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Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act
2/26/2025, 5:23 AM
Summary of Bill HR 760
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act provides federal assistance to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, in the aftermath of a disaster. However, currently, private roads and bridges are not eligible for reimbursement under this act.
The Private Road Repair Act seeks to address this gap by allowing individuals who own private roads and bridges to receive reimbursement for repairs needed after a disaster. This can help alleviate the financial burden on individuals who may not have the resources to repair their private infrastructure on their own. In addition to expanding eligibility for reimbursement, the bill also includes provisions for oversight and accountability to ensure that funds are used appropriately and efficiently. This can help prevent misuse of federal funds and ensure that resources are directed towards the most critical repairs and restorations. Overall, the Private Road Repair Act aims to provide much-needed support to individuals who own private roads and bridges, allowing them to recover and rebuild after a disaster. By expanding eligibility for reimbursement under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, this bill can help communities across the country recover more quickly and effectively from natural disasters.
Congressional Summary of HR 760
Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act
This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Public Assistance (PA) grant funding, under certain conditions, to reimburse government entities covered under the major disaster declaration for North Carolina relating to Tropical Storm Helene for the costs of repairing, replacing, or restoring private roads and bridges damaged by Helene.
Under current law, the PA program provides grants for repairing disaster damage to infrastructure owned or legally maintained by government entities (or certain nonprofits). The bill authorizes PA funding for permanent repair work on privately owned and maintained roads and bridges significantly damaged by Helene in North Carolina, as costs incurred by state, tribal, or local governments for such work are eligible for reimbursement.
Also, under current law, the costs of repairing damage that existed before the disaster are generally ineligible for PA. The bill makes the repair, replacement, or restoration costs eligible for reimbursement under PA regardless of pre-existing condition.
Additionally, the bill contains criteria and conditions for reimbursement, including that to be eligible a road or bridge must be used as the sole means of accessing primary residences or essential community services. Reimbursement is under PA’s alternative procedures, and the bill requires FEMA to determine eligible costs based on estimates prepared by engineers.
Recipients of funds from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) before the bill’s enactment may use IHP funds for repairs eligible under the bill without those costs counting against their maximum amount of IHP assistance.
