To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relating to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.7969 | Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. (D-NJ)
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
This bill establishes reporting and other requirements related to disaster preparedness and response and hazard mitigation. The Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) must conduct a study and report on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending.
Specifically, the GAO must identify
The President must coordinate with each state to update state plans to incorporate strategies that decrease the time required to prepare for disasters, including the time to evacuate individuals.
An entity that receives grants for hazard mitigation revolving loan funds must ensure that at least 10% of the total dollar amount of the loans it makes each fiscal year assist projects or activities that reduce risks for residential structures related to specified natural hazards.

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
  study on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for 
  such spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
 Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities 
  relating to disasters and hazard mitigation, 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. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY ON DISASTER SPENDING.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study to identify the following:
            (1) For the 5-year period ending on the date of enactment 
        of this Act--
                    (A) the total amount of Federal funds spent in 
                response to major disasters and emergencies declared 
                pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and
                    (B) the total amount of State and Indian tribal 
                government funds spent in response to such major 
                disasters and emergencies.
            (2) 10 proposed Federal actions, to include reinsurance, 
        that, if implemented, would most effectively reduce the need 
        for spending related to such major disasters or emergencies. 
        Such actions shall be listed in order of priority under 
        criteria established by the Comptroller General, including the 
        following:
                    (A) Cost effectiveness.
                    (B) Return on investment.
                    (C) Simplicity or speed of implementation using 
                existing resources.
            (3) The effect that using blockchain may have on delivering 
        disaster assistance to State and Indian tribal governments.
            (4) Whether insurance protection against wildfires will 
        remain available and affordable to homeowners.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the covered entities 
a report containing the results of the study.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``covered entities'' means--
                    (A) Congress;
                    (B) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency; and
                    (C) for each State and Indian tribal government, 
                the head of the agency for such State or Indian tribal 
                government with jurisdiction over disaster response 
                activities.
            (2) The terms ``Indian tribal government'' and ``State'' 
        have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5122).

SEC. 2. STATE DISASTER PLAN UPDATES.

    Section 201 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(e) With respect to State plans developed under this section, the 
President shall coordinate with each State to update such plans to 
incorporate strategies that decrease the time required to prepare for 
disasters, including the time to evacuate individuals.''.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO ENTITIES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF HAZARD MITIGATION 
              REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.

    Section 205(f) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5135(f)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(9) Set aside for certain projects.--A participating 
        entity shall ensure that at least 10 percent of the total 
        dollar amount of the loans made by such entity under this 
        subsection each fiscal year assist projects or activities that 
        reduce risks, for residential structures, related to the 
        natural hazards described in paragraph (3).''.
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