
RULEMAKING.—The
President, acting through the Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, shall issue a notice of
proposed rulemaking to promulgate—
(1) standards and criteria for declaring a major
disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in re-
sponse to a snow-related event; and
(2) standards and criteria for providing assist-
ance under such Act in the case of a snow-related
major disaster or emergency, including reimburse-
ment for snow removal and for debris removal and
emergency protective measures.
(b) REQUIREMENT.—Rules to be promulgated under
this section shall ensure that in determining the eligibility
of a State or local government for assistance in connection
with a snow-related event, the President will give consider-
ation to existing capabilities of the State or local govern-
ment.
(c) DEADLINES.—The President, acting through the
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
shall issue—
(1) a proposed rule under this section not later
than 3 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act; and
(2) a final rule under this section not later than
6 months after such date of enactment.
Æ