Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now Act
Bill: H.R.3917 | Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA)
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now Act or the MALDEN Act
This bill modifies requirements pertaining to the time frame for approval of major disaster or emergency declarations and the ability to make federal resources available to rural communities.
Specifically, a major disaster or emergency declaration must be made not later than 30 days after a request by a governor or the chief executive of an affected Indian tribal government. Failure to meet the 30-day requirement shall result in an automatic approval of the request.
Additionally, if a disaster or emergency occurs in a rural area, regardless of whether a declaration has been made, the Small State and Rural Advocate within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall work in coordination with local agencies to provide guidance on developing a recovery team, including resources to help prevent flooding, mudslides, rockslides or any other natural disaster that could result after a wildfire and identifying available resources for both short-term and long-term recovery.
If a request for individual assistance for residents in a rural area is made but denied, the Small State and Rural Advocate shall work in coordination with local agencies to make disaster case workers available to such residents.

To enure that a declaration for a major disaster or emergency is made 
   on a timely basis, rural areas receive 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 ``Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal 
Now Act'' or the ``MALDEN Act''.

SEC. 2. DECLARATION TIME FRAME.

    (a) Major Disaster Declaration.--Section 401(a) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ``A major disaster 
declaration under this section shall be made not later than 30 days 
after a request by a Governor or the Chief Executive of an affected 
Indian Tribal Government. Failure to meet the 30-day requirement shall 
result in an automatic approval of such request for a declaration.''.
    (b) Emergency Declaration.--Section 501(a) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ``An emergency 
declaration under this section shall be made not later than 30 days 
after a request for a declaration by a Governor or the Chief Executive 
of an affected Indian Tribal Government. Failure to meet the 30-day 
requirement shall result in an automatic approval of such request for a 
declaration.''.

SEC. 3. RURAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 326 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165d) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Additional Assistance for Rural Areas.--If a disaster or 
emergency occurs in a rural area, regardless if a declaration has been 
made, the Small State and Rural Advocate shall work in coordination 
with the State, Territory or Tribal Emergency Management Agency to 
provide guidance to the rural areas emergency manager on developing a 
recovery team, including resources to help prevent flooding, mudslides, 
rockslides or any other natural disaster that could result after a 
wildfire and identifying available resources for both short-term and 
long-term recovery, including resources to help prevent a future 
natural disaster within the burned area.''.
    ``(e) Case Worker Availability.--In a case in which a request for 
individual assistance in a rural area is made under section 408 but 
denied, the Small State and Rural Advocate shall work in coordination 
with the affected State, Territory or Tribal Emergency Management 
Agency to make disaster case workers available to the residents 
impacted by the disaster or emergency.''.
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