applications to be funded under this section, 
which shall— 
(i) be based primarily on a determina-
tion of greatest need, as such term is de-
fined by the Secretary; 
(ii) provide due consideration to other 
enumerated factors, including the ability of 
the plan for use of grant funds required 
under paragraph (1)(B) to increase an ap-
plicant’s resilience, and the capacity of the 
applicant to successfully implement the ac-
tivities described in such plan; 
(iii) provide that the Secretary shall 
consider that an application that includes a 
plan for use of grant funds that consists of 
a resilience or mitigation plan previously 
approved by another Federal agency, in-
cluding a hazard mitigation plan developed 
under section 322 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165), shall be suffi-
cient for purposes of paragraph (1)(B) if, 
together with such plan, the applicant in-
cludes a detailed description regarding use 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
of all grant funds provided under this sec-
tion; 
(iv) give consideration to the need for 
resilience grants to be awarded to eligible 
entities in each region of the United 
States; and 
(v) give consideration to applicants 
whose plans submitted under paragraph 
(1)(B) propose innovative approaches to 
increasing community resilience to extreme 
weather, including increasing long-term re-
silience of infrastructure and housing and 
economic resilience. 
(f) 
ADMINISTRATION; 
TREATMENT
AS
CDBG 
FUNDS.—Except as otherwise provided by this Act, 
amounts appropriated, revenues generated, or amounts 
otherwise made available to eligible entities under this sec-
tion shall be treated as though such funds were commu-
nity development block grant funds under title I of the 
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 
U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 
(g) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.— 
(1) ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In order to ensure that 
the policies of the National Environmental Pol-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
icy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and 
other provisions of law which further the pur-
poses of such Act (as specified in regulations 
issued by the Secretary) are most effectively im-
plemented in connection with the expenditure of 
funds under this section, and to assure to the 
public undiminished protection of the environ-
ment, the Secretary, in lieu of the environ-
mental protection procedures otherwise applica-
ble, may under regulations provide for the re-
lease of funds for particular projects to recipi-
ents of resilience grants who assume all of the 
responsibilities for environmental review, deci-
sionmaking, and action pursuant to such Act, 
and such other provisions of law as the regula-
tions of the Secretary specify, that would apply 
to the Secretary were the Secretary to under-
take such projects as Federal projects. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall 
issue regulations to carry out this paragraph 
only after consultation with the Council on En-
vironmental Quality. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF CERTIFICATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove the release of funds for projects subject 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
to the procedures authorized by this subsection 
only if, at least 15 days prior to such approval 
and prior to any commitment of funds to such 
projects other than for purposes authorized by 
section 105(a)(12) of the Housing and Commu-
nity Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
5305(a)(12)), or for environmental studies, the 
recipient of a resilience grant has submitted to 
the Secretary a request for such release accom-
panied by a certification which meets the re-
quirements of paragraph (3). 
(B) SATISFACTION
OF
ENVIRONMENTAL 
LAWS.—The Secretary’s approval of any such 
certification shall be deemed to satisfy the Sec-
retary’s responsibilities under the National En-
vironmental Policy Act of 1969 and such other 
provisions of law as the regulations of the Sec-
retary specify insofar as those responsibilities 
relate to the releases of funds for projects to be 
carried out pursuant thereto which are covered 
by such certification. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS
OF
CERTIFICATION.—A 
certification under the procedures authorized by this 
subsection shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(A) be in a form acceptable to the Sec-
retary; 
(B) be executed by the chief executive offi-
cer or other officer of the recipient of a resil-
ience grant who is qualified under regulations 
of the Secretary; 
(C) specify that the recipient of the resil-
ience grant has fully carried out its responsibil-
ities as described under paragraph (1) of this 
subsection; and 
(D) specify that the certifying officer— 
(i) consents to assume the status of a 
responsible Federal official under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and each provision of law specified in regu-
lations issued by the Secretary insofar as 
the provisions of such Act or other such 
provision of law apply pursuant to para-
graph (1) of this subsection; and 
(ii) is authorized and consents on be-
half of the recipient of the resilience grant 
and the certifying office to accept the ju-
risdiction of the Federal courts for the 
purpose of enforcement of his responsibil-
ities as such an official. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(4) GRANTS TO STATES.—In the case of a resil-
ience grant made to a State— 
(A) the State shall perform those actions 
of the Secretary described in paragraph (2); 
and 
(B) the performance of such actions shall 
be deemed to satisfy the Secretary’s responsibil-
ities referred to in subparagraph (B) of such 
paragraph. 
(5) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
implement this subsection in a manner consistent 
with the implementation of section 104(g) of the 
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 
(42 U.S.C. 5304(g)). 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR RESILIENCE. 
(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Office of Policy Development and Research, 
shall— 
(1) select, on a competitive basis, a single non-
profit organization having a national reputation for 
expertise in resilience research and capacity building 
to develop a National Research Center for Resil-
ience; and 
(2) subject only to the availability of amounts 
provided in appropriation Acts, make annual grants 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
of amounts made available pursuant to section 
7(b)(1) for the establishment and operation of the 
National Center. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The National Center shall— 
(1) collaborate with institutions of higher edu-
cation as partners to create a best practices sharing 
network to support the programs and activities car-
ried out with resilience grants; 
(2) coordinate with any other relevant centers 
and entities throughout the Federal Government on 
efforts relating to improving community resilience: 
(3) collect and disseminate research and other 
information about evidence-based and promising 
practices related to resilience to inform the efforts of 
research partners and to support the programs and 
activities carried out with resilience grants; 
(4) increase the public’s knowledge and under-
standing of effective practices to improve regional 
and community resilience throughout the United 
States; and 
(5) make grants under subsection (d) for Re-
gional Centers for Resilience. 
(c) DISSEMINATION OF PROVEN PRACTICES.—The 
Secretary shall collect information from the National Cen-
ter regarding its activities and research and shall develop, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
manage, and regularly update an online site to dissemi-
nate proven practices for improving community resilience. 
(d) GRANTS FOR REGIONAL CENTERS FOR RESIL-
IENCE.— 
(1) GRANT
PROGRAM.—The National Center 
shall carry out a program to make grants to institu-
tions of higher education, or other non-profit organi-
zations, having a national reputation to establish a 
Regional Center for Resilience in each of the 10 re-
gions of the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment, as that shall serve as regional research 
partners with recipients of resilience grants that are 
located in the same geographic region as such insti-
tution, in collaboration with the National Center. 
(2) SUPPORT
SERVICES.—A Regional Center 
for Resilience receiving a grant under this section 
shall use such grant amounts to— 
(A) provide research support to recipients 
of resilience grants, including support services 
for data collection, general research, and anal-
ysis to assess the progress of activities carried 
out with resilience grants; 
(B) provide technical assistance to prospec-
tive applicants for, and recipients of, resilience 
grants; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(C) collaborate with and share information 
with the National Center. 
SEC. 5. ANNUAL PROGRAMS REPORT. 
The Secretary shall annually submit to the Congress, 
and make publicly available, a report on the programs car-
ried out under this Act, which shall evaluate the perform-
ance of such programs using the program performance 
metrics established under Executive Order 13576 (76 Fed. 
Reg. 35297), or any subsequent replacement executive 
order. 
SEC. 6. GAO REPORTS. 
(a) ACCESS
TO INFORMATION.—The Comptroller 
General of the United States shall have access to all infor-
mation regarding and generated by the programs carried 
out under this Act. 
(b) REPORTS.—Not later than the expiration of the 
2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and every two years thereafter, the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the Congress a report analyzing 
and assessing the performance of the programs carried out 
under this Act. 
SEC. 7. FUNDING. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
$1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 
2022. 
(b) ALLOCATION.—Of any amounts appropriated for 
each such fiscal year— 
(1) 1.0 percent shall be available for grants 
under section 4; 
(2) 0.1 percent shall be available to the Office 
of Community Planning and Development for nec-
essary costs, including information technology costs 
and salaries and expenses, of administering and 
overseeing funds made available for grants under 
sections 3 and 4; and 
(3) the remainder shall be available for resil-
ience grants under section 3. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2583.IH
H2583
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS