S. 4654 — Reported in Senate

II Calendar No. 550 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4654 [Report No. 118–237] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 10, 2024Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs November 12, 2024Reported by Mr. Peters, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request fire management assistance declarations and grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act. 2. Indian tribal government eligibility (a) In general Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting , Indian tribal government, before or local government; (2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Procedure for request The Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government affected by a fire described in subsection (a) may directly submit a request to authorize assistance under this section. ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (g) Savings provision Nothing in this section shall prohibit an Indian tribal government from receiving assistance under this section pursuant to an authorization made at the request of a State under subsection (b) if assistance is not authorized under this section for the same incident based on a request by the Indian tribal government under subsection (b). . (b) Regulations (1) Fire management assistance declaration defined In this subsection, the term fire management assistance declaration means a declaration approved under section 204.21(a) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations. (2) Update Not later than 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall issue regulations updating part 204 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a). (3) Contents In issuing the regulations required under paragraph (2), the President shall— (A) authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to directly receive a request for a fire management assistance declaration from an Indian tribal government and directly provide related grants and resources to Indian tribal governments; (B) clarify that Indian tribal governments for which the President does not grant a request described in subparagraph (A) remain eligible to receive assistance under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) through assistance granted under a fire management assistance declaration made at the request of a State; (C) consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments; and (D) enter into government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding the regulations. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act. 2. Indian tribal government eligibility (a) In general Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting , Indian tribal government, before or local government; (2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Procedure for request The Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government affected by a fire described in subsection (a) may directly submit a request to authorize assistance under this section. ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (g) Savings provision Nothing in this section shall prohibit an Indian tribal government from receiving assistance under this section pursuant to an authorization made at the request of a State under subsection (b) if assistance is not authorized under this section for the same incident based on a request by the Indian tribal government under subsection (b). . (b) Regulations (1) Fire management assistance declaration defined In this subsection, the term fire management assistance declaration means a declaration approved under section 204.21(a) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations. (2) Update Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall issue regulations updating part 204 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a). (3) Contents In issuing the regulations required under paragraph (2), the President shall— (A) authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to directly receive a request for a fire management assistance declaration from an Indian tribal government and directly provide related grants and resources to Indian tribal governments; (B) clarify that Indian tribal governments for which the President does not grant a request described in subparagraph (A) remain eligible to receive assistance under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) through assistance granted under a fire management assistance declaration made at the request of a State; (C) consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments; and (D) enter into government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding the regulations. November 12, 2024Reported with an amendment