,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #behc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #bb1 #bjag,mr4 ,scott of ,virginia 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,mr4 ,crist1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 and ,mr4 ,beyer7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to carry out a ,community ,resilience ,grant ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,building ,up ,infrastructure and ,limiting ,disasters through ,resilience ,act of #bjag or the ,,build ,resilience ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 a unit of general local government2 7,c7 an ,indian tribe2 or 7,d7 a regional entity comprised of entities described in subparagraph 7,a71 7,b71 or 7,c74 7#b7 ,national center ,the term ,national ,center means the ,national ,research ,center for ,resilience established under section #d4 7#c7 ,resilience ,the term resilience means the ability to prepare and plan for1 absorb1 recover from1 and more successfully adapt to disasters1 chronic stresses1 and acute shocks1 including any hurricane1 tornado1 storm1 high water1 recurrent flooding1 wind-driven water1 tidal wave1 tsunami1 earthquake1 volcanic eruption1 fire1 landslide1 mudslide1 snowstorm1 or drought4 7#d7 ,resilience grant ,the term resilience grant means a grant awarded under section #c4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#f7 ,state2 unit of general local government2 ,indian tribe ,the terms ,state1 unit of general local government1 and ,indian tribe have the meanings given such terms in section #ajb of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjb74 #c4 ,community ,resilience ,grant ,program 7a7 ,authority ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall carry out a ,community ,resilience ,grant ,program under this section to provide assistance to communities for increasing resilience to chronic stresses and acute shocks1 including improving long-term resilience of infrastructure and housing4 7b7 ,grantees ,grant amounts shall be awarded on a competitive basis1 as provided under section #ajb of the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development ,reform ,act of #aihi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cede71 only to eligible entities1 within whose boundaries or jurisdictions are located any area for which a major disaster was declared pursuant to section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 during the #e-year period ending upon the date on which the eligible entity submits an application for such a grant4 7c7 ,eligible activities 7#a7 ,in general ,amounts from a resilience grant may be used only for activities authorized under either section #aje or #ajh of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecje1 #ecjh71 but not including activities under paragraphs 7#i7 and 7#aj7 of such section #aje7;a74 7#b7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall consult with the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 the ,chief of ,engineers and ,commanding ,general of the ,united ,states ,army ,corps of ,engineers1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 and the ,secretary of ,transportation before awarding a resilience grant to ensure that there is no duplication of assistance with respect to activities carried out with amounts provided from a resilience grant4 7d7 ,matching requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall require each recipient of a resilience grant to supplement the amounts of the grant with an amount of funds from non-,federal sources that is not less than #ej percent of the amount of the resilience grant4 7#b7 ,form of non-,federal share ,supplemental funds provided under paragraph 7#a7 may include any non-monetary1 in-kind contributions in connection with activities carried out under the plan approved under subsection 7e7 for the grant recipient4 7e7 ,application2 selection2 selection criteria2 plans 7#a7 ,applications 7,a7 ,requirement ,the ,secretary shall provide for eligible entities to submit applications for resilience grants4 7,b7 ,plans for use of grant funds ,the ,secretary shall require each application for a resilience grant to include a plan detailing the proposed use of all grant funds1 including how the use of such funds will address long-term resilience of infrastructure and housing4 7#b7 ,review and selection2 criteria for selection 7,a7 ,competition ,resilience grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis and the ,secretary shall establish and utilize a transparent1 reliable1 and valid system for reviewing and evaluating applications for resilience grants1 in accordance with section #ajb of the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development ,reform ,act of #aihi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cede74 7,b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary shall establish1 by notice1 and utilize criteria for selecting applications to be funded under this section1 which shall-- 7i7 be based primarily on a determination of greatest need1 as such term is defined by the ,secretary2 7ii7 provide due consideration to other enumerated factors1 including the ability of the plan for use of grant funds required under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 to increase an applicant's resilience1 and the capacity of the applicant to successfully implement the activities described in such plan2 7iii7 provide that the ,secretary shall consider that an application that includes a plan for use of grant funds that consists of a resilience or mitigation plan previously approved by another ,federal agency1 including a hazard mitigation plan developed under section #cbb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eafe71 shall be sufficient for purposes of paragraph 7#a77;,b7 if1 together with such plan1 the applicant includes a detailed description regarding use of all grant funds provided under this section2 7iv7 give consideration to the need for resilience grants to be awarded to eligible entities in each region of the ,united ,states2 and 7v7 give consideration to applicants whose plans submitted under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 propose innovative approaches to increasing community resilience to extreme weather1 including increasing long-term resilience of infrastructure and housing and economic resilience4 7f7 ,administration2 treatment as ,,cdbg funds ,except as otherwise provided by this ,act1 amounts appropriated1 revenues generated1 or amounts otherwise made available to eligible entities under this section shall be treated as though such funds were community development block grant funds under title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq474 7g7 ,environmental reviews 7#a7 ,assumption of responsibilities 7,a7 ,in general ,in order to ensure that the policies of the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq471 and other provisions of law which further the purposes of such ,act 7as specified in regulations issued by the ,secretary7 are most effectively implemented in connection with the expenditure of funds under this section1 and to assure to the public undiminished protection of the environment1 the ,secretary1 in lieu of the environmental protection procedures otherwise applicable1 may under regulations provide for the release of funds for particular projects to recipients of resilience grants who assume all of the responsibilities for environmental review1 decisionmaking1 and action pursuant to such ,act1 and such other provisions of law as the regulations of the ,secretary specify1 that would apply to the ,secretary were the ,secretary to undertake such projects as ,federal projects4 7,b7 ,consultation ,the ,secretary shall issue regulations to carry out this paragraph only after consultation with the ,council on ,environmental ,quality4 7#b7 ,submission of certification 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall approve the release of funds for projects subject to the procedures authorized by this subsection only if1 at least #ae days prior to such approval and prior to any commitment of funds to such projects other than for purposes authorized by section #aje7;a77#ab7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecje7;a77#ab771 or for environmental studies1 the recipient of a resilience grant has submitted to the ,secretary a request for such release accompanied by a certification which meets the requirements of paragraph 7#c74 7,b7 ,satisfaction of environmental laws ,the ,secretary's approval of any such certification shall be deemed to satisfy the ,secretary's responsibilities under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi and such other provisions of law as the regulations of the ,secretary specify insofar as those responsibilities relate to the releases of funds for projects to be carried out pursuant thereto which are covered by such certification4 7#c7 ,requirements of certification ,a certification under the procedures authorized by this subsection shall-- 7,a7 be in a form acceptable to the ,secretary2 7,b7 be executed by the chief executive officer or other officer of the recipient of a resilience grant who is qualified under regulations of the ,secretary2 7,c7 specify that the recipient of the resilience grant has fully carried out its responsibilities as described under paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection2 and 7,d7 specify that the certifying officer-- 7i7 consents to assume the status of a responsible ,federal official under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi and each provision of law specified in regulations issued by the ,secretary insofar as the provisions of such ,act or other such provision of law apply pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection2 and 7ii7 is authorized and consents on behalf of the recipient of the resilience grant and the certifying office to accept the jurisdiction of the ,federal courts for the purpose of enforcement of his responsibilities as such an official4 7#d7 ,grants to ,states ,in the case of a resilience grant made to a ,state-- 7,a7 the ,state shall perform those actions of the ,secretary described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 the performance of such actions shall be deemed to satisfy the ,secretary's responsibilities referred to in subparagraph 7,b7 of such paragraph4 7#e7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary shall implement this subsection in a manner consistent with the implementation of section #ajd7;g7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;g774 #d4 ,national ,research ,center for ,resilience 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,office of ,policy ,development and ,research1 shall-- 7#a7 select1 on a competitive basis1 a single nonprofit organization having a national reputation for expertise in resilience research and capacity building to develop a ,national ,research ,center for ,resilience2 and 7#b7 subject only to the availability of amounts provided in appropriation ,acts1 make annual grants of amounts made available pursuant to section #g7;b77#a7 for the establishment and operation of the ,national ,center4 7b7 ,activities ,the ,national ,center shall-- 7#a7 collaborate with institutions of higher education as partners to create a best practices sharing network to support the programs and activities carried out with resilience grants2 7#b7 coordinate with any other relevant centers and entities throughout the ,federal ,government on efforts relating to improving community resilience3 7#c7 collect and disseminate research and other information about evidence-based and promising practices related to resilience to inform the efforts of research partners and to support the programs and activities carried out with resilience grants2 7#d7 increase the public's knowledge and understanding of effective practices to improve regional and community resilience throughout the ,united ,states2 and 7#e7 make grants under subsection 7d7 for ,regional ,centers for ,resilience4 7c7 ,dissemination of proven practices ,the ,secretary shall collect information from the ,national ,center regarding its activities and research and shall develop1 manage1 and regularly update an online site to disseminate proven practices for improving community resilience4 7d7 ,grants for ,regional ,centers for ,resilience 7#a7 ,grant program ,the ,national ,center shall carry out a program to make grants to institutions of higher education1 or other non-profit organizations1 having a national reputation to establish a ,regional ,center for ,resilience in each of the #aj regions of the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 as that shall serve as regional research partners with recipients of resilience grants that are located in the same geographic region as such institution1 in collaboration with the ,national ,center4 7#b7 ,support services ,a ,regional ,center for ,resilience receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant amounts to-- 7,a7 provide research support to recipients of resilience grants1 including support services for data collection1 general research1 and analysis to assess the progress of activities carried out with resilience grants2 7,b7 provide technical assistance to prospective applicants for1 and recipients of1 resilience grants2 and 7,c7 collaborate with and share information with the ,national ,center4 #e4 ,annual programs report ,the ,secretary shall annually submit to the ,congress1 and make publicly available1 a report on the programs carried out under this ,act1 which shall evaluate the performance of such programs using the program performance metrics established under ,executive ,order #acegf 7#gf ,fed4 ,reg4 #cebig71 or any subsequent replacement executive order4 #f4 ,,gao reports 7a7 ,access to ,information ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall have access to all information regarding and generated by the programs carried out under this ,act4 7b7 ,reports ,not later than the expiration of the #b-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every two years thereafter1 the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to the ,congress a report analyzing and assessing the performance of the programs carried out under this ,act4 #g4 ,funding 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbb4 7b7 ,allocation ,of any amounts appropriated for each such fiscal year-- 7#a7 #a4j percent shall be available for grants under section #d2 7#b7 #j4a percent shall be available to the ,office of ,community ,planning and ,development for necessary costs1 including information technology costs and salaries and expenses1 of administering and overseeing funds made available for grants under sections #c and #d2 and 7#c7 the remainder shall be available for resilience grants under section #c4