A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to incentivize certain preparedness measures, and for other purposes.
2/4/2025, 11:56 AM
Summary of Bill S 372
One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a grant program that would provide funding to states and localities that demonstrate a commitment to disaster preparedness. This funding could be used for a variety of purposes, such as improving infrastructure, developing emergency response plans, and conducting training exercises.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to streamline the process for requesting and receiving federal disaster assistance. This would help ensure that resources are deployed quickly and efficiently in the event of a disaster. Overall, the Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness Act aims to promote a culture of preparedness and resilience at all levels of government. By incentivizing proactive measures and improving the response process, the bill seeks to better protect communities from the devastating effects of disasters and emergencies.
Congressional Summary of S 372
Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025
This bill expands the activities eligible to increase the federal cost share under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program.
Under current law, FEMA provides PA applicants (i.e., government entities and certain nonprofits) a minimum federal cost share of 75% of the costs of repairing or replacing eligible disaster-damaged facilities, but FEMA may increase this to up to 85% if the applicant invests in certain incentive measures that increase disaster readiness and resilience. The bill expands the measures eligible to cause this increase to include (1) investments in preparedness programs, (2) programs designated by FEMA that increase disaster resilience through building standards or land use practices, and (3) support for community emergency response teams or similar non-governmental organizations that provide disaster assistance and advance preparedness.
The bill takes effect one year after enactment.
