RISE After Disaster Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-208
Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2015-01-08 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Connecticut
Credit and credit markets
Disaster relief and insurance
Floods and storm protection
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing finance and home ownership
Natural disasters
New Jersey
New York State
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Rhode Island
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: 

Superstorm Sandy Relief Act of 2015

 
Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a loan program under which, for at least one year, a small business, homeowner, or renter that was located within a declared major disaster area during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 may apply for a loan to: (1) repair, rehabilitate, or replace property damaged or destroyed because of the storm; or (2) assist a small business that suffered substantial economic injury because of it.

action_date: 2015-06-25
text: 

Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize a small business, homeowner, or renter that was located within a declared major disaster area during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to: (1) repair, rehabilitate, or replace property damaged or destroyed because of the storm; or (2) assist a small business that suffered substantial economic injury because of it.
 
The SBA must select loan recipients and make such loans available for at least one year after the date on which it carries out this authority.
 
(Sec. 4) SBA physical disaster loans may be used to construct a safe room or similar storm shelter designed to protect property and occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters.
 
(Sec. 5) In the case of an SBA disaster loan of up to $250,000, the SBA may not require a borrower to pledge his or her primary residence as collateral if: (1) other collateral exists, including assets related to a business's operation; and (2) such an option does not delay the SBA's processing of disaster applications.
 
(Sec. 6) The SBA shall make a clear and concise notification on all application materials for SBA disaster loans and on relevant websites notifying an applicant that:
 
 
 he or she may submit all documentation necessary for the approval of the loan at the time of application, and
 
failure to do so could delay the loan's approval and disbursement.
 
 
(Sec. 7) The SBA must establish and implement clear, written policies and procedures for analyzing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a SBA disaster loan.
 
(Sec. 8) The SBA shall:
 
 
 establish requirements for the approval of economic injury disaster loan assistance that shall include the review of applicant eligibility and require that all supporting documentation is submitted before loan approval, and
 
 require that personnel involved in this approval be trained on these procedures.
 
 
(Sec. 9) The SBA must report the average processing time for all other disaster loan applications, including disaggregated data on them that were declined by the SBA's automated disaster processing system and those in which the SBA performed loss verification. For each disaster loan the SBA shall report such average processing times on its website and to specified congressional committees.
 
(Sec. 10) The SBA comprehensive written disaster response plan, and any successor, shall be revised to incorporate the SBA response to a situation in which an extreme volume of applications are received during the period of time immediately after a disaster. The revised plan must: (1) ensure that sufficient human and technological resources are made available, and (2) prevent delays in loan processing.
 
(Sec. 11) The SBA must:
 
 
 report to Congress on the implementation and status of its private disaster loan program, Immediate Disaster Assistance program, and its expedited disaster assistance business loan program; and
 
 require the Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance to consult with depository institutions and credit unions regarding their potential participation in any of these programs.


action_date: 2015-07-13
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 25, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize a small business, homeowner, or renter that was located within a declared major disaster area during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to: (1) repair, rehabilitate, or replace property damaged or destroyed because of the storm; or (2) assist a small business that suffered substantial economic injury because of it.
 
The SBA must select loan recipients and make such loans available for at least one year after the date on which it carries out this authority.
 
(Sec. 4) SBA physical disaster loans may be used to construct a safe room or similar storm shelter designed to protect property and occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters.
 
(Sec. 5) In the case of an SBA disaster loan of up to $250,000, the SBA may not require a borrower to pledge his or her primary residence as collateral if: (1) other collateral exists, including assets related to a business's operation; and (2) such an option does not delay the SBA's processing of disaster applications.
 
(Sec. 6) The SBA shall make a clear and concise notification on all application materials for SBA disaster loans and on relevant websites notifying an applicant that:
 
 
 he or she may submit all documentation necessary for the approval of the loan at the time of application, and
 
failure to do so could delay the loan's approval and disbursement.
 
 
(Sec. 7) The SBA must establish and implement clear, written policies and procedures for analyzing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a SBA disaster loan.
 
(Sec. 8) The SBA shall:
 
 
 establish requirements for the approval of economic injury disaster loan assistance that shall include the review of applicant eligibility and require that all supporting documentation is submitted before loan approval, and
 
 require that personnel involved in this approval be trained on these procedures.
 
 
(Sec. 9) The SBA must report the average processing time for all other disaster loan applications, including disaggregated data on them that were declined by the SBA's automated disaster processing system and those in which the SBA performed loss verification. For each disaster loan the SBA shall report such average processing times on its website and to specified congressional committees.
 
(Sec. 10) The SBA comprehensive written disaster response plan, and any successor, shall be revised to incorporate the SBA response to a situation in which an extreme volume of applications are received during the period of time immediately after a disaster. The revised plan must: (1) ensure that sufficient human and technological resources are made available, and (2) prevent delays in loan processing.
 
(Sec. 11) The SBA must:
 
 
 report to Congress on the implementation and status of its private disaster loan program, Immediate Disaster Assistance program, and its expedited disaster assistance business loan program; and
 
 require the Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance to consult with depository institutions and credit unions regarding their potential participation in any of these programs.


action_date: 2015-10-21
text: 

Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 or the RISE After Disaster Act of 2015

 
DIVISION A--SUPERSTORM SANDY RELIEF AND DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
 

Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act of 2015

 
TITLE I--DISASTER ASSISTANCE IMPROVEMENTS
 
(Sec. 1101) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize a small business, homeowner, nonprofit entity, or renter that was located within a declared major disaster area during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to: (1) repair, rehabilitate, or replace property damaged or destroyed because of the storm; or (2) assist a small business that suffered substantial economic injury because of it.
 
The SBA must select loan recipients and make such loans available for at least one year after the date on which it carries out this authority.
 
The SBA Inspector General must review the controls for ensuring applicant eligibility for these loans.
 
(Sec. 1102) SBA physical disaster loans may be used to construct a safe room or similar storm shelter designed to protect property and occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters, if they are constructed in accordance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards.
 
(Sec. 1103) The SBA shall make a clear and concise notification on all application materials for SBA disaster loans and on relevant websites notifying an applicant that:
 
 
 he or she may submit all documentation necessary for the approval of the loan at the time of application, and
 
failure to do so could delay the loan's approval and disbursement.

 
(Sec. 1104) The SBA must establish and implement clear, written policies and procedures for analyzing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a SBA disaster loan.
 
(Sec. 1105) The SBA shall revise the comprehensive written disaster response plan, and any successor response plan, to incorporate the SBA response to a situation in which an extreme volume of applications are received during the period of time immediately after a disaster. The revised plan must: (1) ensure that sufficient human and technological resources are made available, and (2) prevent delays in loan processing.
 
DIVISION B--RECOVERY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SMALL ENTITIES
 

Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 or the RISE After Disaster Act of 2015

 
TITLE I--IMPROVEMENTS OF DISASTER RESPONSE AND LOANS
 
(Sec. 2101) This title amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA), in order to spur disaster recovery and growth of small businesses located in a declared major disaster area, to provide up to two years of additional financial assistance, on a competitive basis, to a small business development center (SBDC), an SBA women's business center, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or any proposed consortium of such individuals or entities. 
 No matching funds shall be required for any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement relating to such financial assistance.
 
 Recipients of this assistance must provide counseling, training, and other related services, such as promoting long-term resiliency, to small businesses and entrepreneurs impacted by a major disaster.
 
 The SBA shall establish performance metrics and goals for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, including recovery of sales, recovery of employment, reestablishment of business premises, and establishment of new small business concerns.
 
 The SBA may make one extension of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement for up to one year, upon a showing of good cause and need.
 
 (Sec. 2102) The minimum disaster loan amount for which the SBA may require collateral is increased, for a 3-year period only, from $14,000 to $25,000 (or, as under existing law, any higher amount the SBA determines appropriate in the event of a disaster). Three years after enactment of this Act the minimum disaster loan threshold shall revert to $14,000.
 
 The SBA must assess for Congress the impact and benefits resulting from the increase to $25,000, and recommend whether it should be made permanent.
 
 (Sec. 2103) The SBA may authorize an SBDC to provide advice, information, and assistance to small businesses outside the SBDC's state, without regard to geographical proximity to the SBDC, if the small business is in a declared major disaster area.
 
 It is the sense of Congress that the SBA shall ensure that an SBDC is appropriately reimbursed for any legitimate expenses in carrying out such activities.
 
 (Sec. 2104) The Small Business Act is further amended to:
 
 
 require special consideration of federal and state technology (FAST) partnership program applications for awards or cooperative agreements from applicants located in an area affected by a major disaster comparable to the description of a catastrophic incident in the SBA National Response Plan; and
 
 waive matching requirements for such awards or cooperative agreements.
 
 
 (Sec. 2105) The SBA may transfer, on a priority basis, federal technology or surplus property to certain small businesses in major disaster areas. Such property may not be sold or transferred to any non-federal party during the two-year period of the declared major disaster area.
 
 (Sec. 2106) The SBA may guarantee up to 85% of an express recovery opportunity loan of up to $150,000 to a small business located in a disaster area if the concern has the capacity to repay it. The guarantee fee, unless waived, and except in certain cost circumstances, shall be the same as the one the SBA would collect if the guarantee rate were 50%.
 
 (Sec. 2107) The SBA may provide supplemental assistance for contractor malfeasance in the form of an increased disaster loan to cover the cost of any repairs, rehabilitation, or replacement of real or personal property needed to address economic damage or health or safety risks caused by the malfeasance of a contractor or other person.
 
 (Sec. 2108) Federal agencies shall establish contracting preferences and incentives for small businesses located in disaster areas if they will perform the work required under the contract. The value of the contract shall be doubled if SBA goals for procurement contracts are met.
 
 (Sec. 2109) In obtaining the best available collateral for a disaster loan of up to $200,000 relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business, the SBA may not require the small business owner to use his or her primary residence as collateral if the owner has other assets with a value equal to or greater than the amount of the loan that could be used.
 
 TITLE II--DISASTER PLANNING AND MITIGATION
 
 (Sec. 2201) This title amends the Small Business Act to require SBA district offices to identify locations that may be used as SBA recovery centers in the event of a natural or a major disaster.
 
 TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS
 
 (Sec. 2301) This title requires the SBA to increase oversight of small businesses receiving economic injury disaster loans, and may consider random site visits and random review of loan usage.
 
 It is the sense of Congress that no additional federal funds should be made available to provide this oversight.
 
 (Sec. 2302) The Government Accountability Office shall evaluate and report to specified congressional committees on steps the SBA has taken, with respect to SBA applications for disaster assistance, to comply with the Paper Reduction Act and related guidance.
 
 (Sec. 2303) The SBA must report to specified congressional committees on creation of a web portal to track the status of disaster loan applications.

action_date: 2015-11-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on October 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 or the RISE After Disaster Act of 2015

 
DIVISION A--SUPERSTORM SANDY RELIEF AND DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
 

Superstorm Sandy Relief and Disaster Loan Program Improvement Act of 2015

 
TITLE I--DISASTER ASSISTANCE IMPROVEMENTS
 
(Sec. 1101) This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize a small business, homeowner, nonprofit entity, or renter that was located within a declared major disaster area during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to: (1) repair, rehabilitate, or replace property damaged or destroyed because of the storm; or (2) assist a small business that suffered substantial economic injury because of it.
 
The SBA must select loan recipients and make such loans available for at least one year after the date on which it carries out this authority.
 
The SBA Inspector General must review the controls for ensuring applicant eligibility for these loans.
 
(Sec. 1102) SBA physical disaster loans may be used to construct a safe room or similar storm shelter designed to protect property and occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters, if they are constructed in accordance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards.
 
(Sec. 1103) The SBA shall make a clear and concise notification on all application materials for SBA disaster loans and on relevant websites notifying an applicant that:
 
 
 he or she may submit all documentation necessary for the approval of the loan at the time of application, and
 
failure to do so could delay the loan's approval and disbursement.

 
(Sec. 1104) The SBA must establish and implement clear, written policies and procedures for analyzing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a SBA disaster loan.
 
(Sec. 1105) The SBA shall revise the comprehensive written disaster response plan, and any successor response plan, to incorporate the SBA response to a situation in which an extreme volume of applications are received during the period of time immediately after a disaster. The revised plan must: (1) ensure that sufficient human and technological resources are made available, and (2) prevent delays in loan processing.
 
DIVISION B--RECOVERY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SMALL ENTITIES
 

Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 or the RISE After Disaster Act of 2015

 
TITLE I--IMPROVEMENTS OF DISASTER RESPONSE AND LOANS
 
(Sec. 2101) This title amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA), in order to spur disaster recovery and growth of small businesses located in a declared major disaster area, to provide up to two years of additional financial assistance, on a competitive basis, to a small business development center (SBDC), an SBA women's business center, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or any proposed consortium of such individuals or entities. 
 No matching funds shall be required for any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement relating to such financial assistance.
 
 Recipients of this assistance must provide counseling, training, and other related services, such as promoting long-term resiliency, to small businesses and entrepreneurs impacted by a major disaster.
 
 The SBA shall establish performance metrics and goals for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements, including recovery of sales, recovery of employment, reestablishment of business premises, and establishment of new small business concerns.
 
 The SBA may make one extension of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement for up to one year, upon a showing of good cause and need.
 
 (Sec. 2102) The minimum disaster loan amount for which the SBA may require collateral is increased, for a 3-year period only, from $14,000 to $25,000 (or, as under existing law, any higher amount the SBA determines appropriate in the event of a disaster). Three years after enactment of this Act the minimum disaster loan threshold shall revert to $14,000.
 
 The SBA must assess for Congress the impact and benefits resulting from the increase to $25,000, and recommend whether it should be made permanent.
 
 (Sec. 2103) The SBA may authorize an SBDC to provide advice, information, and assistance to small businesses outside the SBDC's state, without regard to geographical proximity to the SBDC, if the small business is in a declared major disaster area.
 
 It is the sense of Congress that the SBA shall ensure that an SBDC is appropriately reimbursed for any legitimate expenses in carrying out such activities.
 
 (Sec. 2104) The Small Business Act is further amended to:
 
 
 require special consideration of federal and state technology (FAST) partnership program applications for awards or cooperative agreements from applicants located in an area affected by a major disaster comparable to the description of a catastrophic incident in the SBA National Response Plan; and
 
 waive matching requirements for such awards or cooperative agreements.
 
 
 (Sec. 2105) The SBA may transfer, on a priority basis, federal technology or surplus property to certain small businesses in major disaster areas. Such property may not be sold or transferred to any non-federal party during the two-year period of the declared major disaster area.
 
 (Sec. 2106) The SBA may guarantee up to 85% of an express recovery opportunity loan of up to $150,000 to a small business located in a disaster area if the concern has the capacity to repay it. The guarantee fee, unless waived, and except in certain cost circumstances, shall be the same as the one the SBA would collect if the guarantee rate were 50%.
 
 (Sec. 2107) The SBA may provide supplemental assistance for contractor malfeasance in the form of an increased disaster loan to cover the cost of any repairs, rehabilitation, or replacement of real or personal property needed to address economic damage or health or safety risks caused by the malfeasance of a contractor or other person.
 
 (Sec. 2108) Federal agencies shall establish contracting preferences and incentives for small businesses located in disaster areas if they will perform the work required under the contract. The value of the contract shall be doubled if SBA goals for procurement contracts are met.
 
 (Sec. 2109) In obtaining the best available collateral for a disaster loan of up to $200,000 relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business, the SBA may not require the small business owner to use his or her primary residence as collateral if the owner has other assets with a value equal to or greater than the amount of the loan that could be used.
 
 TITLE II--DISASTER PLANNING AND MITIGATION
 
 (Sec. 2201) This title amends the Small Business Act to require SBA district offices to identify locations that may be used as SBA recovery centers in the event of a natural or a major disaster.
 
 TITLE III--OTHER PROVISIONS
 
 (Sec. 2301) This title requires the SBA to increase oversight of small businesses receiving economic injury disaster loans, and may consider random site visits and random review of loan usage.
 
 It is the sense of Congress that no additional federal funds should be made available to provide this oversight.
 
 (Sec. 2302) The Government Accountability Office shall evaluate and report to specified congressional committees on steps the SBA has taken, with respect to SBA applications for disaster assistance, to comply with the Paper Reduction Act and related guidance.
 
 (Sec. 2303) The SBA must report to specified congressional committees on creation of a web portal to track the status of disaster loan applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-25
text: Became Public Law No: 114-88.
action_date: 2015-11-25
text: Became Public Law No: 114-88.
action_date: 2015-11-25
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2015-11-25
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2015-11-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2015-11-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H8223-8226)
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H8223-8226)
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the Chabot motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 208.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Mr. Chabot moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H8223-8227)
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7406-7407)
action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7406)
action_date: 2015-10-21
text: Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7406)
action_date: 2015-07-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5096-5097)
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5096-5097)
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 208.
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5096-5099)
action_date: 2015-07-13
text: Mr. Chabot moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 138.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 114-186.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 114-186.
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 114-88