Scalise Disaster Bill Provisions Included In Final Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today announced that several provisions from his Disaster Recovery Improvement Act (DRIA), H.R. 3453, were amended into the Disaster Response, Recovery and Mitigation Enhancement Act, H.R. 3377, which passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today.

“I applaud Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for recognizing the merits of my legislation by including these disaster recovery reforms and passing them on to the full House of Representatives. Their commitment to speeding up the disaster recovery process, and working to break through FEMA’s log jams will help ensure that nobody has to experience the same problems we encountered after Katrina,” Scalise said. “This legislation will help save money by encouraging pre-bidding of disaster recovery contracts, and will improving future evacuations by allowing pet owners to bring their pets with them to evacuation shelters.”

    The provisions from Scalise’s bill, H.R. 3453, that were included in the Transportation and Infrastructure’s bill, H.R. 3377, are the following.

•    Debris Removal: increased cost share – cost share is increased by 5% for State/local governments that have a debris management plan approved by FEMA, and have prequalified two or more debris removal contractors.
•    Appeals Process: speed up the timing – FEMA will have 60 days (currently they have 90, while applicants only have 60) to respond to Project Worksheet appeals.
•    Hazard Mitigation (HM): if a State has building code and is enforcing it, HM assistance can be increased by 5% of the estimated aggregate amounts of grants to be made.
•    Emergency Assistance: FEMA is authorized to provide assistance for the rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs to individuals with pets and service animals, and to those pets and animals.
•    Individual Assistance: not later than six months after enactment, FEMA shall review and update the factors considered to determine the amount of Individual Assistance available for individuals affected by a disaster.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309