,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hjga ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #ah1 #bjbj,mr4 ,mc,nerney introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency to establish an emergency flood activity pilot program to assist flood response efforts in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,emergency ,flood ,response ,act4 #b4 ,emergency ,flood ,activity ,pilot ,program 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall establish and carry out a pilot program to assist flood response efforts at ,state and ,federal regional levels in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure4 7b7 ,grants ,in carrying out the pilot program established under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator may award grants to not more than #aj eligible entities to-- 7#a7 establish or maintain a flood emergency fund to be used for emergency flood activities described in subsection 7f72 and 7#b7 ensure a unified command system organizational framework for such activities4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require1 including the following3 7#a7 ,a plan describing the emergency flood activities for which the funds may be used as well as the levee safety plan that contains the unified command system that would carry out such activities4 7#b7 ,a scope of work and tasks1 project timeline1 budget1 and ongoing post-grant management plan4 7#c7 ,information regarding what entity maintains the flood emergency fund4 7#d7 ,a description of non-,federal contributions to the flood emergency fund4 7#e7 ,a description of how such plan will benefit the community1 environment1 and economy of the participating region within the legal boundaries of the applicant4 7#f7 ,mechanisms for long-term replenishment of the flood emergency fund and a description of what percentage of the fund will be used-- 7,a7 to support ongoing administrative project maintenance2 and 7,b7 for the unified command system that would use and apply the fund in a flood emergency or post-flood recovery4 7d7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity1 in cooperation with appropriate local1 ,state1 and ,federal agencies1 shall establish criteria and procedures for use of the entity's flood emergency fund in a flood emergency4 7e7 ,selection 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall award grants under subsection 7b7 on a competitive basis4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under subsection 7b71 the ,administrator shall prioritize applications-- 7,a7 from eligible entities that represent a geographically diverse cross-section of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 that include opportunities to build on existing ,federal and non-,federal flood relief efforts2 7,c7 from eligible entities that have a flood safety plan approved by a levee maintaining agency2 and 7,d7 from eligible entities that have a local mitigation plan regarding hazard mitigation approved by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7f7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,funds awarded under this section may be used in the case of a flood for emergency flood activities1 including planning and preparing to perform emergency flood activities1 and to support ongoing administrative project maintenance4 ,emergency flood activities include prompt emergency action to-- 7,a7 prevent levee failure2 7,b7 close levee breaks2 7,c7 make relief cuts and dewater flooded areas2 and 7,d7 otherwise physically limit the extent1 depth1 and duration of flood waters in the event of a levee failure4 7#b7 ,limitation on use of funds ,funds awarded under this section may not be used if-- 7,a7 the emergency flood activity is required by law to be performed by the ,corps of ,engineers2 and 7,b7 the ,corps of ,engineers immediately exercises its authority to perform such activity4 7#c7 ,additional guidelines ,the ,administrator1 in consultation with the ,corps of ,engineers1 shall establish any additional guidelines for the use of funds awarded under this section4 7g7 ,reimbursement of expenditures ,as a condition of a grant awarded to an eligible entity under subsection 7b71 the ,administrator shall ensure that1 following an expenditure of funds from the entity's flood emergency fund1 the entity will-- 7#a7 seek all available ,state and ,federal disaster assistance reimbursements for such expenditures2 and 7#b7 deposit the reimbursements in the flood emergency fund4 7h7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of a flood emergency activity carried out using grant funds made available under this section may not exceed #ej percent of the cost of such activity4 7i7 ,annual report to ,congress ,the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress an annual report on the progress and outcomes of the pilot program established under this section4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a ,state local levee maintaining agency or unit of local government that-- 7,a7 is responsible for emergency flood response efforts2 and 7,b7 maintains and operates a flood emergency fund4 7#b7 ,flood emergency fund ,the term flood emergency fund means a fund established1 maintained1 and operated by a levee maintaining agency or a local designated coordinating agency1 including the maintenance of the accounting of all ,federal and non-,federal funds and derivation of such funds4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj to remain available until expended4