HR 57
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 57
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act to make improvements in the provision of Federal disaster assistance,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 2011
Mr. SCALISE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act to make improvements in the provision of Federal disaster assistance,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Disaster Recovery Improvement Act'.
SEC. 2. REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED FACILITIES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President
shall issue and begin to implement the regulations required by section 406(e)(3)(C)
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5172(e)(3)(C)) to provide for cost estimation procedures that expedite
recovery and to reduce the costs and time for completion of recovery projects
through the creation of financial and performance incentives.
SEC. 3. APPEALS PROCESS.
Section 423(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a(b)) is amended to read as follows:
`(b) Period for Decision-
`(1) IN GENERAL- A decision regarding an appeal under subsection (a) shall
be rendered within 60 days after the date on which the Federal official
designated to administer such appeal receives notice of such appeal.
`(2) FAILURE TO SATISFY DEADLINE- If the Federal official fails to satisfy
the requirement under paragraph (1), the Federal official shall provide
a written explanation of such failure to the applicant. The President shall
transmit quarterly to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on such failures.'.
SEC. 4. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FACTORS.
In order to provide more objective criteria for evaluating the need for assistance
to individuals and to speed a declaration of a major disaster or emergency
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
in cooperation with representatives of State and local emergency management
agencies, shall review, update, and revise through rulemaking the factors
considered under section 206.48 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations,
to measure the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster.
SEC. 5. HOUSEHOLD PETS AND SERVICE ANIMALS.
Section 502(a) of Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5192(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (7);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(9) provide assistance for rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs--
`(A) to individuals with household pets and service animals; and
`(B) to such pets and animals.'.
END
