I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8516 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to conduct a review of the benefit cost analysis criteria for mitigation 
projects under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2022 
Mr. STANTON 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 benefit cost 
analysis criteria for mitigation projects under the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act, 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 issue such regulations as are 
necessary to update the categories of eligibility and 
timelines for the fire management assistance program 
under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) to 
be, to the maximum extent practicable, the same as such 
categories and timelines under the public assistance pro-
gram under section 406 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5172). 
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 issue such regulations as are 
necessary to update the Public Assistance Program and 
Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency to include guidance on the wildfire-specific chal-
lenges, including debris removal, emergency protective 
measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water re-
sources. 
SEC. 4. MITIGATION BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of 
the benefit cost analysis criteria for mitigation projects 
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under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5133; 5170c) to consider a broader range of factors, in-
cluding— 
(1) the establishment of a benefit cost analysis 
pre-calculated benefits critereon for common defen-
sible space mitigation projects; 
(2) projects that use nature-based infrastruc-
ture; 
(3) considerations for ecological and societal 
health; 
(4) carbon sequestration; 
(5) improved water quality; and 
(6) lessening disaster impact on traditionally 
underserved communities. 
(b) UPDATED CRITERIA.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
issue such regulations as are necessary to— 
(1) update the benefit cost analysis criteria for 
mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c) based 
on the results of the review conducted under sub-
section (a); and 
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(2) prioritize projects under such sections based 
on the benefit cost analysis criteria updated under 
paragraph (1). 
Æ 
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