Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-4358
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24]
Introduced: 2019-09-17
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Congressional oversight

Disaster relief and insurance

Emergency planning and evacuation

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Government studies and investigations

Performance measurement
Latest action: action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-09-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to (1) submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as carried out by FEMA in the five years before this bill's enactment; and (2) establish damage assessment teams within FEMA to conduct preliminary damage assessments with state and local governments and appropriate relief or disaster assistance organizations.</p>

action_date: 2020-11-16
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><b>Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to (1) submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as supported by FEMA in the five years before this bill's enactment; and (2) establish a training regime within FEMA to ensure preliminary damage assessments are conducted and reviewed under consistent guidelines.</p> <p>FEMA shall annually submit to Congress a report on the number and type of instances under which FEMA personnel have overturned decisions made by personnel in the field.</p>

action_date: 2020-11-17
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to (1) submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as supported by FEMA in the five years before this bill's enactment; and (2) establish a training regime within FEMA to ensure preliminary damage assessments are conducted and reviewed under consistent guidelines.</p> <p>FEMA shall annually submit to Congress a report on the number and type of instances under which FEMA personnel have overturned decisions made by personnel in the field.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4358 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 17, 2019 Mr. Katko (for himself and Mr. Cunningham ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit to Congress a report on preliminary damage assessment and to establish damage assessment teams in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2019 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Preliminary damage assessments play a critical role in assessing and validating the impact and magnitude of a disaster. (2) Through the preliminary damage assessment process, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency work with State and local officials to gather information that serves as the basis for disaster assistance requests. (3) Various factors can impact the duration of a preliminary damage assessment and the corresponding submission of a major disaster request, however, the average time between when a disaster occurs, and the submission of a corresponding disaster request has been found to be approximately twenty days longer for flooding disasters. (4) With communities across the country facing increased instances of catastrophic flooding and other extreme weather events, accurate and efficient preliminary damage assessments have become critically important to the relief process for impacted states and municipalities. 3. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as carried out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the 5 years before the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Contents The report described in subsection (a) shall contain the following: (1) The process of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for deploying disaster assessment teams to conduct preliminary damage assessments. (2) The number of Agency staff participating on disaster assessment teams. (3) The training and experience of such staff described in paragraph (2). (4) A calculation of the average amount of time disaster assessment teams described in paragraph (1) are deployed to a disaster area. (5) The efforts of the Agency to maintain a consistent liaison between the Agency and communities within a disaster area. 4. Preliminary damage assessment (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish damage assessment teams under section 206.33(b) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct preliminary damage assessments with State and local governments and appropriate relief or disaster assistance organizations. (b) Damage assessment teams Damage assessment teams described under subsection (a) shall consist of full-time employees of the Agency with expertise in working with State and local governments and appropriate relief or disaster assistance organizations. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report— (1) describing the establishment of disaster assessment teams described under subsection (a); (2) assessing whether the duration of the deployment of a disaster assessment team to conduct a preliminary damage assessment is longer based on specific disaster conditions; (3) assessing the practicality of forming specific disaster assessment teams for each specific disaster condition; and (4) legislative recommendations to improve the operation, deployment, and staffing of disaster assessment teams. (d) Definition of State and local government For purposes of this Act, the terms State and local government 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 ).

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4358 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit to Congress a report on preliminary damage assessment and to establish damage assessment teams in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Preliminary damage assessments play a critical role in assessing and validating the impact and magnitude of a disaster. (2) Through the preliminary damage assessment process, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency validate information gathered by State and local officials that serves as the basis for disaster assistance requests. (3) Various factors can impact the duration of a preliminary damage assessment and the corresponding submission of a major disaster request, however, the average time between when a disaster occurs, and the submission of a corresponding disaster request has been found to be approximately twenty days longer for flooding disasters. (4) With communities across the country facing increased instances of catastrophic flooding and other extreme weather events, accurate and efficient preliminary damage assessments have become critically important to the relief process for impacted states and municipalities. 3. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the 5 years before the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Contents The report described in subsection (a) shall contain the following: (1) The process of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for deploying personnel to support preliminary damage assessments. (2) The number of Agency staff participating on disaster assessment teams. (3) The training and experience of such staff described in paragraph (2). (4) A calculation of the average amount of time disaster assessment teams described in paragraph (1) are deployed to a disaster area. (5) The efforts of the Agency to maintain a consistent liaison between the Agency and State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials within a disaster area. 4. Preliminary damage assessment (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a training regime under section 206.33(b) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure preliminary damage assessments are conducted and reviewed under consistent guidelines. (b) Annual report The Administrator shall annually submit to Congress a report on the number and type of instances under which Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel have overturned decisions made by personnel in the field. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report— (1) describing the establishment of disaster guidelines from Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel described under subsection (a); (2) assessing whether the duration of the deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel to conduct a preliminary damage assessment is longer based on specific disaster conditions; and (3) containing legislative recommendations to improve the operation, deployment, and staffing of disaster personnel. (d) Definition of State and local government For purposes of this Act, the terms State and local government 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 ).

Passed the House of Representatives November 17, 2020. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4358 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 18, 2020 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit to Congress a report on preliminary damage assessment and to establish damage assessment teams in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Preliminary damage assessments play a critical role in assessing and validating the impact and magnitude of a disaster. (2) Through the preliminary damage assessment process, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency validate information gathered by State and local officials that serves as the basis for disaster assistance requests. (3) Various factors can impact the duration of a preliminary damage assessment and the corresponding submission of a major disaster request, however, the average time between when a disaster occurs, and the submission of a corresponding disaster request has been found to be approximately twenty days longer for flooding disasters. (4) With communities across the country facing increased instances of catastrophic flooding and other extreme weather events, accurate and efficient preliminary damage assessments have become critically important to the relief process for impacted states and municipalities. 3. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the 5 years before the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Contents The report described in subsection (a) shall contain the following: (1) The process of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for deploying personnel to support preliminary damage assessments. (2) The number of Agency staff participating on disaster assessment teams. (3) The training and experience of such staff described in paragraph (2). (4) A calculation of the average amount of time disaster assessment teams described in paragraph (1) are deployed to a disaster area. (5) The efforts of the Agency to maintain a consistent liaison between the Agency and State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials within a disaster area. 4. Preliminary damage assessment (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a training regime under section 206.33(b) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure preliminary damage assessments are conducted and reviewed under consistent guidelines. (b) Annual report The Administrator shall annually submit to Congress a report on the number and type of instances under which Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel have overturned decisions made by personnel in the field. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report— (1) describing the establishment of disaster guidelines from Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel described under subsection (a); (2) assessing whether the duration of the deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel to conduct a preliminary damage assessment is longer based on specific disaster conditions; and (3) containing legislative recommendations to improve the operation, deployment, and staffing of disaster personnel. (d) Definition of State and local government For purposes of this Act, the terms State and local government 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 ).

Passed the House of Representatives November 17, 2020. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 473 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4358 [Report No. 116–575] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 17, 2019 Mr. Katko (for himself and Mr. Cunningham ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure November 16, 2020 Additional sponsors: Mr. Rice of South Carolina , Mr. Sablan , and Mr. Delgado November 16, 2020 Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 17, 2019 A BILL To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit to Congress a report on preliminary damage assessment and to establish damage assessment teams in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Preliminary damage assessments play a critical role in assessing and validating the impact and magnitude of a disaster. (2) Through the preliminary damage assessment process, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency validate information gathered by State and local officials that serves as the basis for disaster assistance requests. (3) Various factors can impact the duration of a preliminary damage assessment and the corresponding submission of a major disaster request, however, the average time between when a disaster occurs, and the submission of a corresponding disaster request has been found to be approximately twenty days longer for flooding disasters. (4) With communities across the country facing increased instances of catastrophic flooding and other extreme weather events, accurate and efficient preliminary damage assessments have become critically important to the relief process for impacted states and municipalities. 3. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the 5 years before the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Contents The report described in subsection (a) shall contain the following: (1) The process of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for deploying personnel to support preliminary damage assessments. (2) The number of Agency staff participating on disaster assessment teams. (3) The training and experience of such staff described in paragraph (2). (4) A calculation of the average amount of time disaster assessment teams described in paragraph (1) are deployed to a disaster area. (5) The efforts of the Agency to maintain a consistent liaison between the Agency and State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials within a disaster area. 4. Preliminary damage assessment (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a training regime under section 206.33(b) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure preliminary damage assessments are conducted and reviewed under consistent guidelines. (b) Annual report The Administrator shall annually submit to Congress a report on the number and type of instances under which Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel have overturned decisions made by personnel in the field. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report— (1) describing the establishment of disaster guidelines from Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel described under subsection (a); (2) assessing whether the duration of the deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel to conduct a preliminary damage assessment is longer based on specific disaster conditions; and (3) containing legislative recommendations to improve the operation, deployment, and staffing of disaster personnel. (d) Definition of State and local government For purposes of this Act, the terms State and local government 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 ).

November 16, 2020 Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed