What This Bill Does
This bill modifies how the federal government helps pay for fire management and firefighting assistance. It increases the federal government's share of costs and allows states, local governments and tribal governments to use assistance money for predeploying (positioning resources before a fire starts) equipment and resources.
Who It Affects
State governments, local governments and tribal governments that receive fire management assistance funding.
Key Provisions
• The federal government will pay at least 75 percent of the eligible costs for fire management assistance, with states, local governments or tribal governments paying the remaining share (Sec. 2)
• States and local governments can use assistance funds for predeployment of assets and resources (Sec. 2)
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency must create rules within 3 years to provide criteria for when the federal cost share might be increased (Sec. 3)
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency must update its grants policy to allow states, local governments and tribal governments to get reimbursed for predeployment of domestic assets (Sec. 4)
What Changes
The federal government will cover at least 75 percent of fire management assistance costs instead of a lower percentage. States, local governments and tribal governments can now spend assistance money on positioning fire-fighting equipment before fires happen.
Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
Effective Date
The cost share changes apply only to money given out on or after the date this law is enacted. Not specified in bill text for other provisions.
II
Calendar No. 74
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 479
[Report No. 118–30]
To modify the fire management assistance cost share, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. ROSEN, Mr.
LUJA´N, and Mr. HEINRICH) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs
MAY 16, 2023
Reported by Mr. PETERS, with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
A BILL
To modify the fire management assistance cost share, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fire Suppression and
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Response Funding Assurance Act’’.
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•S 479 RS
SEC. 2. FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COST SHARE AND
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ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 420 of the Robert T.
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Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
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(42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended—
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(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
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section (g) (f); and
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(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
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lowing:
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‘‘(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of assist-
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ance under this section shall be not less than 75 percent
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of the eligible cost of such assistance. ’’.
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‘‘(f) ELIGIBLE EXPENSE.—A State or local govern-
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ment may use assistance provided under this section for
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the predeployment of assets and resources.’’.
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(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub-
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section (a) shall only apply to amounts appropriated on
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or after the date of enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 3. RULEMAKING.
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Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
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of this Act, the President, acting through the Adminis-
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trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
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shall conduct and complete a rulemaking to provide cri-
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teria for the circumstances under which the Administrator
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may recommend the President increase the Federal cost
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•S 479 RS
share for section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
1
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187).
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SEC. 4. POLICY UPDATE.
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The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
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ment Agency shall update the policy for grants made under
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section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
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Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187), consistent with
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assistance provided under a major disaster and emergency
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declaration under that Act, to provide that predeployment
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of domestic assets by States, local, and Tribal governments
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may be eligible for reimbursement under such section 420.
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Calendar No. II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 479
[Report No. 118–30]
A BILL
To modify the fire management assistance cost
share, and for other purposes.
MAY 16, 2023
Reported with amendments
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