,i #aah? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fefg ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,decemb] #a1 #bjbc,ms4 ,velzquez 7= h]self1 ,ms4 ,b>ragn1 ,mr4 ,torres ( ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,sablan1 ,mr4 ,v>gas1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,m5g1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mr4 ,gre5 ( ,texas1 ,mr4 ,goldman ( ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,cl>ke ( ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,ocasio-,cortez1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,mrs4 ,gonzlez-,coln1 & ,ms4 ,plaskett7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure ,a ,,bill ,to require ! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,ag5cy to e/abli% a ,t]ritorial ,disa/] ,recov]y ,program to cont9u\sly id5tify1 monitor1 & address factors & capability gaps t h9d] ! execution & completion ( recov]y activities relat+ to major disa/]s by eligible entities locat$ 9 ! t]ritories ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,/r5g!n+ ,capacity = ,disa/] ,resili5t ,t]ritories ,act4 #b4 ,f9d+s & purpose 7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories are p>ticul>ly vuln]able to extreme wea!r ev5ts1 :i* h become m frequ5t & /rong] 9 rec5t ye>s4 7#b7 ,category-#e ,hurricane ,m>a1 :i* made its l&fall 9 ,pu]to ,rico on ,septemb] #bj?1 #bjag1 is consid]$ to be ! second deadlie/ /orm record$ 9 ,unit$ ,/ates hi/ory4 7#c7 ,category-#e ,hurricane ,irma1 :i* /ruck ! ,u4,s4 ,virg9 ,isl&s & ,pu]to ,rico on ,septemb] #f?1 #bjag1 is consid]$ to be ! second-mo/ int5se tropical cyclone worldwide 9 #bjag4 7#d7 ,typhoon ,maw>1 :i* /ruck ,guam on ,may #ai?1 #bjbc1 & ! s\? ( ,rota1 ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s on ,may #bd?1 #bjbc1 is consid]$ to be ! /ronge/ to hit ,guam s9ce #bjjb4 7#e7 ,sup] ,typhoon ,yutu1 :i* /ruck ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s on ,octob] #bd?1 #bjah1 is consid]$ to be ! /ronge/ typhoon record$ to impact ! ,m>iana ,isl&s4 7#f7 ,hurricane ,fiona made its l&fall z a ,category-#a ,hurricane 9 ,pu]to ,rico on ,septemb] #ah?1 #bjbb1 caus+ sev]e flood+ & comp\nd+ ! damage left by ,hurricanes ,irma & ,m>a4 7#g7 ,a major disa/] decl>ation 0 issu$ = ! t]ritory ( ,am]ican ,samoa on ,septemb] #af?1 #bjbb1 due to high surf1 high w9ds1 & flood+4 7#h7 ,ris+ sea levels1 caus$ by ocean w>m+1 contribute to ! increas$ frequ5cy & int5sity ( hurricanes1 & ! fragile condition ( coa/al environm5ts 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories4 ,?is translates to disrupt$ economic activity1 su* z t\rism1 agriculture & fi%+1 damag$ dwell+s1 & limit$ dr9k+ wat] supplies4 7#i7 ,! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,ag5cy 7h]e9aft] ref]r$ to z ,,fema7 has obligat$ significant am\nts ( fund+ to address multiple natural disa/]s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories4 7#aj7 ,z ( ,octob] #bjbc1 ,,fema _h obligat$ an e/imat$ #dj1ihj1jjj1jjj 9 ,public ,assi/ance1 ,haz>d ,mitigation1 ,p[] ,recon/ruction & ,p]man5t ,"w to address damages caus$ by ,hurricane ,m>a 9 ,pu]to ,rico4 ,9 addition1 z ( ,septemb] #bjbc1 ,,fema _h obligat$ an e/imat$ #cbh1jjj1jjj 9 ,public ,assi/ance to address damages caus$ by ,hurricane ,fiona 9 ,pu]to ,rico4 7#aa7 ,z ( ,april #bjbc1 ,,fema _h obligat$ an e/imat$ #b1ijj1jjj1jjj 9 ,public ,assi/ance & ,haz>d ,mitigation to address damages caus$ by ,hurricane ,m>a 9 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s4 ,9 addition1 z ( ,decemb] #bjbb1 ,,fema _h obligat$ an e/imat$ #hi1jjj1jjj 9 ,public ,assi/ance & ,haz>d ,mitigation to address damages caus$ by ,hurricane ,irma 9 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s4 7#ab7 ,aft] ! passage ( ,typhoon ,mangkhut & ,sup] ,typhoon ,yutu 9 ,guam & ! ,nor!n ,m>iana ,isl&s1 ,,fema obligat$ a total ( #fgg1bjj1jjj betwe5 #bjah & #bjbj to aid response & recov]y ef=ts relat$ to bo? disa/]s4 7#ac7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories h simil> vuln]abilities t result 9 long & difficult recov]y processes4 7#ad7 ,! economies ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories dep5d heavily on t\rism to create rev5ue4 ,su* dep5d5cy und]m9es disa/] resili5cy1 giv5 ! indu/ry's susceptibility to ext]nal %ocks1 su* z atmosph]ic conditions1 f9ancial crises1 & global p&emics4 ,any ( ?is ph5om5on c r$uce ! numb] ( visitors & trigg] ! closure ( bus9esses & lay-(fs4 7#ae7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories /ruggle ) high levels ( public debt1 :i* impact _! ability to provide ca% advances to initiate disa/] recov]y projects4 ,notably-- 7,a7 ,pu]to ,rico is 9 ! mid/ ( debt re/ructur+ proce$+s t1 z ( #bjbc1 h r$uc$ ,pu]to ,rico's public debt f ov] #gj billion to #cg billion & p5sion liabilities f #ee billion to #g billion2 7,b7 z ( #bjai1 ,virg9 ,isl&s' public debt /ood at #b1fjj1jjj1jjj1 repres5t+ #fe p]c5t ( its ,gross ,dome/ic ,product2 & 7,c7 z ( #bjba1 ,guam's public debt /ood at #b1fjj1jjj1jjj1 repres5t+ #dc p]c5t ( its ,gross ,dome/ic ,product4 7#af7 ,! physical infra/ructure ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories1 includ+ electricity grids & wat] plants1 is outdat$1 & has lack$ appropriate ma9t5ance & h>d5+4 7#ag7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories face h\s+ af=dability & availability *all5ges t impact _! ability to absorb ! influx ( ! recov]y work=ce aft] a disa/] occurs4 7#ah7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories are situat$ 9 remote locations1 :i* results 9 high] import co/s1 significant delays 9 ! %ipp+ & transportation ( con/ruction mat]ials necess>y to c>ry out recov]y projects1 & b>ri]s = /aff seek+ to travel to ! cont95tal ,unit$ ,/ates to receive recov]y tra9+4 7#ai7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories h limit$ specializ$ /aff to adequately navigate & manage recov]y programs1 includ+ develop+ projects = obligation1 us+ ,public ,assi/ance to cov] adm9i/rative & manag]ial co/s1 & procur+ goods & s]vices accord+ to ,f$]al /&>ds4 7#bj7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories hurdle to f9d & procure specializ$ p]sonnel to advance recov]y ef=ts1 su* z eng9e]s & con/ruction contractors1 giv5 ! high dem& = ^! pr(essionals by public ag5cies & l>ge corporations 9 ! aft]ma? ( disa/]s4 7#ba7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories /ruggle ) dang]\s demographic patt]ns t exac]bate social1 f9ancial1 & economic fragilities4 ,f #bjaj to #bjbj1 ! populations ( ! t]ritories %runk1 & at a fa/] pace ?an any o!r cont95tal /ate4 ,9 su* p]iod1 ,pu]to ,rico's population 0 r$uc$ by #aa4h p]c5t1 ,u4,s4 ,virg9 ,isl&s' population by #ah4a p]c5t1 ,nor!n ,m>iana ,isl&s' population by #ab4b p]c5t1 ,am]ican ,samoa's population by #aj4e p]c5t1 & ,guam's population by #c4e p]c5t4 ,additionally1 ! isl&s are exp]i5c+ l[] bir?rates & high] dea? rates4 7#bb7 ,! po/al addresses us$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories h n be5 recogniz$ & regi/]$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al ,s]vice1 :i* c result 9 additional ob/acles = recov]y1 prim>ily = individuals & h\seholds seek+ to obta9 ,,fema assi/ance4 7#bc7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories h endur$ consecutive major disa/]s1 :i* has made x m difficult = ,,fema to correctly assess rec5t & old] damages1 & !re=e obligate fund+ = ,public ,assi/ance projects4 7#bd7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritories encompass a v>iety ( languages1 political s5sitivities1 & cultural diff]5ces t ,f$]al au?orities l ,,fema h n traditionally consid]$1 !reby impact+ ! t]ritories' full & equal p>ticipation 9 ,f$]al disa/] recov]y programs4 7b7 ,/atem5t ( purpose ,x is ! purpose ( ?is ,act to e/abli% a program )9 ,,fema to cont9u\sly id5tify1 monitor1 & address factors & capability gaps t h9d] ! execution & completion ( recov]y activities by eligible entities locat$ 9 ! t]ritories ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates "u sections #djc1 #djd1 #djf1 #djg1 & #ejb ( ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq474 #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,adm9i/rator ,! t]m ,adm9i/rator means ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,ag5cy4 7#b7 ,community ,! t]m community means a network ( individuals & families1 bus9esses1 gov]nm5tal & nongov]nm5tal organizations1 & o!r civic organizations t reside or op]ate )9 a %>$ geographical b\nd>y & may be repres5t$ by a common political lead]%ip at a regional1 c\nty1 municipal1 or neighborhood level4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,! t]m eligible entity means an entity eligible = a grant "u section #djc1 #djd1 #djf1 #djg1 or #ejb ( ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#eaba ,u4,s4,c4 et seq474 7#d7 ,recov]y ,! t]m recov]y means ! capabilities & actions necess>y to recov] effectively f a major disa/] decl>$ "u ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq471 includ+-- 7,a7 rebuild+ infra/ructure sy/ems2 7,b7 provid+ adequate int]im & long-t]m h\s+ = individuals impact$ by su* incid5t2 7,c7 re/or+ heal?1 social1 & community s]vices2 7,d7 promot+ economic developm5t2 & 7,e7 re/or+ natural & cultural res\rces4 7#e7 ,t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,! t]m t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates means ,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!n ,m>iana ,isl&s1 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico1 ,guam1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s1 & any o!r t]ritory or possession ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 #d4 ,t]ritorial ,disa/] ,recov]y ,program 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all e/abli% a ,t]ritorial ,disa/] ,recov]y ,program 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,program7 to cont9u\sly id5tify1 monitor1 & address factors & capability gaps ( local em]g5cy manag]s1 or o!r applicable em]g5cy response coord9ators1 & eligible entities locat$ 9 ! t]ritories ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 c>ry+ out recov]y activities relat+ to major disa/]s decl>$ "u ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq474 7b7 ,duties ,9 c>ry+ out ! ,program1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all-- 7#a7 n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & e #b ye>s !reaft]1 id5tify & analyze gaps 9 id5tify+1 apply+ & receiv+ assi/ance1 & c>ry+ out recov]y activities describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 t are specific to eligible entities locat$ 9 ! t]ritories ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#b7 provide te*nical assi/ance to ! entities describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 9 apply+ = grants "u sections #djc1 #djd1 #djf1 #djg1 & #ejb ( su* ,act t-- 7,a7 is tailor$ to meet ! ne$s ( applicants at ea* /age ( ! adm9i/ration ( projects = :i* grants are made "u su* sections2 & 7,b7 takes into acc\nt ! *all5ges (-- 7i7 applicants :o are locat$ 9 remote or difficult-to-access areas2 7ii7 applicants :o are "p ( a m9ority cultural gr\p2 7iii7 applicants ) limit$ ,engli% language pr(ici5cy2 & 7iv7 applicants ) sl[ int]net spe$s or limit$ broadb& access2 7#c7 design onl9e & 9-p]son tra9+ c\rses t are specific to ! entities describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 & t address ! capability gaps id5tifi$ "u ?is section2 7#d7 develop be/ practices reg>d+ ! adm9i/ration ( projects 9 ! t]ritories ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = :i* grants are made "u sections #djc1 #djd1 #djf1 #djg1 & #ejb ( su* ,act2 7#e7 develop fe$back me*anisms = entities receiv+ te*nical assi/ance or tra9+ "u ?is section2 & 7#f7 fo/] mean+ful collaboration ) local exp]ts1 community lead]s1 & o!r memb]s ( ! community1 t leads to ! p]=mance ( activities "u ?is section t are locally in=m$ & relevant to local ne$s4 7c7 ,report to ,congress 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & e #b ye>s !reaft] = ! duration ( ! ,program1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all submit to ! ,committee on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure & ! ,committee on ,homel& ,security ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,committee on ,homel& ,security & ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate a report on-- 7,a7 any capability gaps id5tifi$ "u subsection 7b77#a72 7,b7 ! nature ( any te*nical assi/ance provid$ "u ! ,program2 7,c7 any onl9e or 9-p]son tra9+ c\rses develop$1 or plann$ to be develop$ "u ! ,program2 7,d7 any be/ practices id5tifi$ "u subsection 7b77#d72 & 7,e7 an analysis (1 responses to1 & any activities c>ri$ out z a result ( fe$back receiv$ by applicants = assi/ance "u ! ,program & entities receiv+ su* assi/ance4 7#b7 ,f9al report ,9 ! report requir$ to be submitt$ 9 ! f9al ye> = :i* ! ,program is au?oriz$1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all include recomm5dations on-- 7,a7 :e!r to cont9ue ! ,program2 7,b7 if a cont9uation ( ! program is recomm5d$1 ! sugge/$ duration ( su* cont9uation2 & 7,c7 ! necess>y fund+ to c>ry out ! ,program4 7d7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section #ej1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbd ?r\gh #bjbh4