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116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 116-145
======================================================================
FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE COORDINATION ACT
_______
July 11, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. DeFazio, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 1306) to amend the Disaster
Recovery Reform Act to develop a study regarding streamlining
and consolidating information collection and preliminary damage
assessments, and for other purposes, having considered the
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend
that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose of Legislation........................................... 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Legislative History and Consideration............................ 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................ 3
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................ 3
Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 4
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 4
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 5
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 5
Preemption Clarification......................................... 5
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 5
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 6
Purpose of Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 1306, the Federal Disaster Assistance
Coordination Act, is to develop a study on streamlining and
consolidating Federal information collection and preliminary
damage assessments.
Background and Need for Legislation
Multiple federal agencies participate in information
collection and damage assessments to grant Federal funding
requested following emergencies and disasters, including the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Small Business
Administration (SBA). These tasks often need to be completed by
more than one department or agency before an eligible applicant
can receive Federal assistance. This leads to slow turnaround
times in assisting disaster survivors and impacted communities,
and a backlog of applications for assistance following major
disasters.
Section 1223 of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018
broadly requires ``an inter-agency study to streamline
information collection from disaster assistance applicants and
grantees, and the establishment of a public website to present
the data.'' The Act provides no timeline for when the study
should occur or which Federal departments and agencies should
be involved.
H.R. 1306 would further the requirements of Section 1223
and address the inefficiencies associated with disaster funding
disbursement by requiring a Federal working group to identify
areas of potential overlap and to make a recommendation to
Congress as to whether a single agency could assume
responsibility for information collection and damage
assessments. The working group would also examine whether
emerging technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems, could
be used to expedite the damage assessment process.
Hearings
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the
116th Congress--
The following hearing was used to develop or consider H.R.
1306:
On February 26, 2019, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure held a hearing entitled, ``Examining How Federal
Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate
Change.'' Witnesses included: Dr. Daniel Sperling, Board
Member, California Air Resources Board; Mr. Ben Prochazka, Vice
President, Electrification Coalition; Ms. Vicki Arroyo,
Executive Director, Georgetown Climate Center; Mr. James M.
Proctor, II, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, McWane,
Inc., testifying on behalf of the Build Strong Coalition; Mr.
Kevin DeGood, Director, Infrastructure Policy, Center for
American Progress; Ms. Lynn Scarlett, Vice President, Policy
and Government Affairs, The Nature Conservancy; and Dr. Whitley
J. Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security (SOS)
Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies. Topics
discussed included impacts of severe weather events and rising
costs of federal response and recovery operations.
Legislative History and Consideration
H.R. 1306 was introduced in the House on February 15, 2019,
by Mr. Meadows and referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure. Within the Committee, H.R. 1306 was
referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public
Buildings, and Emergency Management.
The Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings,
and Emergency Management was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 1306 on March 27, 2019.
The Full Committee met in open session to consider H.R.
1306 on March 27, 2019, and ordered the measure to be reported
to the House with a favorable recommendation, without
amendment, by voice vote with a quorum present.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires each committee report to include the
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for
and against.
There were no recorded votes taken in connection with
consideration of H.R. 1306.
Committee Oversight Findings
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is
included in this report.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has
received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1306 from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 15, 2019.
Hon. Peter A. DeFazio,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1306, the Federal
Disaster Assistance Coordination Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall,
Director.
Enclosure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 1306 would extend the deadline for completing certain
activities required under the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. The
bill also would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) to convene a working group with other federal agencies
to improve preliminary damage assessments following disasters.
Specifically, the bill would direct the working group to
identify potential areas of duplication, determine the
feasibility of having one federal agency make damage
assessments for all agencies, and identify new areas for the
use of technology. The bill would require the working group to
post a report on FEMA's website and brief the Congress on its
findings.
Using information from FEMA about the cost of similar
reports, CBO estimates that implementing the additional
requirements in the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the
2019-2024 period.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jon Sperl. The
estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Performance Goals and Objectives
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goal and objective of this legislation is to
streamline information collection and damage assessments
conducted by Federal departments and agencies in response to
applications for disaster assistance.
Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 1306 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal
program, a program that was included in any report from the
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits
In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule
XXI.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act (Public Law 104-4).
Preemption Clarification
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee finds that H.R. 1306 does not
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law
104-1).
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that this bill may be cited as the
``Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act''.
Sec. 2. Study to streamline and consolidate information collection and
preliminary damage assessments
This section amends Section 1223 of the Disaster Recovery
Reform Act of 2018 by adding specific subsections related to
information collection and damage assessment. The subsections
would require the FEMA Administrator to coordinate with the
appropriate agency heads to (1) conduct a study and develop a
plan to consolidate federal disaster information collection,
and (2) identify areas of overlap and assess whether a single
agency could produce damage assessments for all agencies. The
section would also require production of a comprehensive,
publicly-available report with findings and recommendations for
the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and
the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 1223 OF THE DISASTER RECOVERY REFORM ACT OF 2018
[SEC. 1223. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION COLLECTION.
[Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Administrator--
[(1) in coordination with the Small Business
Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the Disaster Assistance Working Group of
the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and
Efficiency, and other appropriate agencies, conduct a
study and develop a plan, consistent with law, under
which the collection of information from disaster
assistance applicants and grantees will be modified,
streamlined, expedited, efficient, flexible,
consolidated, and simplified to be less burdensome,
duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and
grantees;
[(2) in coordination with the Small Business
Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the Disaster Assistance Working Group of
the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and
Efficiency, and other appropriate agencies, develop a
plan for the regular collection and reporting of
information on Federal disaster assistance awarded,
including the establishment and maintenance of a
website for presenting the information to the public;
and
[(3) submit the plans developed under paragraphs
(1) and (2) to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate.]
SEC. 1223. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION COLLECTION
AND PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.
(a) Information Collection.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator, in
coordination with the Small Business Administration, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Disaster
Assistance Working Group of the Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency, and other appropriate
agencies, shall--
(1) conduct a study and develop a plan, consistent
with law, under which the collection of information
from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will
be modified, streamlined, expedited, efficient,
flexible, consolidated, and simplified to be less
burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for
applicants and grantees; and
(2) develop a plan for the regular collection and
reporting of information on Federal disaster assistance
awarded, including the establishment and maintenance of
a website for presenting the information to the public.
(b) Preliminary Damage Assessments.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator,
in consultation with the Council of the Inspectors General on
Integrity and Efficiency, shall convene a working group on a
regular basis with the Secretary of Labor, the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration, the Secretary of Transportation, the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and other
appropriate agencies as the Administrator considers necessary,
to--
(1) identify and describe the potential areas of
duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage
assessments after disaster declarations;
(2) determine the applicability of having one
Federal agency make the assessments for all agencies;
and
(3) identify potential emerging technologies, such
as Unmanned Aircraft Systems, consistent with the
requirements established in Public Law 115-87, to
expedite the administration of preliminary damage
assessments.
(c) Comprehensive Report.--The Administrator shall submit 1
comprehensive report that comprises the plans developed under
subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) and a report of the findings of
the working group convened under subsection (b), which may
include recommendations, to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the
Senate.
(d) Public Availability.--The comprehensive report
developed under subsection (c) shall be made available to the
public and posted on the website of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency--
(1) in pre-compressed, easily downloadable versions
that are made available in all appropriate formats; and
(2) in machine-readable format, if applicable.
(e) Sources of Information.--In preparing the comprehensive
report, any publication, database, or web-based resource, and
any information compiled by any government agency,
nongovernmental organization, or other entity that is made
available may be used.
(f) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after submission of
the comprehensive report, the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, or a designee, and a member of the
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency,
or a designee, shall brief, upon request, the appropriate
congressional committees on the findings and any
recommendations made in the comprehensive report.
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