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Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act
3/9/2023, 5:47 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7721
The bill outlines various provisions to support the affected communities, including funding for emergency response efforts, rebuilding infrastructure, and providing aid to individuals and businesses impacted by the fire. It also includes measures to improve forest management practices and prevent future wildfires in the area.
Additionally, the Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Act calls for increased coordination between federal, state, and local agencies to ensure a swift and effective response to wildfires. It also emphasizes the importance of community involvement in wildfire prevention and preparedness efforts. Overall, this bill aims to provide much-needed support to the communities affected by the Hermit's Peak Fire and to implement measures to prevent similar disasters in the future. It highlights the importance of proactive wildfire management and the need for collaboration between different levels of government and local stakeholders.
Congressional Summary of HR 7721
Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Act
This bill provides for monetary compensation to the victims of the prescribed fire burn in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico that became a wildfire known as the Hermit's Peak Fire or the Hermit's Peak Fire/Calf Canyon Fire.
Each victim of the Hermit's Peak Fire shall be entitled to receive monetary compensation from the United States, including for personal injury, loss of property, business loss, or financial loss.
An Office of Hermit's Peak Fire Claims is established within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive, process, and pay claims to victims of the fire.
FEMA or the independent claims manager (which FEMA may appoint) shall, on behalf of the United States, investigate, consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, grant, deny, or settle any claim for money damages asserted by a victim of the Hermit's Peak Fire.
Any claimant aggrieved by a final decision of FEMA concerning compensation may, not later than 60 days after the date on which the decision is issued, bring a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, to modify or set aside the decision.
