zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to define a "major disaster for wildfire on federal lands" as any wildfire that, in the determination of the President, warrants assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and resources of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture: (1) on federal lands, or (2) on non-federal lands pursuant to a fire protection agreement or cooperative agreement.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a request to the President for a declaration that such a major disaster exists. Requires such a request to:

 certify that the amount appropriated in the current fiscal year for wildfire suppression operations of the federal land management agencies under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary, net of any concurrently enacted rescissions of wildfire suppression funds, increases the total unobligated balance of amounts available for wildfire suppression by an amount equal to or greater than the average total costs incurred by such agencies per year for wildfire suppression operations over the previous 10 fiscal years; certify that the amount available for wildfire suppression operations of the federal land management agencies under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary will be obligated not later than 30 days after such Secretary notifies the President that wildfire suppression funds will be exhausted to fund ongoing and anticipated wildfire suppression operations related to the wildfire on which such request is based; and specify the amount required in the current fiscal year to fund wildfire suppression operations related to the wildfire on which such request is based. Authorizes the President to: (1) declare that such a major disaster exists based on such a request, (2) establish a specific account for assistance pursuant to such a declaration, and (3) transfer funds from such account to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct wildfire suppression operations on such lands. Requires the respective Secretary to secure reimbursement of transferred amounts used for wildfire suppression operations on non-federal land.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2015

 Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include community centers, including tax-exempt houses of worship, as "private nonprofit facilities" for purposes of disaster relief and emergency assistance eligibility under such Act.

Makes a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization, eligible for federal contributions for the repair, restoration, and replacement of facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster, without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.

Makes this Act applicable to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.

Date: 2015-07-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
National Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax relief for disasters declared in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 by:

 allowing an election to expense qualified disaster expenses (i.e., for the abatement of hazardous substances, removal of debris, demolition, and repair of business-related property); increasing the tax deduction for charitable contributions for disaster relief for individual and corporate taxpayers; allowing through 2015 the deduction of losses and net operating losses attributable to disasters; allowing waivers of requirements relating to mortgage revenue bonds; extending through 2015 the additional allowance for depreciation of business property (bonus depreciation); allowing an increase through 2015 of the new markets tax credit limitation amount within a federally-declared disaster area; permitting the use of tax-exempt retirement plan funds in federally-declared disasters without penalty; allowing an additional tax exemption for individuals who are displaced as a result of a federally-declared disaster; allowing an exclusion from gross income of imputed income from the cancellation of indebtedness resulting from federally-declared disasters; providing a special rule to allow individuals affected by a disaster in 2012, 2013, 2014, or 2015 to claim a full earned income tax credit; increasing the rehabilitation tax credit for buildings affected by a federally-declared disaster; permitting one additional advance refunding of a tax-exempt bond that is outstanding on the date on which a federally-declared disaster occurs; allowing the issuance of qualified disaster area recovery bonds; allowing an additional allocation of the low-income housing tax credit in 2016 to states affected by a federally-declared disaster occurring in 2012, 2013, 2014, or 2015;   allowing payments of disaster assistance to tax-exempt mutual ditch or irrigation companies without affecting their tax-exempt status; allowing an exclusion from gross income for disaster mitigation payments received from state and local governments; allowing a tax deduction for payments to a tax-exempt natural disaster fund; allowing a five-year replacement period for property located in a disaster area for purposes of the exclusion of gain from an involuntary conversion; allowing employers a business-related tax credit for up to 40% of wages paid to employees in a disaster area; and allowing an enhanced tax deduction for medical expenses related to an injury occurring in a disaster area.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Preparedness and Risk Management for Extreme Weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness Act of 2015 or the PREPARE Act of 2015

 This bill directs the President to establish the Interagency Council on Extreme Weather Resilience, Preparedness, and Risk Management (Council). The Council shall:

 establish government-wide goals and priorities for, and develop, recommend, coordinate, and track implementation of priority interagency federal government actions related to, extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management; support regional, state, local, and tribal action to assess extreme weather-related vulnerabilities and cost effectively increase extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management of communities, critical economic sectors, natural and built infrastructure, and natural resources; facilitate the integration of meteorological and extreme weather science; assess the specific recommendations relating to extreme weather in all relevant provisions of the Government Accountability Office's High-Risk Series, identify the feasibility of revising federal programs to implement such recommendations, and develop a plan to address such recommendations; develop or adopt a framework for evaluating the progress and success of extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management-related efforts that is complementary to any national indicator system developed as part of the National Climate Assessment; develop or adopt performance metrics that allow tracking of the actions taken and progress made toward meeting and implementing the established government-wide goals and priorities; provide recommendations to the Council on Environmental Quality and OMB on how agencies should update agency extreme weather plans and remove barriers to state and local extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management in agency regulations, guidance, and policy; make information available online for tracking implementation of agency extreme weather plans and government-wide goals and priorities and on recommendations relating to extreme weather in all relevant High-Risk Series provisions; issue guidance to agencies on developing agency extreme weather plans and agency regulations, guidance, and policies to remove barriers to state and local extreme weather resilience; designate one or more agencies to establish a website that provides information on risks related to extreme weather, preparedness, resilience, and risk management to support state, local, tribal, and private decisionmakers; and publish biannually an inventory of all regional agency offices, centers, and programs that assist with extreme weather preparedness and risk management at the state or local level. Each agency shall submit biannually to OMB and to the Council a comprehensive plan that integrates consideration of extreme weather into its operations and overall mission objectives. OMB shall consolidate and submit such plans to Congress.

Annual agency performance plans shall include the most recent agency extreme weather plan.

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) develop a plan for the purchase and installation of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone; (2) identify the funds needed, and make grants to states, Indian tribes, and local governments, to implement the plan; and (3) report to Congress on actions taken.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Fairness in Flood Insurance Act of 2015

This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to declare that, in any appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or any judicial review of a final administrative determination, regarding the designation of flood elevation determinations or the identification of special flood hazard areas, FEMA shall have the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the elevations proposed or the designation of an identified special flood hazard area is scientifically and technically correct.

FEMA shall:

 reimburse the reasonable legal and related expenses of any individual or community that succeeds on such an appeal; and revise and update any floodplain areas and flood-risk zones upon the request from any owner or lessee of real property located in a floodplain area or flood-risk zone (currently, only upon the request of FEMA or of a state or local government), if sufficient technical data justifying the request is submitted. A state or local government, or the owner or lessee of real property, who has formally requested FEMA to update a flood map that FEMA has denied may at any time appeal the denial according to a specified procedure. The basis for appeal shall be possession of knowledge or information that:

 the base flood elevation level or designation of any aspect of a flood map is scientifically or technically inaccurate; or specified factors exist, including natural or manmade topographical features, that mitigate the risk of flooding. These flood mitigation factors shall also be considered in the establishment and updating of areas with special flood hazards.

When estimating risk premium rates for flood insurance, and prescribing chargeable premium rates, FEMA shall take into consideration the differences between properties located in coastal areas and properties located inland.

FEMA shall consult with the Technical Mapping Advisory Council about methods of making or actions to make the Council's flood map processes more efficient and achieve other specified goals.

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 is amended to require FEMA to ensure that the Flood Insurance Advocate has sufficient staff to carry out all of the Advocate's duties and responsibilities, which shall include providing direction as necessary, including by direct conversations with insurance agents.

The Government Accountability Office shall study:

 the scientific and technical adequacy of the flood maps FEMA proposes and establishes, and the effects on the National Flood Insurance Program and otherwise of changing the standard for designating special flood hazard areas from having a 1% or greater to having a 10% or greater chance of experiencing flooding in any given year.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Flood Insurance Integrity Act of 2015

 Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review every four years the rate tables established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for implementing the national flood insurance program under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and determine whether: (1) the chargeable premium rates for flood insurance coverage determined by those tables are actuarially sound, based on standard actuarial practices used in the private sector; and (2) such chargeable premium rates are sufficient to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the national flood insurance program.

Directs GAO to review annually the process for establishing and updating flood insurance rate maps and determine the degree of accuracy of the mapping process.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for a specified portion of the cost of commercial and residential buildings that comply with resilient construction requirements in a federally-declared major disaster area. Defines "resilient construction requirements" as requirements that such buildings are designed and constructed to: (1) resist hazards brought on by a major disaster; (2) continue to provide their primary functions after a major disaster; (3) reduce the magnitude or duration of a disruptive event; and (4) have the absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and recoverability to withstand a potentially disruptive event.

Terminates such credit for any any property for which a certificate of occupancy is issued after December 31, 2019.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Flood Insurance Mitigation and Policyholder Protection Act of 2015

This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to require that any report of an on-site inspection of a property by a claims adjustor or engineer for the purpose of assessing any claim for losses covered by a flood insurance policy under such Act:

 may not be transmitted to any other person, employer, agency, or entity, before it is transmitted to the insured; may not include alterations by, or at the request of, anyone other than such preparer and shall include the preparer's certification that it does not contain any such alterations; and shall be transmitted in a manner that gives reasonable assurance that it was transmitted directly to the insured by the preparer. A claimant is authorized, in the case of a denial by FEMA or an insurance company of a claim for losses that is appealed to FEMA, to institute an action on such claim against FEMA or such insurance company in U.S. district court within one year after the date of a final determination upon appeal denying such claim.

 FEMA must, within 60 days after enactment of this Act, issue guidelines required under the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 for alternative mitigation methods, other than building elevation, to reduce flood risk to residential buildings that cannot be elevated due to their structural characteristics.

Date: 2015-09-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
American Red Cross Sunshine Act

This bill authorizes the Comptroller General to review the involvement of the American National Red Cross (the corporation) in any federal program or activity the corporation carries out (current law), including in connection with events for which the government provides leadership or support under the national preparedness system. For purposes of such review, the Comptroller General shall have: (1) access to and the right to examine and copy all corporation records the Comptroller General deems relevant, and (2) access to and the right to interview any corporation employee or volunteer the Comptroller General believes to have relevant knowledge.

The Comptroller General may: (1) subpoena a record or employee of the corporation, and (2) bring a civil action in U.S. district court for the District of Columbia to enforce compliance with such subpoena.

The corporation's Office of the Ombudsman must enhance dispute resolution regarding concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the corporation and regularly report to the corporation's board of governors information on trends and patterns on concerns communicated to the Office regarding the corporation. The Office must make information available on its website on how to submit concerns about the organization.

The bill requires audits, every three years, by: (1) the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration of the corporation's revenues, expenditures, and governance; (2) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General of the corporation's disaster assistance services; and (3) the U.S. Agency for International Development Inspector General of the corporation's international activities.

DHS must: (1) conduct a one-year pilot program with the corporation to develop mechanisms for DHS to better leverage social media to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and (2) annually report on the extent to which DHS partnered with the corporation in furtherance of preparedness and response capabilities.

Date: 2015-09-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
First Responders Passport Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Passport Act of June 4, 1920 to waive passport fees for an individual who is operating under a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with the U.S. government, including a volunteer, to aid a foreign country suffering from a qualifying natural disaster.

 The Department of State shall report to Congress on the number of fee waivers for the issuance of passports to first responders.

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: International affairs
Disaster Assistance Equity Act of 2015

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to modify the definition of "private nonprofit facility" to include any facilities (including roads, bridges, sewer systems, and other critical community infrastructure) owned or operated by a common interest community that provide essential services of a governmental nature.

The bill also defines additional terms under such Act, including "condominium" and "housing cooperative." "Common interest community" is defined as: (1) any nonprofit mandatory membership organization comprised of owners of real estate (other than a condominium or housing cooperative) described in a declaration or created pursuant to a covenant or other applicable law with respect to which a person, by virtue of the person's ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance or improvement of, or services or other expenses related to, common elements, other units, or any other real estate other than the unit described in the declaration; and (2) a condominium project that is comprised entirely of detached single family units or that is comprised of four or more multi-unit housing structures and that owns or operates facilities that provide essential services of a governmental nature.

The bill amends such Act to provide that for purposes of the provision of federal disaster assistance with respect to residential elements that are the legal responsibility of an association for a condominium or housing cooperative, the terms "individual" or "household" include the association.

The President must determine the maximum amount of assistance that any such association may receive under such Act for a single disaster.

Date: 2015-10-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
The Department of Energy (DOE) shall adopt procedures to:

 improve communication and coordination between DOE's energy response team, federal partners, and industry; leverage the Energy Information Administration's subject matter expertise within DOE's energy response team to improve supply chain situation assessments; establish company liaisons and direct communication with DOE's energy response team to improve situation assessments; streamline and enhance processes for obtaining temporary regulatory relief to speed up emergency response and recovery; facilitate and increase engagement among states, the oil and natural gas industry, and DOE in developing state and local energy assurance plans; establish routine education and training programs for key government emergency response positions with DOE and states; and involve states and the oil and natural gas industry in comprehensive drill and exercise programs. These activities shall include collaborative efforts with state and local government officials and the private sector.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Energy
Small Municipality Flood Relief Act of 2015

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to release a local government from certain land restrictions imposed on a parcel under the hazard mitigation program for recipients of acquisition or relocation project assistance if:

 the local government submits to the state, more than five years after the closeout of the acquisition or relocation project, a request for such release; on the date of the request, the parcel is not in an area designated by FEMA as having special flood hazards; the local government certifies that no coercion took place against the original property owner in acquiring the parcel; the state in which the parcel is located approves the request and submits to FEMA a recommendation for its approval; the local government repays FEMA for the amount of hazard mitigation assistance received for the acquisition or relocation project or substitutes a different parcel that is at least twice as large as, and subject to the same restrictions being released for, the original parcel; and FEMA gives final approval to the request.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Emergency Flood Response Act

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and carry out a pilot program to assist flood response efforts at state and federal regional levels in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure.

FEMA may award grants to up to 10 eligible entities to: (1) establish or maintain a flood emergency fund, and (2) ensure a unified command system organizational framework for emergency flood activities. An "eligible entity" is a levee maintaining agency or unit of local government that is responsible for emergency flood response efforts.

Funds awarded under this bill may be used for emergency flood activities, including prompt emergency action to prevent levee failure, close levee breaks, make relief cuts and dewater flooded areas, and otherwise physically limit the extent, depth, and duration of flood waters in the event of a levee failure. Funds awarded may not be used if the emergency flood activity is required by law to be performed by the Corps of Engineers and the Corps immediately exercises its authority.

FEMA shall ensure that, following an expenditure of funds from a grantee's flood emergency fund, the grantee will seek all available state and federal disaster assistance reimbursements for such expenditures and deposit the reimbursements in the fund. The federal share of the cost of a flood emergency activity carried out using grant funds made available under this Act may not exceed 50%.

Date: 2015-11-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Individual Assistance Improvement Act of 2015

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit to Congress an annual report on recommendations for improving federal assistance for small states and rural areas under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and additional resources required for such improvements.

In measuring the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster and evaluating the need for assistance to individuals under that Act, FEMA shall not apply, with respect to a rural area, the factor relating to concentration of damages.

 FEMA shall provide the governor or the chief executive of an Indian tribal government with documentation related to a major disaster declaration decision within 25 days after such individual requests that documentation, including: (1) an analysis of the factors that it considered in making the decision, and (2) its rationale.

The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a comprehensive review of: (1) FEMA's damage assessment processes for major disaster declarations, and (2) the teams that carry out such processes.

FEMA shall conduct a study, biennially, to: (1) compare the average amount of individual assistance provided per person for each major disaster declared during the five most recently completed fiscal years, the average damages realized per individual for each disaster, and the average damages realized per individual for each event where a request for a major disaster declaration was denied during the five most recently completed fiscal years; and (2) collect the data needed to update a table relating to the average amount of individual assistance by state.

Date: 2015-12-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Service Provider Opportunity Clarification Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue regulations providing examples of activities that would be considered a failure to make a good faith effort to comply with the requirements imposed on any entity (other than a small business) awarded a prime contract exceeding $500,000 (or exceeding $1 million if for construction of a public facility) that contains an SBA clause that:

 notifies potential offering companies of SBA requirements relating to contracts awarded pursuant to the negotiated method of procurement; or requires any bidder selected for a contract reward to submit to the appropriate federal agency a subcontracting plan which incorporates specified SBA information.

Date: 2015-12-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
FEMA Help and Education for Local Partners Act (FEMA HELP Act)

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and convene a multi-agency federal disaster assistance team to work and coordinate with state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders to develop a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery by using a full range of federal program funding resources through collaboration among FEMA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Highway Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Department of Defense, the Army Corps of Engineers, and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

FEMA shall: (1) ensure that each coordinating officer is trained in a range of applicable disaster recovery funding programs across the team members, and (2) establish and publish guidelines and criteria for making and communicating decisions regarding funding eligibility and requirements for disaster recovery personnel across the team members.

Date: 2015-12-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Small Business Contracting and Acquisition Programs Efficiency Act of 2016 or the SB CAPE Act of 2016

This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to initiate a review of the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (OGCBD) of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

This review shall examine:

 the extent to which SBA personnel who carry out certain procurement and business development programs report to the OGCBD, whether greater efficiency and consistency in the certification process of the procurement and business development programs could be achieved by creating a single organizational unit of employees to process all certifications required by such programs, whether greater efficiency and efficacy in the performance of such programs could be achieved by improving the alignment of the field personnel assigned to them, how the OGCBD could improve its staffing of regulatory drafting functions and its coordination with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to ensure timely rulemaking by the SBA, and any other areas in which the GAO determines that the SBA could improve its performance with respect to procurement and business development programs.

Date: 2016-01-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
Rail Safety Act

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and preposition caches of emergency response equipment, which may include firefighting equipment and fire suppression agents, to facilitate the rapid deployment of resources needed to reduce damage to life, property, and the environment in the event of an accident involving rail tank cars transporting hazardous material, crude oil, or flammable liquids.

Such caches shall be strategically prepositioned along rail routes over which a high volume of high-hazard trains operate in a manner that lowers the response time of firefighters to fight fires involving flammable liquids and to prevent such fires from spreading. FEMA may collect fees from railroad carriers to develop and preposition the caches.

Date: 2016-01-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act 

This bill provides $5 billion in supplemental appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Public Health Emergency Fund.

The bill designates the funds as an emergency requirement, and provides that the funds are only available if the President subsequently designates the funds. (Emergency spending is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.)

HHS may use the funds provided by this bill to acquire products such as drugs, vaccines and other biological products, and medical devices for deposit into the Strategic National Stockpile.

The bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Public Health Emergency Fund from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.

Date: 2016-02-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Health
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a 90-day minimum automatic extension of tax deadlines applicable to individuals and businesses affected by a federally-declared disaster.

Date: 2016-03-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Emergency Financial Manager Reform Act of 2016

This bill requires a state with a state-appointed emergency financial manager to certify that the appointment: (1) does not have the purpose or effect of limiting the right to vote on account of race or color, and (2) followed a notice and comment period.

If a state with a state-appointed emergency financial manager fails to submit such certification, then the Department of Justice may reduce by 5% that state's allocation of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program.

Date: 2016-03-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
National Landslide Loss Reduction Act

This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a national program to identify landslide hazards and reduce losses from landslides.

The USGS shall:

 develop a national strategy for research on landslides and landslide hazards; develop and maintain a landslide hazard assessment system and a national landslide hazard inventory database; in coordination with state geological surveys, conduct federal-state working groups to establish regional priorities for identifying, mapping, and assessing hazards and develop and implement guidelines for geologists and geological and geotechnical engineers; compile, maintain, and evaluate data on landslide hazard stabilization and reduction of losses and on the nationwide impact of landslides on health and safety, the economy, and the environment; and in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and state geological surveys, develop and disseminate guidelines and training materials (in coordination with specified entities) for planners and decision makers on the use of the system and reducing losses from landslides. NOAA and the NWS shall develop and disseminate landslide-related curricula and training modules for state and local officials and emergency managers.

The bill establishes an Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslides and an Advisory Committee on Landslides.

 The Department of the Interior shall make grants to support: (1) state and local government efforts to map and assess landslide hazards; and (2) efforts by institutions of higher education, state and local governments, and nongovernmental entities to research landslides.

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
SCORE for Small Business Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Small Business Act, with respect to the SCORE program (Service Corps of Retired Executives), to:

 reauthorize the program for FY2017-FY2018; require the Small Business Administration to award a grant to the SCORE Association (or any successor group) to manage the SCORE program; modify program requirements with respect to the role of participating volunteers, program plans and goals, and reporting; and outline privacy requirements pertaining to the disclosure of information of businesses assisted under such program. The SCORE Association shall:

 make use of online counseling, including by webinars and an electronic mentoring platform; study the future role of the SCORE program; and develop a strategic plan for how the program will evolve to meet the needs of America's entrepreneurs over the next five years.

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
Natural Disaster Reinsurance Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise it regarding estimated loss costs associated with contracts for reinsurance coverage.

Treasury may make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance coverage. Only eligible state programs may purchase such coverage.

Each contract for reinsurance coverage shall furnish insurance coverage against residential property losses to homes, including condominium and cooperative ownership, and the contents of apartment buildings.

The bill prescribes a minimum level of retained losses and maximum federal liability.

Any insurer who participates in an eligible state program may establish a Catastrophe Capital Reserve Fund to hold funds on Treasury's behalf to offset reinsurance claims.

The bill establishes the Consumer Hurricane, Earthquake, Loss Protection (HELP) Fund to: (1) make payments to covered purchasers under contracts for reinsurance coverage for eligible losses, and (2) pay for Commission operating costs and reinsurance program administrative expenses.

Date: 2016-04-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Federal Disaster Notification and Payment Protection Act of 2016

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to recoup a debt owed to the United States related to assistance provided to an individual or household under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to a major disaster declared by the President on or after January 1, 2011, if:

 the assistance was distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the collection of the debt would be against equity and good conscience, and the debt is not the result of fraud or other fault of the debtor or any party having an interest in the assistance distributed. The Stafford Act is amended to require the President to establish a process to ensure that each individual and business that applies for a category of federal disaster assistance is provided written notice that describes:

 the various categories of federal disaster assistance that may be available, the impact that receiving or declining such assistance will have on eligibility for other categories of assistance, and repayment requirements or penalties that may apply if multiple categories of assistance are accepted. An individual or business that is not provided such notice may not be held responsible for any repayment requirement or penalty that would otherwise result from the receipt of such assistance.

Date: 2016-04-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Jumpstart Housing Opportunities Utilizing Small Enterprises Act of 2016 or the Jumpstart HOUSE Act of 2016 This bill amends the State Small Business Credit Initiative Act of 2010 to extend for an additional eight fiscal years the State Small Business Credit Initiative to assist participating states to give collateral support and other innovative credit access and guarantee initiatives for small businesses and manufacturers.

The bill also prescribes allocations of federal funds to participating states.

The Department of the Treasury may award, on a competitive basis, up to a total of $1 billion in two tranches, according to specified criteria, to participating states and consortiums of participating states for use: (1) for making federal contributions to, or for the account of, an approved state program; or (2) as collateral for a qualifying loan or swap funding facility.



Small businesses receiving funds from a participating state may use them to: develop, acquire, construct, rehabilitate, maintain, operate, or manage projects for affordable housing for low- or moderate-income households; cover any contribution, matching amount, or non-federal share required in connection with any other federal grant or assistance program to provide such housing; or purchase foreclosed properties and property being sold by a state or local government, but only for the use of such properties for such housing.

Date: 2016-04-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
National Mitigation Investment Act

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to increase the maximum total of contributions for a major disaster by an amount equal to 4% of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made under such Act if, at the time of a declaration of a major disaster, the affected state has in effect and is actively enforcing an approved state building code.

To be eligible for such increased federal contributions, a state must submit its building code to the President for approval. The President shall approve such a code upon determining that it: (1) is consistent with the most recent version of a nationally recognized model building code; (2) has been adopted by the state within six years of the most recent version of such nationally recognized code; and (3) uses the nationally recognized code as a minimum standard.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall set appropriate standards for the periodic update, resubmittal, and approval of previously approved state building codes.

Recipients may use hazard mitigation assistance received under such Act to conduct activities to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a flood.

States and local governments may use technical and financial assistance received under such Act to implement predisaster hazard mitigation measures to establish and operate a building department and carry out enforcement activities to implement an approved state building code. In determining whether to provide such assistance, the President shall take into account the extent to which a state or local government is carrying out activities to implement an approved state building code.

The National Advisory Council shall commence a comprehensive study to evaluate disaster costs and losses and develop recommendations for reducing them.

FEMA shall conduct a pilot program to award grants to state, local, and tribal governments to aid and encourage the adoption and active enforcement of nationally recognized model building codes, state building codes, and related mitigation measures.

Date: 2016-05-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
National Flood Research and Education Center Act

 This bill establishes within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a National Flood Research and Education Center (NFREC), which shall consist of: (1) an office within NOAA; (2) one public university or college selected by the NOAA Administrator, which shall serve as the lead partner institution with NOAA; and (3) a consortium of other public universities or colleges selected by the Administrator and such lead partner institution based on their ability to fulfill specific purposes of NFREC.

The purposes of NFREC are listed, including to plan, conduct, and arrange for competent public research, data, education, and recommendations within the following categories as they relate to flooding issues nationwide, regionally, and locally: (1) physical sciences, social science, and economic, policy, and risk analysis; (2) risk management; and (3) improvement of existing, and testing of new, risk assessment tools and methods, monitoring and predicting strategies and techniques, and flood management and prevention strategies and techniques.

The bill sets forth criteria for selection of a lead partner institution and consortium members.

NFREC must: (1) partner with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Army Corps of Engineers; (2) collaborate on federal flood-related issues with specified federal agencies; and (3) collaborate and share best practices on regional, state, and locally specific flooding and flood-related issues with state and local governments and with watershed, agriculture, environmental, and business and development organizations.

Review and reporting requirements are set forth. NFREC must establish and make information available on a website.

NFREC may provide technical assistance and demonstration project grant assistance to state and local governments on a competitive basis to assist with implementing recommendations of NFREC or testing new or improved strategies or technologies.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Earthquake Mitigation Tax Incentive Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any amount received as a qualified earthquake mitigation payment. A qualified earthquake mitigation payment is any amount received by a residential property owner or occupant under an earthquake loss mitigation program established by a state (including an agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state) or by a state with a tax-exempt organization or public instrumentality of the state.

Date: 2016-06-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Equity for Disaster Victims Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow a small business concern, homeowner, or nonprofit entity that received a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan for repairing, rehabilitating, or replacing real property damaged or destroyed by or because of Superstorm Sandy or that received such an SBA loan to refinance a mortgage or other lien against a home or business concern totally destroyed or substantially damaged by or because of the storm to receive Superstorm Sandy CDBG-DR grant funds only if they will be used to repay:

 the principal and any interest accrued on the loan for such repair, rehabilitation, or replacement; or the loan received to refinance the mortgage or other lien. The bill allows these recipients of additional SBA disaster assistance resulting from a declared major disaster to use CDBG-DR grant funds only if they are used for such repayments.

The term Superstorm Sandy CDBG-DR grant funds means mandatory amounts made available by the Department of Housing and Urban Development only for impacted and distressed areas resulting from a declared major disaster due to Superstorm Sandy for activities authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

A small business concern, homeowner, or nonprofit entity who receives assistance pursuant to any other law to repair, rehabilitate, or replace real property damaged or destroyed by or as a result of a declared major disaster on or after enactment of this bill may use such assistance to repay the principal and any interest accrued on a loan or the amount of other assistance received under it.

Date: 2016-07-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
National Flood Insurance Program Debt Forgiveness Act of 2016

This bill cancels all indebtedness outstanding as of September 30, 2016, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under any notes or other obligations issued pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Federal Flood Insurance Act of 1956.

Such cancelled indebtedness may be treated as a public debt of the United States and is designated as an emergency pursuant to the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

Date: 2016-09-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
This bill sets the federal share of major disaster assistance provided to Louisiana under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in connection with flooding events occurring during 2016 at: (1) 90% of the eligible costs for the repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged public facilities; and (2) 100% of the eligible costs for assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property and for debris removal.

Date: 2016-09-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Small Business Investment Opportunity Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the maximum amount of outstanding leverage (i.e., borrowing power) made available to any licensed small business investment company (SBIC) from $150 million to $170 million.

Date: 2016-09-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
Investing in Main Street Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase from 5% to 15% of its capital and surplus, the amount a national bank, a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, a nonmember insured bank (to the extent permitted under applicable state law), or a federal savings association may invest in one or more small business investment companies (SBICs), or in any entity established to invest solely in SBICs. The increase is subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency.

Date: 2016-09-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Relief from Disease Induced Economic Hardship Act of 2016

This bill amends the Small Business Act with respect to Small Business Administration disaster assistance to expand the definition of "disaster" to include the onset of transmissible diseases for which the federal government issues a public health advisory or declaration.

Date: 2016-09-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce