Crisis Counseling Act

Bill: 117-s-3689
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Introduced: 2022-02-17
Policy area: Emergency Management
Latest action: action_date: 2022-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-02-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Crisis Counseling Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the President to immediately approve a request from a state, territory, or Indian tribe affected by a major disaster for financial assistance available through the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP).</p> <p>Under current law, such states, territories, and tribes must apply to, and wait for approval from, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to implement the CCP. This bill provides for automatic approval for such requests if the requesting state, territory, or tribe has been designated a disaster area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3689 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 17, 2022 Mr. Warnock (for himself, Ms. Stabenow , and Mr. Padilla ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To ensure that, after the declaration of a major disaster, States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments affected by the major disaster receive immediate approval for services and assistance under section 416 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Crisis Counseling Act . 2. Crisis counseling assistance and training Section 416 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5183 ) is amended— (1) by striking The President is authorized and inserting the following: (a) In general The President is authorized ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Immediate assistance required (1) In general A State or local agency, or an Indian tribal government, that is affected by a major disaster may submit to the President a request for the financial assistance described in subsection (a). (2) Immediate approval Immediately upon receipt of a request for financial assistance under paragraph (1), the President shall— (A) approve the request; and (B) grant the financial assistance. .