H.R. 5175 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5175 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 8, 2023 Mr. Schiff (for himself, Ms. Titus, Mr. Mast, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. García of Illinois, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Carson, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Ross, and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a pilot grant program for mobile pet shelters during emergencies and major disasters. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Providing Essential Temporary Shelter Assistance For Emergencies Act of 2023 or the PETSAFE Act of 2023. 2. Definitions In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2) Emergency The term emergency means an emergency declared by the President under title V of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191 et seq.). (3) Major disaster The term major disaster means a major disaster declared by the President under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.). (4) Common household pet The term common household pet means an animal, including a dog, cat, bird, rodent, rabbit, or turtle, that is kept in the home as a companion animal rather than for commercial purposes. 3. Pilot program (a) In general The President, acting through the Administrator, in coordination with State, local, and Tribal governments, shall establish and conduct a pilot program to provide grants for equipping mobile pet shelter sites for use during emergencies and major disasters. (b) Administration (1) In general For the purposes of the pilot program under this section, the Administrator may provide funds to State, local, and Tribal governments to establish a new pet shelter site that is a mobile unit, which may be a companion animal mobile equipment trailer, to be used in the case of evacuation due to emergencies and major disasters. (2) Duties The duties of such mobile unit shall be to— (A) provide— (i) immediate and temporary shelter to common household pets in the case of government directed or ordered evacuation at embarkation sites in the impacted jurisdiction or shelters or reception sites within the impacted jurisdiction or a host jurisdiction; or (ii) provide safe transport of common household pets that require shelter during evacuations and relocate pets to a safe location; and (B) facilitate the reunification of common household pets, including return transport, if necessary, with the owners of such pets not later than 3 weeks after all evacuation warnings are lifted and disaster-caused congregate shelters operation transition and close. (3) Report (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the pilot program. (B) Contents The Administrator shall include in the report required under subparagraph (A)— (i) an assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot program under this section, including consultation with State, local, and Tribal governments and private nonprofit organizations with responsibility for care and sheltering of household pets; (ii) an assessment of cost savings to State, local, and Tribal governments and any benefits to individuals and households who housed a common household pet with a mobile shelter under the pilot program; (iii) findings and conclusions of the Administrator with respect to the pilot program; (iv) an assessment of additional authorities needed to aid the Agency in its mission of providing disaster assistance to individuals and households with pets, either under the pilot program under this section or other potential programs; and (v) any recommendations of the Administrator for additional authority to continue or make permanent the pilot program. 4. Pilot program project approval The authority of the Administrator to approve a project under this section shall cease on January 1, 2029.