[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5780 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5780
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to improve the provision of certain disaster assistance,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 28, 2021
Ms. Lofgren (for herself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Huffman, and
Mr. Panetta) 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 improve the provision of certain 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 Equity and Fairness Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of
the Agency;
(2) the term ``Agency'' means the Federal Emergency
Management Agency;
(3) the term ``emergency'' means an emergency declared or
determined to exist by the President under section 501 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5191);
(4) the terms ``Indian tribal government'' and ``local
government'' have the meanings given such terms in section 102
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122); and
(5) the term ``major disaster'' means a major disaster
declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5170).
SEC. 3. INCREASE COST-SHARE FOR CONSECUTIVE IMPACTS.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the provisions of law described in
subsection (b), for assistance provided under sections 403, 404, 406,
408, 420, and 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5170c, 5172, 5174, 5187,
5189f) to a local government or Indian tribal government in connection
with the second, or subsequent, major disaster during any 3-year
period, the Federal share shall be not less than 90 percent of the
eligible cost of such assistance.
(b) Provisions.--The provisions of law described in this subsection
are sections 403(b), 403(c)(4), 404(a), 406(b), 408(d), 408(g)(2),
420(a), and 428(e)(2)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(b), 5170b(c)(4), 5170c(a),
5172(b), 5174(d), 5174(g)(2), 5187(a), 5189f(e)(2)).
SEC. 4. STATE AND LOCAL PLANS FOR MEAL DELIVERY.
(a) In General.--Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 431. STATE AND LOCAL PLANS FOR MEAL DELIVERY.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator may provide assistance to a
State, local government, or Indian tribal government to reimburse the
cost of coordinating food delivery, production, and distribution in the
event of a major disaster, including--
``(1) establishing a network to coordinate food delivery,
production, and distribution with businesses and private
nonprofit organizations;
``(2) establishing contracts with small and mid-sized
restaurants, food vendors, and private nonprofit organizations,
including faith-based organizations, food banks, and soup
kitchens, to prepare healthy meals for people in need; and
``(3) partnering with private nonprofit organizations,
including faith-based organizations, food banks, and soup
kitchens to purchase directly from food producers and farmers.
``(b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of an activity
carried out using assistance under this section shall be--
``(1) 100 percent of the eligible cost of food delivery,
production, and distribution during the 30-day period beginning
on the date of the declaration of the major disaster; and
``(2) not less than 90 percent of such eligible cost after
the end of the 30-day period described in paragraph (1).''.
(b) Emergencies.--Section 502(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5192(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
``(8) provide assistance for food delivery, production, and
distribution in accordance with section 431; and''.
(c) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall issue comprehensive guidance to
States, local governments, and Indian tribal governments regarding
receiving reimbursement for the cost of food delivery, production, and
distribution in the event of an emergency or major disaster under
section 431 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act, as added by subsection (a), including--
(1) establishing a coordination network;
(2) enabling streamlined arrangements for food production
and distribution; and
(3) streamlined contracting and partnering with private
nonprofit organizations such that private nonprofit
organizations may apply directly for reimbursement under such
section as an agent of a State, local government, or Indian
tribal government.
SEC. 5. UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) is amended--
(1) by striking ``small impoverished'' each place it
appears except in subsection (a) and inserting ``underserved'';
(2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Definition of Underserved Community.--In this section, the
term `underserved community' means populations sharing a particular
characteristic, and geographic communities, that have been
systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of
economic, social, and civic life, such as--
``(1) Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American
persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other
persons of color;
``(2) members of religious minorities;
``(3) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and
nonbinary persons;
``(4) persons with access and functional needs;
``(5) persons who live in rural or geographically isolated
areas; and
``(6) persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent
poverty or inequality.''; and
(3) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``Small impoverished'' and inserting
``Underserved''; and
(ii) by striking ``carried out in a'' and
inserting ``carried out in, or that will
benefit persons who are members of, an''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Technical assistance.--The Administrator shall
provide direct technical assistance to eligible entities under
this section for applications under this section, prioritizing
communities that--
``(A) have not received hazard mitigation
assistance under this Act during the 5-year period
ending on the date of enactment of this paragraph;
``(B) are Indian tribal governments;
``(C) are underserved communities;
``(D) have demonstrated a compelling need, such as
significant social vulnerability;
``(E) have experienced multiple major disaster
declarations during the 5-year period ending on the
date of enactment of this paragraph; or
``(F) are exposed to increased hazards or
vulnerabilities.''.
(b) Increase Cost-Share.--
(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``underserved
community'' has the meaning given that term in subsection (a)
of section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), as amended by this
section.
(2) Federal share.--Notwithstanding the provisions of law
described in paragraph (3), for any emergency or major
disaster, the Federal share of assistance provided under
sections 403, 404, 406, 408, 420, 428, and 503 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5170b, 5170c, 5172, 5174, 5187, 5189f, 5193) or section
1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
4104c), shall be not less than 90 percent of the eligible cost
of such assistance for a recipient--
(A) that will use the assistance in, or for the
benefit of persons who are members of, an underserved
community; or
(B) who is in, or who is a member of, an
underserved community.
(3) Provisions.--The provisions of law described in this
paragraph are sections 403(b), 403(c)(4), 404(a), 406(b),
408(d), 408(g)(2), 420(a), 428(e)(2)(B), and 503(a) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5170b(b), 5170b(c)(4), 5170c(a), 5172(b), 5174(d),
5174(g)(2), 5187(a), 5189f(e)(2), 5193(a)).
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 4 (42 U.S.C. 7703), by adding at the end the
following:
``(11) The term `small impoverished community' means a
community of 3,000 or fewer individuals that is economically
disadvantaged, as determined by the State in which the
community is located and based on criteria established by the
President.''; and
(2) in section 5(b)(2)(B)(ii) (42 U.S.C.
7704(b)(2)(B)(ii)), by striking ``, as defined in section 203
of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5133(a))''.
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