,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hcjj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #g1 #bjbb,mr4 ,blumenauer 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 issue guidance on extreme temperature events and resilience goals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,empowering ,resilient ,local ,communities ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,section #bjc of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eacc7 is amended-- 7#a7 by amending subsection 7a7 to read as follows3 7a7 ,definition of underserved community ,in this section1 the term underserved community means a community1 or a neighborhood within a community1 that-- 7#a7 is classified as high risk according to census tract risk ratings derived from a product that-- 7,a7 is maintained under a natural hazard assessment program2 7,b7 is available to the public2 7,c7 defines natural hazard risk across the ,united ,states2 7,d7 reflects high levels of individual hazard risk ratings2 7,e7 reflects high social vulnerability ratings and low community resilience ratings2 7,f7 reflects the principal natural hazard risks identified for the respective census tracts2 and 7,g7 any other elements determined by the ,president2 7#b7 is comprised of #ej1jjj or fewer individuals and is economically disadvantaged1 as determined by the ,state in which the community is located and based on criteria established by the ,president2 or 7#c7 is otherwise determined by the ,president based on factors including1 high housing cost burden and substandard housing1 percentage of homeless population1 limited water and sanitation access1 demographic information such as race1 age1 and disability1 language composition1 transportation access or type1 disproportionate environmental stressor burden1 and disproportionate impacts from climate change4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7g77#i7 by striking small impoverished communities and inserting underserved communities2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7h77#b7-- 7,a7 in the heading by striking ,small impoverished communities and inserting ,underserved communities2 and 7,b7 by striking small impoverished community and inserting underserved community4 #c4 ,guidance on extreme temperature events ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,administration shall issue guidance related to extreme temperature events1 including heat waves and freezes1 and publish such guidance in the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,administration ,public ,assistance ,program and ,policy ,guide4 #d4 ,hazard mitigation plans ,section #cbb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eafe7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7 by striking the period at the end and inserting 1 including-- 7#a7 identifying the extent to which resilience is or will be incorporated into other planning processes1 including community land use1 economic development1 capital improvement budgets and transportation planning processes2 7#b7 goals and objectives related to increasing resilience over a #e-year period1 including benchmarks for future work and an assessment of past progress2 7#c7 the building codes in existence at the time the plan is submitted and standards that are in use by the ,state for all manner of planning or development purposes and how the ,state has or will comply with the standards set forth in section #djf7;e77#a77;,a72 7#d7 the use of nature-based solutions or other mitigation activities that conserve or restore natural features that can serve to abate or lessen the impacts of future disasters2 7#e7 integration of each local mitigation plan with the ,state1 ,indian ,tribe1 or territory plan2 and 7#f7 the disparate impacts on underserved communities 7as such term is defined in section #bjc7;a77 and plans to address any disparities4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,guidance ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall issue specific guidance on resilience goals and provide technical assistance for ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 territories1 and local governments to meet such goals4 7g7 ,adequate staffing ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency shall ensure that ample staff are available to develop the guidance and technical assistance under section #cbb1 including hazard mitigation planning staff and personnel with expertise in community planning1 land use development1 and consensus based codes and hazard resistant designs at each regional office that specifically focus on providing financial and non-financial direct technical assistance to ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 and territories4 7h7 ,reporting ,not less frequently than every #e years1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report on the progress of meeting the goals under this section4 4 #e4 ,additional uses of funds ,section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagd7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7k7 ,additional uses of funds ,for ,state and local governments that have exceeded1 adopted1 or are implementing the latest two published editions of relevant consensus-based codes1 specifications1 and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design1 construction1 and maintenance of residential structures and facilities1 a recipient of assistance provided under this paragraph may use such assistance in a manner consistent with the standards set forth in clauses 7ii7 and 7iii7 of section #djf7;e77#a77;,a74 4 #f4 ,collaboration with other agencies ,in awarding grants under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq471 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency may coordinate with other relevant agencies1 including the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,department of ,energy1 the ,department of ,transportation1 the ,corps of ,engineers1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 and the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 as necessary1 to improve collaboration for eligible activities under the ,act4 #g4 ,,gao reports 7a7 ,extreme temperature events ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall evaluate and issue to ,congress and the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency a report regarding the impacts of extreme temperatures events on communities1 the challenges posed to the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency in addressing extreme temperature events1 and recommendations for the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency to better provide assistance to communities experiencing extreme temperature events4 ,the report may also include examples of specific mitigation and resilience projects that communities may undertake1 and the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency may consider1 to reduce the impacts of extreme temperatures on and within building structures1 participatory processes that allow for public engagement in determining and addressing local risks and vulnerabilities related to extreme temperatures events1 and community infrastructure1 including heating or cooling shelters4 7b7 ,smoke and indoor air quality ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,comptroller ,general shall evaluate and issue to ,congress and the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency a report regarding the impacts of wildfire smoke and poor indoor air quality1 the challenges posed to ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency in addressing wildfire smoke and indoor air quality1 and recommendations for the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency to better provide assistance to communities and individuals in dealing with wildfire smoke and indoor air quality4 #h4 ,report ,congress and update of cost effectiveness determinations and declarations 7a7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 in coordination with the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 shall submit to ,congress a report regarding the challenges posed by the ,agency's requirements for declaring an incident or determining the cost effectiveness of mitigation activities and specifically how such requirements may disproportionately burden small impoverished communities1 or specific vulnerable populations within communities4 7b7 ,update of cost effectiveness determination ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 to the extent practicable1 shall update the requirements for determining cost effectiveness and declaring incidents1 including selection of appropriate interest rates1 based on the findings made under subsection 7a74