,i  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hehb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,may #ca1 #bjbd,ms4   
,br[nley introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on               
,transportation & ,infra/ructure  ,a    
,,bill  ,to improve ,f$]al disa/]       
managem5t & response = disadvantag$     
communities1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,f$]al ,disa/] ,assi/ance ,improvem5t   
,act4  #b4 ,exp&+ access to decl>ation  
process  7a7 ,major disa/] ,section #dja
 ( ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &
 ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4
 #eagj7 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+3  7d7 ,c\nty reque/s  7#a7 ,9    
g5]al ,! *ief executive (fic] ( an      
affect$ c\nty may submit a reque/ = a   
decl>ation by ! ,presid5t t a major     
disa/] exi/s consi/5t ) ! requirem5ts ( 
subsection 7a7 "u ! foll[+ circum/ances3
 7,a7 ,! ,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate or t]ritory 
9 :i* ! affect$ c\nty is locat$ does n  
reque/ su* a decl>ation4  7,b7 ,!       

affect$ c\nty is n includ$ 9 a reque/ = 
assi/ance made by ! ,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate  
or t]ritory 9 :i* su* c\nty is locat$4  
7,c7 ,! affect$ c\nty communicates ) !  
,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate or t]ritory 9 :i* !  
affect$ c\nty is locat$ ab\t ! disa/] or
 pot5tial reque/ = a major disa/]       
decl>ation be=e ! p]iod describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#b77;,a7 has laps$4  7#b7     
,limitation ,! *ief executive (fic] ( an
 affect$ c\nty may n submit a reque/ = a
 decl>ation by ! ,presid5t t a major    
disa/] exi/s until-- 7,a7 ! p]iod dur+  
:i* ! ,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate or t]ritory 9  
:i* su* c\nty is locat$ may reque/ su* a
 decl>ation has laps$2 or  7,b7 !       
,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate or t]ritory 9 :i* su*
 c\nty is locat$ has communicat$ to !   
*ief executive (fic] ( ! c\nty t !      
,gov]nor w n seek su* a decl>ation f !  
,presid5t4  7#c7 ,ref]5ces ,9 implem5t+ 
assi/ance au?oriz$ by ! ,presid5t "u ?is
 ,act 9 response to a reque/ f ! *ief   
executive (fic] ( an affect$ c\nty = a  
major disa/] decl>ation1 any ref]5ce 9  

?is title or title ,,iii to a ,/ate or !
 ,gov]nor ( a ,/ate is deem$ to ref] to 
an affect$ c\nty or ! *ief executive    
(fic] ( an affect$ c\nty1 z appropriate4
  7#d7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is  
subsection %all prohibit a c\nty f      
receiv+ assi/ance "u ?is title ?r\gh a  
decl>ation made by ! ,presid5t at !     
reque/ ( a ,/ate "u subsection 7a7 if ! 
,presid5t does n make a decl>ation "u   
?is subsection = ! same incid5t4  7#e7  
,def9ition ( c\nty  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ?is
 subsection1 ! t]m c\nty means a c\nty1 
p>ri%1 or equival5t subdivision ( a     
,/ate or ,t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t  
is a unit ( g5]al local gov]nm5t4  7,b7 
,exception ,9 ! ev5t a c\nty is locat$ 9
 a ,/ate :]e #a or m c\nties are n units
 ( g5]al local gov]nm5t1 ! t]m c\nty    
includes ! l>ge/ city1 t[n1 or unit (   
g5]al local gov]nm5t by population 9 an 
area affect$ by a major disa/] on behalf
 ( all affect$ cities1 t[ns1 & o!r local
 units ( g5]al local gov]nm5t4  4  7b7  
,em]g5cy ,section #eja ( ! ,rob]t ,t4   

,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy       
,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaia7 is
 am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7d7  
,c\nty reque/s  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! *ief   
executive (fic] ( an affect$ c\nty may  
submit a reque/ = a decl>ation by !     
,presid5t t an em]g5cy exi/s consi/5t ) 
! requirem5ts ( subsection 7a7 "u !     
foll[+ circum/ances3 7,a7 ,! ,gov]nor ( 
! ,/ate or t]ritory 9 :i* ! affect$     
c\nty is locat$ does n reque/ su* a     
decl>ation4  7,b7 ,! affect$ c\nty is n 
includ$ 9 a reque/ = assi/ance made by !
 ,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate or t]ritory 9 :i*   
su* c\nty is locat$4  7,c7 ,! affect$   
c\nty communicates ) ! ,gov]nor ( !     
,/ate or t]ritory 9 :i* ! affect$ c\nty 
is locat$ ab\t ! em]g5cy or pot5tial    
reque/ = an em]g5cy decl>ation be=e !   
p]iod describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,a7 has 
laps$4  7#b7 ,limitation ,! *ief        
executive (fic] ( an affect$ c\nty may n
 submit a reque/ = a decl>ation by !    
,presid5t t an em]g5cy exi/s until--    
7,a7 ! p]iod dur+ :i* ! ,gov]nor ( !    

,/ate or t]ritory 9 :i* su* c\nty is    
locat$ may reque/ su* a decl>ation has  
laps$2 or  7,b7 ! ,gov]nor ( ! ,/ate or 
t]ritory 9 :i* su* c\nty is locat$ has  
communicat$ to ! *ief executive (fic] ( 
! c\nty t ! ,gov]nor w n seek su* a     
decl>ation f ! ,presid5t4  7#c7         
,ref]5ces ,9 implem5t+ assi/ance        
au?oriz$ by ! ,presid5t "u ?is ,act 9   
response to a reque/ ( ! *ief executive 
(fic] ( an affect$ c\nty = an em]g5cy   
decl>ation1 any ref]5ce 9 ?is title or  
title ,,iii to a ,/ate or ! ,gov]nor ( a
 ,/ate is deem$ to ref] to an affect$   
c\nty or ! *ief executive (fic] ( an    
affect$ c\nty1 z appropriate4  7#d7     
,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is         
subsection %all prohibit a c\nty f      
receiv+ assi/ance "u ?is title ?r\gh a  
decl>ation made by ! ,presid5t at !     
reque/ ( a ,/ate "u subsection 7a7 if ! 
,presid5t does n make a decl>ation "u   
?is subsection = ! same incid5t4  7#e7  
,def9ition ( c\nty  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ?is
 subsection1 ! t]m c\nty means a c\nty1 

p>ri%1 or equival5t subdivision ( a     
,/ate or ,t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t  
is a unit ( g5]al local gov]nm5t4  7,b7 
,exception ,9 ! ev5t a c\nty is locat$ 9
 a ,/ate :]e #a or m c\nties are n units
 ( g5]al local gov]nm5t1 ! t]m c\nty    
includes ! l>ge/ city1 t[n1 or unit (   
g5]al local gov]nm5t by population 9 an 
area affect$ by an em]g5cy on behalf (  
all affect$ cities1 t[ns1 & o!r units ( 
g5]al local gov]nm5t4  4  7c7 ,rulemak+ 
& guidance  7#a7 ,rulemak+  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date (  
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator %all
 issue su* regulations1 aft] provid+    
public notice & opportunity = comm5t1 z 
are necess>y to e/abli% a process to    
implem5t ! am5dm5ts made by ?is section4
  7,b7 ,cont5ts ,! regulations requir$  
"u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include-- 7i7 a
 process by :i* ! *ief executive (fic] (
 a c\nty may-- 7,i7 submit a reque/ = ! 
,adm9i/rator to recomm5d t ! ,presid5t  
make a major disa/] or em]g5cy          
decl>ation = su* c\nty2 &  7,,ii7 ^u    

approval ( su* reque/1 directly receive 
any assi/ance provid$ pursuant to su*   
reque/2  7ii7 9 addition to !           
eligibility factors describ$ "u section 
#bjf4dh ( title #dd1 ,code ( ,f$]al     
,regulations1 eligibility crit]ia = !   
approval ( a reque/ f a c\nty = a major 
disa/] or em]g5cy decl>ation t gives    
consid]ation to-- 7,i7 pov]ty rates )9  
su* c\nty2  7,,ii7 ! economy )9 su*     
c\nty1 includ+ ! economy ( ! area )9 su*
 c\nty t is impact$ by ! disa/] or      
em]g5cy2  7,,iii7 relevant social       
vuln]ability indexes = resid5ts ( su*   
c\nty2  7,,iv7 ! rate ( unemploym5t be=e
 ! disa/] or em]g5cy )9 su* c\nty2  7,v7
 und]s]v$ communities )9 su* c\nty2     
7,,vi7 ! fiscal condition ( ! unit (    
gov]nm5t ) jurisdiction ov] su* c\nty2  
7,,vii7 ! degree to :i* a significant   
proportion ( resid5ts ( su* c\nty       
receiv$ ,f$]al b5efits dur+ ! ye> prec$+
 ! disa/] or em]g5cy1 includ+-- 7aa7    
b5efits provid$ "u ! ,m$icaid program "u
 title ,,xix ( ! ,social ,security ,act 

7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq472  7bb7    
b5efits provid$ "u ! supplem5tal        
nutrition assi/ance program e/abli%$ "u 
! ,food & ,nutrition ,act ( #bjjh 7#g   
,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472  7cc7 b5efits 
provid$ "u ! program ( block grants to  
,/ates = tempor>y assi/ance = ne$y      
families e/abli%$ "u "p ,a ( title ,,iv 
( ! ,social ,security ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq472 &  7dd7 any o!r
 ,f$]al b5efits ! ,adm9i/rator det]m9es 
is appropriate2 &  7,,viii7 ! impact (  
o!r rec5t disa/]s & em]g5cies on        
resid5ts )9 su* c\nty2  7iii7           
eligibility crit]ia = contigu\s c\nties 
locat$ )9 ! same ,/ate or t]ritory to   
seek ,f$]al disa/] assi/ance toge!r2 &  
7iv7 timel9es = a *ief executive (fic] (
 a c\nty to submit su* reque/ &         
opportunities to seek ext5sions1 :]e    
appropriate4  7#b7 ,guidance ,^u issu+ a
 f9al regulation pursuant to p>agraph   
7#a71 ! ,adm9i/rator %all issue guidance
 reg>d+ su* regulation1 includ+         
publiciz+ & provid+ guidance directly to

 c\nties ab\t ! process by :i* ! *ief   
executive (fic] ( a c\nty may submit a  
reque/ = ! decl>ation ( a major disa/]  
or em]g5cy4  #c4 ,monitor+ & analysis ( 
c]ta9 ev5ts n decl>$ z major disa/] or  
em]g5cy ,title ,,iii ( ! ,rob]t ,t4     
,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy       
,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eada et 
seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !       
foll[+3  #cbh4 ,monitor+ & analysis (   
c]ta9 ev5ts n decl>$ z major disa/] or  
em]g5cy  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,adm9i/rator ( 
! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t            
,adm9i/ration %all monitor & analyze    
ev5ts t-- 7#a7 significantly impact     
und]s]v$ communities2 &  7#b7 w\ld be   
eligible to be decl>$ by ! ,presid5t z a
 major disa/] or em]g5cy "u ?is ,act    
except t ! ,gov]nor or head ( an ,indian
 tribe ) jurisdiction ov] ! area 9 :i* !
 ev5t occurr$ did n reque/ ! decl>ation 
( a major disa/] or em]g5cy pursuant to 
?is ,act4  7b7 ,def9ition ( und]s]v$    
community ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m und]s]v$
 community means a geographically di/9ct

 area ) a population t-- 7#a7 has limit$
 or no access to res\rces or are o!rwise
 dis5fran*is$2 &  7#b7 may include      
individuals :o are-- 7,a7               
socioeconomically disadvantag$2  7,b7 h 
limit$ ,engli% language pr(ici5cy2  7,c7
 geographically isolat$ or educationally
 dis5fran*is$2  7,d7 p ( color2  7,e7 ( 
e?nic & national orig9 m9orities2  7,f7 
wom5 & *ildr52  7,g7 individuals )      
disabilities & o!rs ) access &          
functional ne$s2 &  7,h7 s5iors4  4  #d4
 ,quantitative measures 9 evaluations = 
,f$]al assi/ance ,! ,adm9i/rator ( !    
,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,adm9i/ration
 %all issue su* regulations z are       
necess>y to require additional          
quantitative measures 7includ+ tak+ into
 acc\nt vuln]able populations1 l[-income
 communities1 unemploym5t1 lack (       
insurance1 & o!r factors det]m9$        
appropriate by ! ,adm9i/rator7 9 !      
evaluation ( reque/s = ,f$]al assi/ance 
by ,/ates & local communities foll[+ a  
decl>ation ( a major disa/] or em]g5cy  

"u ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &
 ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4
 #eaba et seq471 includ+-- 7#a7 9       
evaluat+ ! ne$ = assi/ance to vuln]able 
populations & l[-income communities2 &  
7#b7 ! effects ( unemploym5t1 lack (    
insurance1 & o!r factors t necess>y to  
assess ! ability ( vuln]able &          
disadvantag$ communities' ability to    
recov] f a major disa/] or em]g5cy4  #e4
 ,consid]ation ( impacts to vuln]able & 
disadvantag$ communities ,title ,,iii ( 
! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &   
,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#eada et seq47 is fur!r am5d$ by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+3  #cbi4 ,consid]ation ( 
impacts to vuln]able & disadvantag$     
communities ,9 provid+ assi/ance "u ?is 
,act 9 response to a major disa/] or    
em]g5cy1 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,f$]al      
,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,adm9i/ration %all  
consid] highly localiz$ impacts ( !     
major disa/] or em]g5cy on und]s]v$     
communities 7z def9$ 9 section #cbh7 t  
impact ! ability ( su* vuln]able &      

disadvantag$ communities to recov] f !  
major disa/] or em]g5cy4  4  #f4 ,review
 ( equity-relat$ consid]ations =        
provision ( ,,fema public assi/ance or  
individual assi/ance ,n lat] ?an #f     
mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy     
,managem5t ,adm9i/ration %all-- 7#a7    
review an regulations cov]+ public      
assi/ance or individual assi/ance       
provid$ "u ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/]  
,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq47 to ensure t !  
evaluation = provid+ su* public         
assi/ance or individual assi/ance       
evaluation includes suffici5t           
equity-relat$ consid]ations1 includ+    
consid]ations relat$ to income1         
unemploym5t1 & ! pov]ty level2 &  7#b7  
evaluate ! pot5tial effect ( apply+     
great] weight to equity-relat$          
consid]ations 9 provid+ su* public      
assi/ance or individual assi/ance4  #g4 
,adm9i/rator recomm5dation ( decl>ation 
( major disa/]  7a7 ,major disa/]       

,section #dja7;a7 ( ! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d 
,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy ,assi/ance   
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7;a77 is am5d$ 
by /rik+ ,bas$ on ! reque/ ( a ,gov]nor 
"u ?is section1 & ins]t+ ,) respect to a
 reque/ = a decl>ation by ! ,presid5t "u
 ?is section1 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,f$]al 
,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,adm9i/ration %all  
id5tify ! m9imum data & in=mation       
requir$ to evaluate a decl>ation reque/1
 reque/ & receive su* in=mation f !     
,/ate1 & provide a recomm5dation z to   
:e!r to decl>e a major disa/] to !      
,presid5t4 ,bas$ on ! reque/ ( a        
,gov]nor "u ?is section & !             
recomm5dation ( ! ,adm9i/rator14  7b7   
,em]g5cy decl>ation ,section #eja7;a7 ( 
! ,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &   
,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#eaia7;a77 is am5d$ by /rik+ ,bas$ ^u   
su* ,gov]nor's reque/1 & ins]t+ ,)      
respect to a reque/ = a decl>ation by ! 
,presid5t "u ?is section1 ! ,adm9i/rator
 ( ! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t         
,adm9i/ration %all id5tify ! m9imum data

 & in=mation requir$ to evaluate a      
decl>ation reque/1 reque/ & receive su* 
in=mation f ! ,/ate1 & provide a        
recomm5dation z to :e!r to decl>e an    
em]g5cy to ! ,presid5t4 ,bas$ ^u su*    
,gov]nor's reque/ & ! recomm5dation ( ! 
,adm9i/rator14  #h4 ,conditions necess>y
 = und]s]v$ communities to submit       
simplifi$ decl>ation reque/  7a7        
,revision ( regulations ,n lat] ?an #f  
mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,f$]al ,em]g5cy     
,managem5t ,adm9i/ration %all-- 7#a7    
e/abli% a simplifi$ me?od = reque/+ a   
major disa/] decl>ation "u ! ,rob]t ,t4 
,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief & ,em]g5cy       
,assi/ance ,act decl>ation submission2 &
  7#b7 revise su* regulations z are     
necess>y to id5tify conditions und]s]v$ 
communities1 z def9$ 9 section #cbh ( ! 
,rob]t ,t4 ,/af=d ,disa/] ,relief &     
,em]g5cy ,assi/ance ,act1 ne$ to meet to
 be appropriate = ! simplifi$ me?od "u  
p>agraph 7#a74  7b7 ,consid]ation       
,pot5tial consid]ations c\ld relate to  

community population size1 population   
demographics1 :e!r ! community is an    
und]s]v$ community1 or ! f9ancial &_/or 
/aff capacity ( ! affect$ community4