Prioritizing Disaster Relief Act
Bill: S.4836 | Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand (R-KY)
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Prioritizing Disaster Relief Act
This bill allows COVID-19 relief funds to be used for disaster assistance.
Specifically, the bill authorizes a state, local government, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to use such funds for expenses related to assisting communities, individuals, and businesses affected by and located within the designated area of a major disaster or emergency.

To allow COVID-19 relief funds to be used for disaster assistance, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prioritizing Disaster Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. USE OF COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS FOR DISASTER RELIEF.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) COVID-19 relief funds.--The term ``COVID-19 relief 
        funds'' means amounts appropriated under the following Acts 
        related to COVID-19 relief:
                    (A) The CARES Act (Public Law 116-136; 134 Stat. 
                281).
                    (B) The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public 
                Law 117-2; 135 Stat. 4).
                    (C) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response 
                Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-
                23; 134 Stat. 146).
                    (D) The Emergency Aid for Returning Americans 
                Affected by Coronavirus Act (Public Law 116-148; 134 
                Stat. 661).
                    (E) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act 
                (Public Law 116-127; 134 Stat. 178).
                    (F) The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care 
                Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139; 134 Stat. 620).
                    (G) The Coronavirus Response and Relief 
                Supplemental Appropriations Act (Public Law 116-260; 
                134 Stat. 1182).
                    (H) The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and 
                Other Extensions Act (Public Law 116-159; 134 Stat. 
                709).
                    (I) The Extending Government Funding and Delivering 
                Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 117-43; 134 Stat. 
                344).
            (2) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms ``Indian 
        Tribe'' and ``Tribal organization'' have the meanings given 
        those terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or 
        possession of the United States.
    (b) Use of Funds for Disaster Relief.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any limitation on the use 
        of COVID-19 relief funds under any other provision of law, a 
        State, unit of local government, Indian Tribe, or Tribal 
        organization may use COVID-19 relief funds for expenses related 
        to assisting communities, individuals, and businesses affected 
        by and located within the designated area of a major disaster 
        or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, 
        of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) before, on, or after the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Supplement, not supplant.--COVID-19 relief funds used 
        in accordance with paragraph (1) shall supplement and not 
        supplant any other Federal disaster assistance made available 
        to a community, individual, or business.
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