Resilient AMERICA Act

Bill: 117-hr-5689
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2021-10-22 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Atmospheric science and weather
Building construction
Buy American requirements
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Electric power generation and transmission
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Fires
Floods and storm protection
Government studies and investigations
Infrastructure development
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Metals
Poverty and welfare assistance
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Rural conditions and development
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-22
text: 

Resilient Assistance for Mitigation for Environmentally Resilient Infrastructure and Construction by Americans Act or the Resilient AMERICA Act

 
This bill addresses the issue of U.S. disaster resilience and expands coverage for hazard mitigation.
 
The bill 
 
 
permits the redistribution of hazard mitigation funds unclaimed or unobligated for a major disaster upon the expiration of 84 months or the closeout of the grant, whichever is sooner;
 
increases from 6% to 15% the estimated aggregate amount of grants made for national public infrastructure pre-disaster mitigation assistance;
 
makes private nonprofit facilities eligible for technical and financial assistance in the implementation of cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation measures; and 
 
expands the use of hazard mitigation assistance to cover certain activities pertaining to wildfires, tsunamis, and ice storms.
 
 
Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must (1) set aside 10% of funds made available for any given year to further the implementation of the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based building codes, and (2) carry out a pilot program through which states and localities award grants to individuals for retrofitting their residences with appropriate hazard mitigation measures.

action_date: 2022-03-24
text: 

Resilient Assistance for Mitigation for Environmentally Resilient Infrastructure and Construction by Americans Act or the Resilient AMERICA Act

 
This bill addresses disaster resilience issues and expands coverage for hazard mitigation.
 
The bill 
 
 
permits the redistribution of hazard mitigation grant funds unclaimed or unobligated for a major disaster upon the expiration of 84 months or the closeout of the grant, whichever is sooner;
 
increases from 6% to 15% the estimated aggregate amount of grants that may be set aside for national public infrastructure pre-disaster hazard mitigation assistance;
 
makes private nonprofit facilities eligible for technical and financial assistance for implementing cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation measures; 
 
provides funding for water resources development projects; and 
 
expands the use of hazard mitigation assistance to cover certain activities pertaining to wildfires, tsunamis, and ice storms.
 
 
Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must set aside 10% of funds made available for any given year to further the implementation and enforcement of the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based building codes.
 
FEMA must require as a condition of providing nonemergency financial assistance for construction projects costing at least $1 million that the steel and iron used in the projects be produced in the United States, with certain exceptions.
 
FEMA must carry out a residential resilience pilot program to provide grants for residential resilience retrofits (e.g., elevation of homes, floodproofing measures, wildfire retrofit and mitigation measures, and wind retrofits).
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the challenges to states and territories in obtaining funds under public assistance alternative procedures.

action_date: 2022-04-05
text: 

Resilient Assistance for Mitigation for Environmentally Resilient Infrastructure and Construction by Americans Act or the Resilient AMERICA Act

 
This bill addresses disaster resilience issues and expands coverage for hazard mitigation.
 
The bill 
 
 
increases from 6% to 15% the estimated aggregate amount of grants that may be set aside for national public infrastructure pre-disaster hazard mitigation assistance;
 
makes private nonprofit facilities eligible for technical and financial assistance for implementing cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation measures; 
 
provides funding for water resources development projects; and 
 
expands the use of hazard mitigation assistance to cover certain activities pertaining to wildfires, tsunamis, and ice storms.
 
 
Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must set aside 10% of funds made available for any given year to further the implementation and enforcement of the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based building codes.
 
FEMA must require as a condition of providing nonemergency financial assistance for construction projects costing at least $1 million that the steel and iron used in the projects be produced in the United States, with certain exceptions.
 
FEMA must carry out a residential resilience pilot program to provide grants for residential resilience retrofits (e.g., elevation of homes, floodproofing measures, wildfire retrofit and mitigation measures, and wind retrofits).
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the challenges to states and territories in obtaining funds under public assistance alternative procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-04-06
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 383 - 41 (Roll no. 113). (text: CR H4170-4172)
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 383 - 41 (Roll no. 113).(text: CR H4170-4172)
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4182-4183)
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5689.
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4170-4175)
action_date: 2022-04-05
text: Mr. DeFazio moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2022-03-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 204.
action_date: 2022-03-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 117-277.
action_date: 2022-03-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 117-277.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 63 - 2.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged.
action_date: 2021-10-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2021-10-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2021-10-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-10-22
text: Introduced in House