zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to increase from $20.725 billion to $30.425 billion the total amount of notes and obligations (federal borrowing authority) which may be issued by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the President's approval, for the National Flood Insurance program.

 Designates such increase as an emergency requirement under the the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

Date: 2013-01-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out a project for hurricane and storm damage reduction at Surf City and North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, substantially in accordance with the Surf City and North Topsail Beach, North Carolina Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Report dated December 30, 2010, for periodic beach nourishment and monitoring over the 50-year economic life of the project.

Date: 2013-01-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Water resources development
Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2013 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise the Secretary regarding estimated loss costs associated with contracts for reinsurance coverage.

Authorizes the Secretary to make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance coverage. Restricts purchase of such coverage to eligible state programs. Prescribes criteria for state eligibility.

Requires each contract for reinsurance coverage to provide insurance coverage against residential property losses to homes, including condominium and cooperative ownership, and the contents of apartment buildings. Cites covered perils.

Prescribes a minimum level of retained losses and maximum federal liability.

Authorizes any insurer who participates in an eligible state program to establish a Catastrophe Capital Reserve Fund to hold funds on the Secretary's behalf to offset reinsurance claims.

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: 2013-01-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Investment Savings Access After Catastrophes Act of 2013 - Defines "Hurricane Isaac disaster area" for purposes of this Act as any parish or county of Louisiana or Mississippi in an area in which a major disaster has been declared before September 10, 2012, under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by reason of Hurricane Isaac.

Provides for tax preferences in the Hurricane Isaac disaster area, including: (1) suspension of limitations on the tax deduction for personal casualty losses, (2) an extension of the carryback period for net operating losses, and (3) tax-free distributions from a retirement plan made on or after August 26, 2012, and before September 11, 2014, to an individual whose principal place of abode on August 26, 2012, was located in the Hurricane Isaac disaster area and who sustained an economic loss due to Hurricane Isaac.

Rescinds unobligated funds in an amount equal to the reduction in revenues resulting from the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2013-02-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Donate for Disaster Relief Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers to designate an amount (not less than $1) of any overpayment of income tax to a Disaster Relief Fund, established by this Act, for the purpose of providing relief for major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Date: 2013-02-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Homeowner Catastrophe Protection Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) to make tax deductible contributions to a tax-exempt policyholder disaster protection fund established by this Act for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from certain catastrophic events, such as windstorms, earthquakes, snowstorms, fires, tsunamis or floods, volcanic eruptions, or hail; (2) establish a tax-exempt Catastrophe Savings Account to help taxpayers pay for catastrophe expenses; and (3) allow a nonrefundable tax credit for 25% of certain natural disaster mitigation property expenditures made to fortify a taxpayer's principal residence against catastrophes.

Date: 2013-02-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Superstorm Sandy Mortgage Relief Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Director of the Federal Housing Agency to carry out a program to notify mortgagors under covered mortgages of the availability of forbearance and to offer and provide such relief upon an eligible homeowner's request.

Defines "covered mortgage" as one that: (1) is secured by a one- to four-family dwelling that is the mortgagor's principal residence and is located within a major disaster area resulting from Hurricane Sandy; and (2) is insured under the National Housing Act or owned or guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

Date: 2013-02-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Housing and community development
Flood Victim Premium Relief Act of 2013 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, with respect to adjustments to flood insurance premiums to reflect the current risk of flood, to limit premium rate increases on specified residential property in federally declared major disaster areas.

Requires premium rate increases or new premium rates on such properties which become effective after July 6, 2012, to be phased in over an 8-year period, at the rate of 5% for each of the first 4 years and 20% for each of the last 4s.

Defines such properties as those located within a major disaster area: (1) for which revised or updated flood insurance rate maps become effective during the 2-year period beginning upon the occurrence of the disaster; or (2) that upon enactment of this Act are eligible for preferred risk rate method premiums for flood insurance coverage, or that were eligible for them at any time during the 12-month period ending upon the occurrence of the disaster.

Requires such a property also to be: (1) owned by the same owner who owned the property at the time of the disaster; and (2) the owner's primary residence since the disaster (except for any periods of non-occupancy resulting from it).

Date: 2013-03-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Fire Damaged Home Rebuilding Act of 2013 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow local variances for certain residential structures.

Prohibits certain land use and control measures from being deemed inadequate or inconsistent with land management criteria for participation in the flood insurance program because such measures authorize granting a variance for a residential structure located in a covered area and that is substantially damaged by fire.

Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from either suspending a community from participation in the national flood insurance program, or placing it on probation, because its land use and control measures provide for such a variance.

Defines such variance as one granted by an appropriate official of the community from compliance with such land use and control measures and permits repair and restoration of such structure to its pre-damaged condition without elevation of the structure.

Requires the official to have made specified determinations as a prerequisite to granting such a variance.

Requires chargeable flood insurance premium rates for a residential structure granted such a variance to equal, after repair and restoration, the rates which would have been applicable if the structure had not been substantially damaged, repaired, and restored under the variance.

Date: 2013-03-05
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
No Loopholes in Social Security Taxes Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply employment and self-employment taxes to remuneration up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000.

Date: 2013-03-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to study and report to Congress on options, methods, and strategies for making voluntary community-based flood insurance policies available through the National Flood Insurance Program, including a strategy to implement options that would encourage communities to undertake flood mitigation activities.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit to Congress an analytical review of the FEMA report, including recommendations.

Date: 2013-03-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Homeowners and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Natural Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise the Secretary regarding the estimated loss costs associated with reinsurance protection contracts.

 Requires the Secretary to implement a program that utilizes premiums from eligible state or multi-state plans to pre-fund future natural catastrophe recovery by making available for purchase, only by such plans, contracts for reinsurance coverage.

Requires such contracts to cover insured property losses covered under primary insurance contracts to homeowners, mobile home owners, renters, and condominium owners for specified natural catastrophic events.

Prescribes requirements for the operation of state plans and the terms of reinsurance contracts.

Encourages states to create and maintain catastrophe funds for themselves or with other states.

Sets forth requirements for the treatment of insured losses and maximum federal liability.

Establishes in the Treasury the Catastrophe Preparedness Fund, consisting of contract sales receipts and any amounts borrowed or earned, which shall be used to pay Commission administrative costs and loss payments under reinsurance contracts. Prohibits the authorization or appropriation of federal funds for the Fund or for implementing the reinsurance liquidity protection program.

Establishes a post-catastrophe market stabilization program for liquidity loans to: (1) expedite payment of claims under state catastrophe insurance programs, (2) authorize the Secretary to issue loans to assist financial recovery from significant natural catastrophes, and (3) promote the availability of private capital to state catastrophe insurance programs in order to provide liquidity and capacity.

Establishes the National Readiness, Preparedness and Mitigation Committee to administer a Readiness, Preparedness, and Mitigation Grant Program of grants to state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate public and private entities to develop programs and initiatives to improve catastrophe response, citizen preparedness and protection, and prevention and mitigation of losses from natural catastrophes.

Date: 2013-03-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
National Flood Insurance Program Termination Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from providing any new flood insurance coverage after December 31, 2013, or renewing any coverage provided before such date, under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.

Terminates the National Flood Insurance Program on such date. Makes conforming repeal amendments to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, the Federal Flood Insurance Act of 1956, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

Grants the consent of Congress to any two or more states to enter into agreements or compacts for making flood insurance available to interested persons for loss and damage arising from any flood occurring in the United States.

Date: 2013-03-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Flood Insurance Premium Relief Act of 2013 - States that the flood insurance risk premium rate for property purchased between July 6, 2012, and January 1, 2015, shall, during the 12-month period beginning upon such purchase, be the amount chargeable for such property immediately before its purchase (thus delaying implementation of the rate increase).

Requires phase-in of the rate increase, following expiration of such 12-month period, over a 10-year period, at 10% for each year.

Makes conforming amendments to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.

Date: 2013-03-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Flood Mitigation Expense Relief Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow qualified taxpayers a tax credit, up to $5,000 in a taxable year, for flood mitigation expenses. Defines "qualified taxpayer" as: (1) a taxpayer who is the holder of a flood insurance policy under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and who owns insured property for which the chargeable premium rate under such policy was increased or will increase and which has an elevation lower than the base flood elevation or is located in an area designated as having a higher flood risk, and (2) a small business with 50 or fewer employees. Terminates such credit after 2022.

Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to carry out: (1) the predisaster hazard mitigation program authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and (2) the flood mitigation assistance program authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1969. Specifies that such funds may be used only for mitigation activities and acquisition by states and communities of properties located in higher flood risk areas.

Terminates the Energy Star program of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and rescinds any amounts not obligated or expended for such program.

Date: 2013-03-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide flood insurance to certain prospective insureds at rates less than certain statutory estimates.

Increases by 12.5% each year the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance for business property and for residential property which is not the primary residence of an individual until the average risk premium rate for such properties is equal to the average of the risk premium rates for specified other properties.

Increases by 12.5% each year the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance for primary residences purchased after the enactment of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Biggert-Waters [enacted July 6, 2012]) as if such increase began on the date of such enactment, until the average risk premium rate for such primary residences is equal to the average of the risk premium rates for specified other properties.

Requires the FEMA Administrator to adjust the chargeable risk premium rates for flood insurance, for properties subject to such 12.5% increase, as if the amendments made by this Act were enacted at the same time as Biggert-Waters.

Date: 2013-04-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to exempt from the limit on member business loans those that are: (1) used to aid in the recovery from a major disaster declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and (2) made within five years after such a declaration.

Directs the National Credit Union Administration Board to issue regulations defining when an extension of credit aids in the recovery from a disaster.

Date: 2013-04-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Nuclear Disaster Preparedness Act - Directs the President to issue guidance on the federal response to any nuclear disaster that: (1) may be caused by a natural catastrophe, an accident, or a terrorist or other attack; (2) occurs initially at a nuclear power plant; and (3) disperses radiation off the reactor site and into the surrounding area.

Requires such guidance to:

 designate the single federal agency responsible for coordinating the government's efforts in response to a nuclear disaster (coordinating agency), including making a formal declaration that a nuclear disaster exists; identify the circumstances under which such declaration will occur; designate the single agency responsible for recommending the evacuation of the area within a 10-mile to 50-mile radius from the nuclear power plant; identify the circumstances under which such recommendation will be made; designate the single agency responsible for developing plans for, educating the public regarding, and conducting, such evacuation; designate the single agency responsible for recommending that evacuees may return following a nuclear disaster; identify the circumstances under which such recommendation will be made; designate the single agency responsible for conducting cleanup of a nuclear disaster; and identify what cleanup standards will apply.

Date: 2013-04-24
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Disaster Declaration Improvement Act of 2013 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to issue regulations to ensure that: (1) in any review of a request for major disaster assistance conducted by FEMA, the factor relating to the estimated cost of assistance (evaluating the estimated cost of federal and nonfederal public assistance against the statewide population) is provided consideration that is equal to that provided to each of the other factors (i.e., localized impacts, insurance coverage in force, hazard mitigation, recent multiple disasters, and other federal assistance programs); and (2) FEMA considers a state's request for major disaster assistance for recommendation to the President without regard to any per capita damage threshold (other than a threshold described below) in any case in which a disaster occurs with respect to a city or unincorporated jurisdiction with a population of less than 250,000, located in a county with a population of more than 1 million and a state with a population of more than 5 million, and with respect to which the financial damage relating to the disaster exceeds 10% of a city's general fund or $100 per capita (in the case of an unincorporated jurisdiction).

Date: 2013-05-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Safe Building Code Incentive Act of 2013 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford 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 the Act if, at the time of a declaration of a major disaster, the affected state certifies that it has in effect and is actively enforcing a state building code that: (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 the nationally recognized code, and (3) uses the nationally recognized code as a minimum standard. Directs the President to approve the additional assistance upon determining that such certification is sufficient and is submitted not later than 90 days after the date of a declared disaster.

Requires the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to set appropriate standards for the periodic update, resubmittal, and approval of state building codes, consistent with similar mitigation planning requirements under the Stafford Act.

Makes this Act applicable to major disasters declared on or after October 24, 2012. Allows 90 days from this Act's enactment for submission of the required certification for disasters declared between October 24, 2012, and such enactment.

Date: 2013-05-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Requires the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue System.

Date: 2013-05-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits for individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy, including:

 an exemption from the gross income limitation for deducting casualty losses attributable to Hurricane Sandy; expensing allowances for Hurricane Sandy disaster expenses, disaster assistance property, and environmental remediation expenses; treatment of losses attributable to Hurricane Sandy as net operating losses; suspension of mortgage revenue bond requirements for residences located in the Hurricane Sandy disaster area; an increased charitable tax deduction for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief contributions; a special allocation of the new markets tax credit for investments in community development entities serving the disaster area; special adjustments to the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit for individuals living in the disaster area; a work opportunity tax credit for hiring employees residing in the Hurricane Sandy disaster area; authorization for issuance of Hurricane Sandy bonds to finance disaster relief projects; an additional allocation of low-income housing credits in states affected by Hurricane Sandy; and an exemption from the 10% penalty for premature distributions from a retirement plan to individuals residing in the Hurricane Sandy disaster area.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Claims Licensing Advancement for Interstate Matters Act or CLAIM Act - Urges the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to: (1) adopt a model independent claims adjuster licensing Act meeting specified criteria, and (2) adopt and administer a multi-state examination for an independent claims adjuster seeking to adjust claims in a jurisdiction other than his or her home state.

Authorizes the NAIC to prescribe examinee eligibility requirements, and requires any multi-state examination to require adjusters to demonstrate essential competence with cross-jurisdictional legal and regulatory concepts.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) require a state to adopt licensing requirements for independent claims adjusters if it does not have such requirements; (2) limit the right of a state to establish licensing fees or enforce its laws regarding the adjusting of insurance claims, provided that such a fee is uniform regardless of the licensee's state of residence; or (3) affect the jurisdiction and authority of a state insurance regulator to prescribe and enforce its insurance laws, rules, and regulations governing independent claims adjuster activity in its jurisdiction.

Sets forth criteria for state compliance with this Act, including reciprocity.

Authorizes an independent claims adjuster meeting the requirements of this Act to ascertain, determine, negotiate, or settle a claim in a state that is not in compliance with this Act, but only if the adjuster: (1) holds a valid license in his or her home state, and (2) has passed any multi-state examination established and administered by the NAIC.

Prohibits a state from imposing additional requirements upon such an adjuster.

Authorizes an independent claims adjuster meeting the licensure and examination requirements of this Act to adjust claims for losses related to any presidentially-designated major disaster, regardless of the licensure requirements of the state where the disaster is located.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Flood Insurance Implementation Reform Act of 2013 - Delays until three years after enactment of this Act the requirement of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Biggert-Waters) that any property located in an area participating in the national flood insurance program have the risk premium rate charged for flood insurance on the property adjusted to accurately reflect its current risk of flood.

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to delay until five years after enactment of Biggert-Waters the prohibition against provision to prospective insureds of flood insurance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at (subsidy) rates less than full actuarial estimates for property purchased after enactment of Biggert-Waters.

Prohibits FEMA, when determining whether a community has made adequate progress on flood protection improvement systems, from counting federal funding or participation in such efforts.

Makes flood insurance available at certain special flood hazard area rates to riverine and coastal levees located in a community which FEMA has determined to be in the process of restoring a flood protection system previously accredited on a Flood Insurance Rate Map as providing 100-year frequency flood protection but which no longer does so. Requires such rates to apply without regard to the level of federal funding or participation.

Amends Biggert-Waters to authorize FEMA to to use other funds in addition to those specified in that Act to carry out a specified affordability study. Requires FEMA, upon notice to certain congressional committees that it cannot submit the report on that study by the current deadline, to specify in such notice an alternative method of gathering the requisite information and subsequently to submit the information so gathered.

Directs FEMA to: (1) identify, review, update, maintain and publish National Flood Insurance rate maps pertaining to areas protected by non-structural flood mitigation features; and (2) work with states, local communities, and property owners to identify such areas and features.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual and business taxpayers in certain states a tax credit for 25% of their qualified hurricane and tornado mitigation property expenditures up to $5,000 for any taxable year. Defines such expenditures as expenditures in a dwelling unit to improve the strength of a roof deck attachment, create a secondary water barrier, improve the durability of a roof covering, brace gable-end walls, reinforce the connections between a roof and supporting wall, protect against windborne debris, or protect exterior doors and garages.

Date: 2013-06-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction Act of 2013 - 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, 2017.

Date: 2013-06-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Strengthening The Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground Act or STRONG Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish and chair an interagency working group with cabinet-level representation from all relevant federal agencies in order to: (1) provide a strategic vision of extreme weather resilience; (2) conduct a gap and overlap analysis of current and planned federal activities related to achieving short- and long-term resilience to extreme weather and its impacts on the United States, such as flooding and drought; and (3) develop a National Extreme Weather Resilience Action Plan.

Requires the Plan to include the establishment of an online, publicly available information portal to be used by federal agencies and other stakeholders that directs users to key data and tools to inform resilience-enhancing efforts and to build off and complement existing federal efforts. Provides for a coordinating entity to establish and maintain such portal.

Requires such coordinating entity to coordinate the implementation of the Plan and to track its progress.

Requires the submission of specified reports.

Date: 2013-06-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on February 10, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 to specify that the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Program's purpose shall be to better inform and provide for more timely decisionmaking to reduce drought related impacts and costs.

Revises NIDIS functions to require the NIDIS, among other things, to: (1) provide an effective drought early warning system consisting of certain information, forecasts, and assessments on both national and regional levels; (2) build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships through designation of one or more cooperative institutes to assist with NIDIS functions; and (3) continue ongoing research and monitoring activities related to drought and the role of extreme weather events and climate variability in drought.

Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (who is also the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]) to report to Congress on the NIDIS Program.

Reauthorizes NIDIS through FY2018.

Date: 2013-06-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2013 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include public broadcasting facilities within the definition of a "private nonprofit facility" that provides essential services of a governmental nature to the general public, and to include broadcast and telecommunications within the definition of "critical services" provided by such a facility, for purposes of eligibility for certain disaster assistance.

Makes this Act applicable to a major disaster declared by the President under such Act on or after October 28, 2012.

Date: 2013-07-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual and business taxpayers a tax credit for 25% of their qualified hurricane and tornado mitigation property expenditures up to $5,000 for any taxable year. Defines such expenditures as expenditures in a dwelling unit to improve the strength of a roof deck attachment, create a secondary water barrier, improve the durability of a roof covering, brace gable-end walls, reinforce the connections between a roof and supporting wall, protect against windborne debris, or protect exterior doors and garages.

Date: 2013-07-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include a condominium or housing cooperative association as an "individual" or "household" for purposes of the provision of federal disaster assistance (thus authorizing assistance for condominiums and housing cooperatives damaged by a major disaster).

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

Date: 2013-07-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Tornado Family Safety Act of 2013 - Amends the Small Business Act to allow Small Business Administration (SBA) physical disaster loans to be used for the construction of safe rooms or similar storm shelters designed to protect property and occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters.

Date: 2013-08-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
Irene and Lee Tax Relief Storm Recovery Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an increase in 2013, 2014, and 2015 of the amount of the low-income housing tax credit that may be allocated in states containing counties covered by the natural disaster declaration of the Secretary of Agriculture in 2011 due to damage from Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee.

Date: 2013-08-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Responsible Implementation of Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2013 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to limit the requirements for flood insurance premium rate adjustments to reflect the current risk of flood only to property located in an area participating in the national flood insurance program for which the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has published in the Federal Register projected base flood elevations and designations of areas having specified flood hazards on or after December 31, 2013.

Increases by 20% annually the flood insurance risk premium rates for certain properties sold on or after enactment of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (July 6, 2012), and which are not subject to a specified 25% per year phase-in, until the average risk premium rate for such properties is equal to the average of the risk premium rates for properties within a specified single risk classification.

Directs FEMA to establish a means by which a state or local government may submit to FEMA payments to fully cover the cost of any premium for property within its jurisdiction.

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct FEMA, in providing hazard mitigation assistance in connection with flooding, to ensure that not less than 25% of the estimated aggregate amount of such assistance is used by a grant recipient to elevate, acquire, or relocate eligible properties within the recipient's jurisdiction.

Prohibits FEMA, in determining whether a community has made adequate progress on the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a flood protection system, from considering the level of federal funding or participation in such efforts.

Revises requirements for the availability of flood insurance in a community which FEMA has determined to be in the process of restoring flood protection afforded by a system previously accredited on a Flood Insurance Rate Map as providing 100-year frequency flood protection but no longer does so. Declares that such requirements shall apply without regard to the level of federal funding of or participation in the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of the flood protection system.

Prohibits FEMA from issuing a flood insurance rate map, or an update to one, unless: (1) the map or update adequately reflects the protection provided by any levee system in the area against the base flood, regardless of the system's accreditation status; or (2) the community in which any levee system is located elects not to provide the data necessary for FEMA to issue either a map or an update that adequately reflects the protection the system provides against the base flood.

Date: 2013-09-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to obligate any funds made available to implement federal-aid highway emergency relief for projects arising from damage caused by severe weather events in 2013, without any limitation on obligations for such projects resulting from a single natural disaster or catastrophic failure in a state.

Date: 2013-09-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2013 - Prohibits the taking effect of specified flood insurance premium changes under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (which prohibit the estimating of flood insurance premium rates for severe repetitive loss and other specified properties or extending premium subsidies to new or lapsed flood insurance policies, and which also require certain flood insurance risk premium rate adjustments) until 180 days after both chambers of Congress have completed consideration of a qualified joint resolution providing for legislative changes to ensure that risk premium rates for flood insurance coverage under the national flood insurance program are substantially affordable for all homeowners.

Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit to Congress and make publicly available a determination of whether the risk premium rates for flood insurance coverage under the national flood insurance program resulting from such legislative changes are substantially affordable for all homeowners.

Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of the proposed joint resolution.

Date: 2013-09-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize appropriations for the predisaster hazard mitigation program for FY2014-FY2018.

Date: 2013-10-10
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Disaster Savings Accounts Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt disaster savings accounts to pay the expenses of homeowners for equipment and materials for mitigating the effects of a natural disaster, (2) allow a deduction from gross income (above-the-line deduction) up to $5,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) in a taxable year for cash contributions to such accounts, and (3) set forth tax rules for account distributions and failure to report on disaster savings accounts.

Date: 2013-10-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Homeowners Flood Insurance Relief Act of 2013 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide certain policy holders the option of paying their premiums monthly (or annually or in more frequent installments, as under current law).

Declares the maximum annual chargeable premium rate for a property to be the total appraised value of all structures located on it at the time of its purchase by the current owner of the property divided by 30.

Sets forth a ten-year phase-in period for risk premium rate increases resulting from enactment of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, at the rate of 10% for each year following the effective date of such Act.

Directs FEMA to refund or provide credit to insureds for any flood insurance premiums collected in excess of the mandatory phase-in of rates prescribed by this Act.

Date: 2013-10-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Agricultural Structures Building Act of 2013 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow local variances for certain agricultural structures (such as any agricultural product processing facility, agricultural product storage facility, shed, farmhouse, barn, or other structure which has as its primary purpose supporting the agricultural industry).

Prohibits certain land use and control measures from being deemed inadequate or inconsistent with land management criteria for participation in the flood insurance program because such measures authorize granting a variance for an agricultural structure located in an area having special flood hazards.

Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from either suspending a community from participation in the national flood insurance program, or placing it on probation, because its land use and control measures provide for such a variance.

Defines such variance as one granted by an appropriate official of the community from compliance with such land use and control measures and permits repair and restoration of such structure to its pre-damaged condition without elevation of the structure.

Requires the official to have made specified determinations as a prerequisite to granting such a variance, including that: (1) in the case of new construction, the agricultural structure is subject to base flood elevations of at least three feet; and (2) in the case of existing structures, it is not practicable to elevate the repaired or expanded structure to the base flood elevation.

Requires the chargeable flood insurance premium rates for an agricultural structure granted such a variance to be the rates that otherwise would apply to such structure if it had been repaired, expanded, or constructed before the establishment of the special flood hazard area.

Date: 2013-10-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Wildfire Prevention Act of 2013 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide: (1) hazard mitigation assistance in any area in which fire management assistance was provided, whether or not a major disaster had been declared; and (2) fire management assistance in any area in which hazard mitigation assistance was provided.

Date: 2013-10-23
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Disaster Assistance Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013 or the DATA Act of 2013 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit to Congress a report that specifies: (1) the amount obligated by the federal government for disaster assistance, by each agency and program thereof, for each of the preceding 10 fiscal years; and (2) the amount projected to be obligated for disaster assistance by each agency and program for the fiscal year in which the report is submitted.

Requires the Director to submit to Congress, in conjunction with the President's annual budget submission, a report that specifies: (1) the amount projected to be obligated in the upcoming fiscal year for disaster assistance by each federal agency and program, (2) the amount obligated during the most-recently concluded fiscal year for disaster assistance by each federal agency and program, and (3) any corrections to previous reports.

Directs the Comptroller General to report to the House and Senate appropriations and budget committees every two years on: (1) an evaluation of federal disaster assistance spending, including the identification of areas of potential duplication, waste, fraud, or abuse; (2) recommendations on how federal agencies can improve transparency in, and better account for, disaster assistance spending to ensure that funds are spent in an effective and efficient manner; and (3) an evaluation of the effectiveness and equity of the current system of cost-sharing with respect to disaster assistance spending, including the system's effectiveness in reducing the federal cost of disaster assistance and promoting non-federal investment in disaster recovery, mitigation, and preparedness.

Date: 2013-10-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Prohibits the risk premium rates for flood insurance coverage made available under the National Flood Insurance Program from being increased from such rates in effect as of September 30, 2013, until: (1) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completes a first comprehensive review and updating of all flood insurance rate maps for such Program pursuant to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, and (2) the Chief of Engineers reviews and certifies that such updated rate maps accurately reflect all flood mitigation and flood control projects completed within the affected watershed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Directs the Administrator to refund to insureds any premiums for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program collected in excess of the rates required under this Act.

Date: 2013-10-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Emergency Response Improvement Act - Requires the chief executive officer of a state, to be eligible for assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act on or after October 1, 2014, to maintain a State Office of Emergency Management to coordinate the state response to, and to request federal assistance with respect to, an emergency.

Directs the President, if one or more federal agencies provides assistance to a state in response to an emergency, to designate an individual from one such agency to serve as the federal incident commander for that emergency. Requires such commander to meet with representatives of federal, state, and local entities involved in the response and assist such representatives in: (1) creating a response plan that specifies the responsibilities of each entity, (2) designating an individual to lead the response, and (3) drafting and executing a memorandum of understanding with respect to such plan.

Requires the federal incident commander, in the absence of such a memorandum of understanding, to report to the President and recommend if, and to what extent, the relevant federal agencies should be involved in the response.

Date: 2013-11-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Flood Insurance Relief and Transparency Act of 2013 - Delays until March 1, 2015, the effective date of specified changes in risk premium rates for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make publicly available all data affecting any changes in such risk premium rates.

Amends the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 to remove the $750,000 restriction from the maximum amount of funds available to FEMA for the study of participation in and affordability of NFIP for certain flood insurance policyholders.

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to require FEMA to provide policyholders with the option of paying chargeable risk premiums for flood insurance coverage on an annual (as under current law) or a monthly basis. Sets forth criteria for policyholder eligibility to exercise the monthly option.

Date: 2013-12-11
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management