[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4774 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4774
To ensure that certain assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is available for flood-damaged
basements, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 25, 2025
Ms. Tlaib (for herself, Ms. Brown, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Balint, Ms.
Barragan, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Fields, Mr. Figures, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Meng, Mr.
Mfume, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. Norton, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Scott of Virginia,
Ms. Sewell, and Mr. Thanedar) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in
addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that certain assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is available for flood-damaged
basements, 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 ``Fix Our Flooded Basements Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR FLOOD-DAMAGED BASEMENTS.
(a) Repairs.--In providing assistance for repairs to flood-damaged
basements under section 408(c)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(2)), the
Administrator--
(1) may not limit such assistance to rooms required for the
occupancy of the dwelling; and
(2) may provide assistance for any mold, mildew, and
moisture damage caused by a major disaster and may not limit
such assistance to only mold, mildew, or moisture damage that--
(A) may cause additional loss; or
(B) affects the safety, sanitation, and
functionality of the home.
(b) Personal Property Assistance.--In providing assistance for
personal property expenses under section 408(e)(2) of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5174(e)(2)), the Administrator shall provide assistance--
(1) to cover the cost of personal property in a manner that
is at least equivalent to the coverage provided under the
Standard Flood Insurance Policy for building property and
personal property located below the lowest floor of a building,
including basements (as defined in section 59.1 of title 44,
Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations); and
(2) to cover the costs of repair or replacement of all
building and personal property located in a flood-damaged
basement that is damaged by a major disaster.
(c) Group Flood Insurance Policy.--Not later than 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall revise
sections 61.17 and 206.119(b)(9) of title 44, Code of Federal
Regulations, to make the following changes:
(1) Permit applicants who had a previous requirement to
maintain flood insurance as a condition of receiving assistance
under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) to be eligible for
the Group Flood Insurance Policy.
(2) Permit applicants residing outside a special flood
hazard area to be eligible for the Group Flood Insurance
Policy.
(3) Expand the coverage under the Group Flood Insurance
Policy to be at least equivalent to the maximum coverage
available in the Standard Flood Insurance Policy.
(4) Expand the Group Flood Insurance Policy to include
coverage for the following:
(A) Real and personal property components and
contents in basements, including repairs to address
water damage, appliances, flooring and carpet repairs,
and any other items necessary to return the basement to
its previous pre-flood condition.
(B) Any real and personal property components and
contents in basements covered under the additional
endorsement for basement coverage for the Standard
Flood Insurance Policy, as described in the proposed
rule titled ``National Flood Insurance Program:
Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Homeowner Flood Form''
and issued by the Administrator on February 6, 2024 (89
Fed. Reg. 8282).
(C) Mold, mildew, and moisture damage in basements.
(d) Maximum Amount of Financial Assistance.--Section 408(h) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5174(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Exclusion of mitigation measures.--The maximum amount
of assistance established under paragraph (1) shall exclude
expenses for eligible hazard mitigation measures in flood-
damaged basements under subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii).
``(6) Exclusion of group flood insurance policy premiums.--
The maximum amount of assistance established under paragraph
(1) shall exclude expenses for premiums for the Group Flood
Insurance Policy pursuant to subsection (e)(2).''.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) Group flood insurance policy.--The term ``Group Flood
Insurance Policy'' means the group flood insurance policy
established by the Administrator under section 61.17 of title
44, Code of Federal Regulations.
(3) Standard flood insurance policy.--The term ``Standard
Flood Insurance Policy'' means the standard flood insurance
policy under the national flood insurance program established
pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.
4001 et seq.).
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