Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act

Bill: 118-hr-9024
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2024-07-11
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather

Emergency communications systems

Government studies and investigations

Natural disasters
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-05
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 665.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-07-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to specifically address extreme heat in hazard mitigation and disaster recovery, including reviewing the time frame for when extreme weather is an emergency or major disaster.</p><p>FEMA must issue guidance relating to hazard mitigation and disaster recovery for extreme heat or extreme temperature events. FEMA must also&nbsp;convene an advisory panel to review its process for determining when an emergency- or disaster-causing incident begins and ends. Additionally,&nbsp;FEMA must conduct a study on the impacts of extreme heat, recommend guidance on mitigating and responding to extreme heat, and submit a report to Congress on these actions.</p><p>The bill also&nbsp;authorizes FEMA to consider extreme heat preparedness and mitigation projects eligible under its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.</p>

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 665 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9024 [Report No. 118–813] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 11, 2024 Ms. Titus (for herself and Mr. Stanton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure December 5, 2024 Additional sponsor: Mr. Carter of Louisiana December 5, 2024 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 July 11, 2024 A BILL To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to take certain actions relating to incident periods and extreme weather, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act . 2. Incident periods (a) In general Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall convene an advisory panel consisting of emergency management personnel to assist the Agency in reviewing the process and procedures related to the determination of incident periods for all hazards for emergencies or major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. ). (b) Membership (1) In general This advisory panel convened under subsection (a) shall consist of at least 2 representatives from national emergency management organizations, at least 2 relevant county officials, at least 1 representative from the National Weather Service, and at least 5 representatives from each of the 10 regions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency selected from emergency management personnel employed by State, local, territorial, or Tribal authorities within each region. (2) Inclusion on panel To the furthest extent practicable, representation on the advisory panel shall include emergency management personnel from rural, urban, underrepresented, Tribal, and insular jurisdictions and representatives of State or local governments with responsibility for the financial or budgetary impact of disasters. (c) Considerations In reviewing the process and procedures related to the determination of incident periods under subsection (a), the advisory panel convened under such subsection shall consider the effectiveness of incident periods, including— (1) incident periods for slow on-set disasters; (2) incident periods for correlated non-contiguous disasters; (3) incident periods for compound disasters; and (4) incident periods for cascading disasters. (d) Interim report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a report regarding the findings of the review under this section that includes any recommendations of the advisory panel convened under subsection (a), including additional legislation that may be necessary to address such findings. (e) Final report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report discussing— (1) a summary of the findings of the advisory panel convened under subsection (a); (2) the implementation of recommendations from such advisory panel; and (3) any additional legislative recommendations necessary to improve the effectiveness of incident periods. (f) Rulemaking Immediately following a 30 day congressional review period of the report described in subsection (e), the Administrator shall begin a rulemaking to issue such regulations as are necessary to implement the recommendations of the advisory panel. 3. Mitigation and preparedness (a) In general The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may, under section 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133 and 5170c)— (1) consider innovative preparedness and mitigation projects eligible for the purposes of mitigating impacts during an extreme heat event, including stockpiling and installing equipment for households, first responders, and public health and health care systems and emergency voucher programs; (2) consider innovative preparedness and mitigation projects eligible for the purposes of mitigating the impacts of extreme cold; and (3) with respect to eligible uses of funds authorized, provide, and issue relevant guidance, for the establishment and function of— (A) community cooling centers; and (B) resilience centers. (b) Supplement not supplant Assistance provided under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other assistance provided under any other Act. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Community cooling center The term community cooling center means a public serving facility that provides an environment for people to maintain a healthy body temperature during an extreme heat event. (2) Resilience center The term resilience center means a public serving facility with a hazard resistant design with the purpose of programing, operations, and communication to build community resilience before, during, and after emergency events. 4. Guidance Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue guidance related to— (1) extreme temperature events, including heat waves and freezes, and publish such guidance in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide; (2) hazard mitigation, including eligibility criteria for projects that primarily mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and projects specified in section 3(a)(2); and (3) extreme heat for the purposes of hazard mitigation planning under section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165 ), the National Preparedness Course Catalog, National Disaster Recovery Framework, National Response Recovery Framework, and Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. 5. Study on extreme heat and cold (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 conduct a study to measure the impact of extreme heat and recommend guidance on mitigating and responding to extreme heat and cold. (b) Consultation In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with relevant stakeholders and the heads of other Federal agencies. (c) Content In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (1) examine and consider solutions to address the impact of extreme heat and cold on— (A) disadvantaged communities; (B) buildings, roads, utilities, power generation, air conditioning units, and other relevant infrastructure; (C) short- and long-term health outcomes; and (D) pets and livestock; (2) evaluate the geographical and regional differences in the occurrence and impact of extreme heat and cold; (3) evaluate the effectiveness of emergency alerts and the language used in such alerts to improve public safety during extreme heat and cold events; (4) examine metrics for defining and communicating the severity of an extreme heat and cold event; (5) examine the compounding effects and consequential risk of extreme heat and cold and wildfire smoke; (6) recommend best practices for community education and safety during extreme heat and cold events; (7) examine the impact extreme heat and cold to the health and safety of the Federal Emergency Management Agency workforce when responding to disasters; (8) develop guidance for first responder training protocol for extreme heat and cold emergencies; and (9) recommend guidance for incorporating extreme heat and cold into local and State government emergency management preparedness plans. (d) Report to Congress Not less than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the Senate a report containing— (1) the results of study required under subsection (a); and (2) any additional recommendations for developing a framework for mitigating and responding to extreme heat and cold emergencies.

December 5, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9024 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 11, 2024 Ms. Titus (for herself and Mr. Stanton ) 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 take certain actions relating to incident periods and extreme weather, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act . 2. Incident periods (a) In general Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall convene an advisory panel consisting of emergency management personnel to assist the Agency in reviewing the process and procedures related to the determination of incident periods for emergencies or major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. ). (b) Membership (1) In general This advisory panel convened under subsection (a) shall consist of at least 2 representatives from national emergency management organizations, at least 2 relevant county officials, at least 1 representative from the National Weather Service, and at least 5 representatives from each of the 10 regions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency selected from emergency management personnel employed by State, local, territorial, or Tribal authorities within each region. (2) Inclusion on panel To the furthest extent practicable, representation on the advisory panel shall include emergency management personnel from rural, urban, underrepresented, Tribal, and insular jurisdictions. (c) Considerations In reviewing the process and procedures related to the determination of incident periods under subsection (a), the advisory panel convened under such subsection shall consider the effectiveness of incident periods, including— (1) incident periods for slow on-set disasters; (2) incident periods for correlated non-contiguous disasters; (3) incident periods for compound disasters; and (4) incident periods for cascading disasters. (d) Interim report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a report regarding the findings of the review under this section that includes any recommendations of the advisory panel convened under subsection (a), including additional legislation that may be necessary to address such findings. (e) Rulemaking and final report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such regulations as are necessary to implement the recommendations of the advisory panel and submit to Congress a report discussing— (1) a summary of the findings of the advisory panel convened under subsection (a); (2) the implementation of recommendations from such advisory panel; and (3) any additional legislative recommendations necessary to improve the effectiveness of incident periods. 3. Mitigation and preparedness (a) In general The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may, under section 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133 and 5170c)— (1) consider innovative preparedness and mitigation projects eligible for the purposes of mitigating or aiding individuals during an extreme heat event, including stockpiling and installing equipment for households, first responders, and public health and health care systems and emergency voucher programs; and (2) with respect to eligible uses of funds authorized, provide, and issue relevant guidance, for the establishment and function of— (A) community cooling centers; and (B) resilience centers. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Community cooling center The term community cooling center means a public serving facility that provides an environment for people to maintain a healthy body temperature during an extreme heat event. (2) Resilience center The term resilience center means a public serving facility that provides information and services to build resilient communities before, during, and after emergency events. 4. Guidance Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue guidance related to— (1) extreme temperature events, including heat waves and freezes, and publish such guidance in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide; (2) hazard mitigation, including eligibility criteria for projects that primarily mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and projects specified in section 3(a)(2); and (3) extreme heat for the purposes of hazard mitigation planning under section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165 ), the National Preparedness Course Catalog, National Disaster Recovery Framework, National Response Recovery Framework, and Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. 5. Study on extreme heat (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 conduct a study to measure the impact of extreme heat and recommend guidance on mitigating and responding to extreme heat. (b) Consultation In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with relevant stakeholders and the heads of other Federal agencies. (c) Content In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (1) examine and consider solutions to address the impact of extreme heat on— (A) disadvantaged communities; (B) buildings, roads, utilities, power generation, air conditioning units, and other relevant infrastructure; (C) short- and long-term health outcomes; (D) pets and livestock; and (E) society and the economy; (2) evaluate the geographical and regional differences in the occurrence and impact of extreme heat; (3) evaluate the effectiveness of emergency alerts and the language used in such alerts to improve public safety during extreme heat events; (4) examine metrics for defining and communicating the severity of an extreme heat event; (5) examine the compounding effects and consequential risk of extreme heat and wildfire smoke; (6) recommend best practices for community education and safety during extreme heat events; (7) examine the impact extreme heat to the health and safety of the Federal Emergency Management Agency workforce when responding to disasters; (8) develop guidance for first responder training protocol for extreme heat emergencies; and (9) recommend guidance for incorporating extreme heat into local and State government emergency management preparedness plans. (d) Report to Congress Not less than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the Senate a report containing— (1) the results of study required under subsection (a); and (2) any additional recommendations for developing a framework for mitigating and responding to extreme heat emergencies.