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New Bills Aim to Minimize Impact of Future Disasters

House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) introduced a package of legislation on June 24 intended to minimize destruction and the loss of life following natural disasters. Two of the three bills announced would establish grant programs for predisaster hazard mitigation across the country, one aimed at public and assisted housing and the other encompassing additional residential property and small businesses. The third would provide states with grants in the early stages of a disaster.

The Hazard Mitigation For All Act of 2009, H.R. 3026, would authorize a total of $50 million per year for the next four fiscal years for a competitive HUD grant program to fund initiatives that “improve the resilience” of public or assisted housing units in advance of natural disasters. Eligible activities would include improving the survivability and protective quality of roofs and walls, replacing doors and windows, and adding extra barriers to prevent water intrusion for the benefit of families with low incomes.

Public housing agencies (PHAs) would apply directly to HUD for funding for eligible activities, but would need to secure at least 25% of the total project cost per activity from other sources, be that federal, state or local. HUD would maintain the authority to waive or alter this match requirement for a specific project based on the severity and frequency of natural disasters in the area served by the PHA. Grant assistance could be passed down to private landlords only with an agreement that the units in questions would be available to Section 8-eligible families for at least five years.   

Under the bill, if residents were to be displaced as a result of activities undertaken, replacement housing similar to and within close proximity of the original unit would need to be provided.

HUD would draft criteria for approval of applications based on nine factors, which include a PHA’s demonstrated commitment to hazard mitigation, capacity, energy efficiency methods, and severity and frequency of disasters in its area of service. In a given year, a PHA could receive a maximum of 15% of the total appropriated to HUD.

The Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Enhancement Program Act of 2009, H.R. 3027, would amend the Stafford Act to allow for predisaster hazard mitigation assistance to be used for grants and loans to homeowners with low incomes for improvements on primary residences. The bill would authorize $100 million per year for the next five fiscal years for a competitive FEMA grant program to “improve the structural integrity of property affected by natural disasters.” The funds would be available to states that have an approved Stafford Act mitigation plan, encourage mitigation, and discourage dangerous coastal development through insurance activities.

For amounts awarded to them, states would be required to use 50% for programs addressing single-family homes valued at no more than $250,000, 30% for programs addressing multifamily housing valued at no more than $250,000 per unit, and 20% for programs addressing small businesses valued at no more than $500,000. Any activities ultimately funded with these grant amounts could use federal money for up to 75% of total costs, with at least 25% required to come from state or local sources. FEMA would adjust the property value limits annually. FEMA would need to allocate at least 60% of the total appropriated by Congress in any given year for use by programs relating specifically to hurricanes. 

Also introduced was the First Responder Innovation and Support Act of 2009, H.R. 3028.  The bill authorizes $100 million per year for the next six fiscal years for another competitive grant program aimed at states, to be spent on activities in the early stages of a disaster. The fund would encourage activities that consider the needs of special populations, such as seniors and people with disabilities, and that can be sustained after an initial federal grant.

“[Bills] like [these] would have prevented a lot of the damage that we’re now trying to correct in Mississippi,” Mr. Thompson said during an address at the Safe Homes For All Leadership Forum in Washington, DC, on June 24.

Mr. Thompson stressed the importance of predisaster mitigation both to protect human life and to decrease the monetary costs incurred during recovery. Though he said he believes the legislation has “traction” right now, he asked for help educating others in Congress. 

H.R. 3026 was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, while H.R. 3027 and H.R. 3028 we referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  H.R. 3026 is available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3026ih.txt.pdf

H.R. 3027 is available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3027ih.txt.pdf

H.R. 3028 is available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3028ih.txt.pdf