[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 178 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8566-H8574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS CERTAIN BILLS
Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 2 of
House Resolution 1464, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills:
H.R. 4275, H.R. 5502, H.R. 5721, H.R. 6290, H.R. 7277, H.R. 7299, and
H.R. 8416.
The Clerk read the title of the bills.
The text of the bills are as follows:
Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable
Connectivity Program Act of 2022
H.R. 4275
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Phone and Internet
Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program
Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. REPORTS ON ENROLLMENT IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS.
(a) Annual Report on Enrollment in Lifeline and Affordable
Connectivity Programs Through Qualifying Programs.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter for 2 calendar years after the calendar
year during which the first report is submitted under this
subsection, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report
on--
(1) enrollment in the Lifeline program by individuals
participating in each of the Lifeline qualifying programs,
broken out by each of the Lifeline qualifying programs, to
the extent the Commission holds or has access to the
necessary data relating to such enrollment; and
(2) enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program by
individuals participating in each of the Affordable
Connectivity Program qualifying programs, broken out by each
of the Affordable Connectivity Program qualifying programs,
to the extent the Commission holds or has access to the
necessary data relating to such enrollment.
(b) GAO Study and Report on Efforts to Promote Enrollment
in Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a
report to Congress identifying outreach and publicity efforts
to promote participation and enrollment in the Lifeline
program and, separately, the Affordable Connectivity Program.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Affordable connectivity program qualifying program.--
The term ``Affordable
[[Page H8567]]
Connectivity Program qualifying program'' means the programs
set forth in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), and (6) of section
54.1800(j) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor regulation.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(3) Lifeline qualifying program.--The term ``Lifeline
qualifying program'' means the programs set forth in
subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 54.409 of title 47,
Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for
Consumers Act
H.R. 5502
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Integrity, Notification, and
Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act'' or
the ``INFORM Consumers Act''.
SEC. 2. COLLECTION, VERIFICATION, AND DISCLOSURE OF
INFORMATION BY ONLINE MARKETPLACES TO INFORM
CONSUMERS.
(a) Collection and Verification of Information.--
(1) Collection.--
(A) In general.--An online marketplace shall require any
high-volume third party seller on such online marketplace's
platform to provide, not later than 10 days after qualifying
as a high-volume third party seller on the platform, the
following information to the online marketplace:
(i) Bank account.--
(I) In general.--A bank account number, or, if such seller
does not have a bank account, the name of the payee for
payments issued by the online marketplace to such seller.
(II) Provision of information.--The bank account or payee
information required under subclause (I) may be provided by
the seller in the following ways:
(aa) To the online marketplace.
(bb) To a payment processor or other third party contracted
by the online marketplace to maintain such information,
provided that the online marketplace ensures that it can
obtain such information within 3 business days from such
payment processor or other third party.
(ii) Contact information.--Contact information for such
seller as follows:
(I) With respect to a high-volume third party seller that
is an individual, the individual's name.
(II) With respect to a high-volume third party seller that
is not an individual, one of the following forms of contact
information:
(aa) A copy of a valid government-issued identification for
an individual acting on behalf of such seller that includes
the individual's name.
(bb) A copy of a valid government-issued record or tax
document that includes the business name and physical address
of such seller.
(iii) Tax id.--A business tax identification number, or, if
such seller does not have a business tax identification
number, a taxpayer identification number.
(iv) Working email and phone number.--A current working
email address and phone number for such seller.
(B) Notification of change; annual certification.--An
online marketplace shall--
(i) periodically, but not less than annually, notify any
high-volume third party seller on such online marketplace's
platform of the requirement to keep any information collected
under subparagraph (A) current; and
(ii) require any high-volume third party seller on such
online marketplace's platform to, not later than 10 days
after receiving the notice under clause (i), electronically
certify that--
(I) the seller has provided any changes to such information
to the online marketplace, if any such changes have occurred;
or
(II) there have been no changes to such seller's
information.
(C) Suspension.--In the event that a high-volume third
party seller does not provide the information or
certification required under this paragraph, the online
marketplace shall, after providing the seller with written or
electronic notice and an opportunity to provide such
information or certification not later than 10 days after the
issuance of such notice, suspend any future sales activity of
such seller until such seller provides such information or
certification.
(2) Verification.--
(A) In general.--An online marketplace shall--
(i) verify the information collected under paragraph (1)(A)
not later than 10 days after such collection; and
(ii) verify any change to such information not later than
10 days after being notified of such change by a high-volume
third party seller under paragraph (1)(B).
(B) Presumption of verification.--In the case of a high-
volume third party seller that provides a copy of a valid
government-issued tax document, any information contained in
such document shall be presumed to be verified as of the date
of issuance of such document.
(3) Data use limitation.--Data collected solely to comply
with the requirements of this section may not be used for any
other purpose unless required by law.
(4) Data security requirement.--An online marketplace shall
implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and
practices, including administrative, physical, and technical
safeguards, appropriate to the nature of the data and the
purposes for which the data will be used, to protect the data
collected to comply with the requirements of this section
from unauthorized use, disclosure, access, destruction, or
modification.
(b) Disclosure Required.--
(1) Requirement.--
(A) In general.--An online marketplace shall--
(i) require any high-volume third party seller with an
aggregate total of $20,000 or more in annual gross revenues
on such online marketplace, and that uses such online
marketplace's platform, to provide the information described
in subparagraph (B) to the online marketplace; and
(ii) disclose the information described in subparagraph (B)
to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner--
(I) on the product listing page (including via hyperlink);
or
(II) in the order confirmation message or other document or
communication made to the consumer after the purchase is
finalized and in the consumer's account transaction history.
(B) Information described.--The information described in
this subparagraph is the following:
(i) Subject to paragraph (2), the identity of the high-
volume third party seller, including--
(I) the full name of the seller, which may include the
seller name or seller's company name, or the name by which
the seller or company operates on the online marketplace;
(II) the physical address of the seller; and
(III) contact information for the seller, to allow for the
direct, unhindered communication with high-volume third party
sellers by users of the online marketplace, including--
(aa) a current working phone number;
(bb) a current working email address; or
(cc) other means of direct electronic messaging (which may
be provided to such seller by the online marketplace),
provided that the requirements of this item shall not prevent
an online marketplace from monitoring communications between
high-volume third party sellers and users of the online
marketplace for fraud, abuse, or spam.
(ii) Whether the high-volume third party seller used a
different seller to supply the consumer product to the
consumer upon purchase, and, upon the request of an
authenticated purchaser, the information described in clause
(i) relating to any such seller that supplied the consumer
product to the purchaser, if such seller is different than
the high-volume third party seller listed on the product
listing prior to purchase.
(2) Exception.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), upon the
request of a high-volume third party seller, an online
marketplace may provide for partial disclosure of the
identity information required under paragraph (1)(B)(i) in
the following situations:
(i) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace that
the seller does not have a business address and only has a
residential street address, or has a combined business and
residential address, the online marketplace may--
(I) disclose only the country and, if applicable, the State
in which such seller resides; and
(II) inform consumers that there is no business address
available for the seller and that consumer inquiries should
be submitted to the seller by phone, email, or other means of
electronic messaging provided to such seller by the online
marketplace.
(ii) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace
that the seller is a business that has a physical address for
product returns, the online marketplace may disclose the
seller's physical address for product returns.
(iii) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace
that the seller does not have a phone number other than a
personal phone number, the online marketplace shall inform
consumers that there is no phone number available for the
seller and that consumer inquiries should be submitted to the
seller's email address or other means of electronic messaging
provided to such seller by the online marketplace.
(B) Limitation on exception.--If an online marketplace
becomes aware that a high-volume third party seller has made
a false representation to the online marketplace in order to
justify the provision of a partial disclosure under
subparagraph (A) or that a high-volume third party seller who
has requested and received a provision for a partial
disclosure under subparagraph (A) has not provided responsive
answers within a reasonable time frame to consumer inquiries
submitted to the seller by phone, email, or other means of
electronic messaging provided to such seller by the online
marketplace, the online marketplace shall, after providing
the seller with written or electronic notice and an
opportunity to respond not later than 10 days after the
issuance of such notice, suspend any future sales activity of
such seller unless such seller consents to the disclosure of
the identity information required under paragraph (1)(B)(i).
(3) Reporting mechanism.--An online marketplace shall
disclose to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner on
the product listing of any high-volume third party seller a
reporting mechanism that allows for electronic and telephonic
reporting of suspicious marketplace activity to the online
marketplace.
[[Page H8568]]
(4) Compliance.--If a high-volume third party seller does
not comply with the requirements to provide and disclose
information under this subsection, the online marketplace
shall, after providing the seller with written or electronic
notice and an opportunity to provide or disclose such
information not later than 10 days after the issuance of such
notice, suspend any future sales activity of such seller
until the seller complies with such requirements.
(c) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.--
(1) Unfair and deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of
subsection (a) or (b) by an online marketplace shall be
treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or
deceptive act or practice prescribed under section
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C.
57a(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Powers of the commission.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall enforce subsections
(a) and (b) in the same manner, by the same means, and with
the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all
applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into
and made a part of this section.
(B) Privileges and immunities.--Any person that violates
subsection (a) or (b) shall be subject to the penalties, and
entitled to the privileges and immunities, provided in the
Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(3) Regulations.--The Commission may promulgate regulations
under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, with
respect to the collection, verification, or disclosure of
information under this section, provided that such
regulations are limited to what is necessary to collect,
verify, and disclose such information.
(4) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any
other provision of law.
(d) Enforcement by State Attorneys General.--
(1) In general.--If the attorney general of a State has
reason to believe that any online marketplace has violated or
is violating this section or a regulation promulgated under
this section that affects one or more residents of that
State, the attorney general of the State may bring a civil
action in any appropriate district court of the United
States, to--
(A) enjoin further such violation by the defendant;
(B) enforce compliance with this section or such
regulation;
(C) obtain civil penalties in the amount provided for under
subsection (c);
(D) obtain other remedies permitted under State law; and
(E) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on
behalf of residents of the State.
(2) Notice.--The attorney general of a State shall provide
prior written notice of any action under paragraph (1) to the
Commission and provide the Commission with a copy of the
complaint in the action, except in any case in which such
prior notice is not feasible, in which case the attorney
general shall serve such notice immediately upon instituting
such action.
(3) Intervention by the commission.--Upon receiving notice
under paragraph (2), the Commission shall have the right--
(A) to intervene in the action;
(B) upon so intervening, to be heard on all matters arising
therein; and
(C) to file petitions for appeal.
(4) Limitation on state action while federal action is
pending.--If the Commission has instituted a civil action for
violation of this section or a regulation promulgated under
this section, no State attorney general, or official or
agency of a State, may bring a separate action under
paragraph (1) during the pendency of that action against any
defendant named in the complaint of the Commission for any
violation of this section or a regulation promulgated under
this section that is alleged in the complaint. A State
attorney general, or official or agency of a State, may join
a civil action for a violation of this section or regulation
promulgated under this section filed by the Commission.
(5) Rule of construction.--For purposes of bringing a civil
action under paragraph (1), nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the chief law enforcement officer, or
official or agency of a State, from exercising the powers
conferred on such chief law enforcement officer, or official
or agency of a State, by the laws of the State to conduct
investigations, administer oaths or affirmations, or compel
the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary
and other evidence.
(6) Actions by other state officials.--
(A) In general.--In addition to civil actions brought by
attorneys general under paragraph (1), any other officer of a
State who is authorized by the State to do so, except for any
private person on behalf of the State attorney general, may
bring a civil action under paragraph (1), subject to the same
requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection
to civil actions brought by attorneys general.
(B) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection may be
construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State from
initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the
State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the
State.
(e) Severability.--If any provision of this section, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held
invalid, the remainder of this section and the application of
such provision to other persons not similarly situated or to
other circumstances shall not be affected by the
invalidation.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(2) Consumer product.--The term ``consumer product'' has
the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Magnuson-
Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act (15
U.S.C. 2301) and section 700.1 of title 16, Code of Federal
Regulations.
(3) High-volume third party seller.--
(A) In general.--The term ``high-volume third party
seller'' means a participant on an online marketplace's
platform who is a third party seller and, in any continuous
12-month period during the previous 24 months, has entered
into 200 or more discrete sales or transactions of new or
unused consumer products and an aggregate total of $5,000 or
more in gross revenues.
(B) Clarification.--For purposes of calculating the number
of discrete sales or transactions or the aggregate gross
revenues under subparagraph (A), an online marketplace shall
only be required to count sales or transactions made through
the online marketplace and for which payment was processed by
the online marketplace, either directly or through its
payment processor.
(4) Online marketplace.--The term ``online marketplace''
means any person or entity that operates a consumer-directed
electronically based or accessed platform that--
(A) includes features that allow for, facilitate, or enable
third party sellers to engage in the sale, purchase, payment,
storage, shipping, or delivery of a consumer product in the
United States;
(B) is used by one or more third party sellers for such
purposes; and
(C) has a contractual or similar relationship with
consumers governing their use of the platform to purchase
consumer products.
(5) Seller.--The term ``seller'' means a person who sells,
offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer product
through an online marketplace's platform.
(6) Third party seller.--
(A) In general.--The term ``third party seller'' means any
seller, independent of an online marketplace, who sells,
offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer product in
the United States through such online marketplace's platform.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``third party seller'' does not
include, with respect to an online marketplace--
(i) a seller who operates the online marketplace's
platform; or
(ii) a business entity that has--
(I) made available to the general public the entity's name,
business address, and working contact information;
(II) an ongoing contractual relationship with the online
marketplace to provide the online marketplace with the
manufacture, distribution, wholesaling, or fulfillment of
shipments of consumer products; and
(III) provided to the online marketplace identifying
information, as described in subsection (a), that has been
verified in accordance with that subsection.
(7) Verify.--The term ``verify'' means to confirm
information provided to an online marketplace pursuant to
this section, which may include the use of one or more
methods that enable the online marketplace to reliably
determine that any information and documents provided are
valid, corresponding to the seller or an individual acting on
the seller's behalf, not misappropriated, and not falsified.
(g) Relationship to State Laws.--No State or political
subdivision of a State, or territory of the United States,
may establish or continue in effect any law, regulation,
rule, requirement, or standard that conflicts with the
requirements of this section.
(h) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021
H.R. 5721
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``VA Infrastructure Powers
Exceptional Research Act of 2021'' or the ``VIPER Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. INAPPLICABILITY OF PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 120. Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act
``Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States
Code (commonly known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act') shall
not apply to research activities of the Department, including
activities under subchapter V of chapter 73.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
``120. Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act.''.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Office of Research and Development.--Chapter 73 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following new subchapter:
[[Page H8569]]
``SUBCHAPTER V--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
``Sec. 7381. Office of Research and Development
``(a) Office of Research and Development.--There is in the
Veterans Health Administration an Office of Research and
Development (in this section referred to as the `Office').
``(b) Purposes.--The function of the Office is to serve
veterans through a full spectrum of research (including pre-
clinical, clinical, and health systems science), technology
transfer, and application.
``(c) Chief Research and Development Officer.--The head of
the Office is the Chief Research and Development Officer.
``(d) Organization and Personnel.--The Office shall be
organized in such manner, and its personnel shall perform
such duties and have such titles, as the Secretary may
prescribe.
``Sec. 7382. Research personnel
``(a) Waiver of Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility
Program Limits.--The Secretary may waive the limit on the
period and number of assignments required under section
3372(a) of title 5 with respect to an individual who performs
research for the Department under the mobility program under
subchapter VI of chapter 33 of such title (commonly referred
to as the `Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility
Program').
``(b) Outside Earned Income for Research for the
Department.--(1) Compensation from a nonprofit corporation
established under subchapter IV of this chapter, or a
university affiliated with the Department, may be paid,
without regard to section 209 of title 18, to an employee
described in paragraph (2), for research conducted pursuant
to section 7303 of this title if--
``(A) the research has been approved in accordance with
procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary for Health;
``(B) the employee conducts research under the supervision
of personnel of the Department; and
``(C) the Secretary agreed to the terms of such
compensation in writing.
``(2) An employee described in this subsection is an
employee who has an appointment within the Department,
whether with or without compensation, and without regard to
the source of such compensation.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``subchapter v--research and development
``7381. Office of Research and Development.
``7382. Research personnel.''.
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF HIRING AUTHORITIES FOR CERTAIN CLASSES
OF RESEARCH OCCUPATIONS.
Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by inserting ``statisticians, economists, informaticists,
data scientists, and'' after ``blind rehabilitation
outpatient specialists,''.
Manufacturing.gov Act
H.R. 6290
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Manufacturing.gov Act''.
SEC. 2. MANUFACTURING.GOV HUB.
(a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Secretary''
means the Secretary of Commerce.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with
the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Commerce,
shall modify the manufacturing.gov website by establishing a
section of the website to be known as the ``manufacturing.gov
hub''.
(c) Functions.--The manufacturing.gov hub established under
subsection (b) shall--
(1) serve as the primary hub for information relating to
every Federal manufacturing program, including the programs
identified in the report of the Government Accountability
Office entitled ``U.S. Manufacturing'' (GAO 17-240),
published on March 28, 2017;
(2) provide the contact information of relevant program
offices carrying out the Federal manufacturing programs
described in paragraph (1);
(3) provide an avenue for public input and feedback
relating to--
(A) the functionality of the website of the Department of
Commerce;
(B) the Federal manufacturing programs described in
paragraph (1); and
(C) any other manufacturing-related challenges experienced
by manufacturers in the United States;
(4) establish web pages within the hub that shall focus
on--
(A) technology and research and development;
(B) trade;
(C) workforce development and training;
(D) industrial commons and supply chains; and
(E) small and medium manufacturers; and
(5) use machine learning to--
(A) identify frequently asked questions; and
(B) disseminate to the public answers to the questions
identified under subparagraph (A).
(d) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are
authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out
this section.
Improving Oversight of Veterans Community Care Providers Act of 2022
H.R. 7277
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Oversight of
Veterans Community Care Providers Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN VETERANS COMMUNITY
CARE PROGRAM.
(a) Plan.--
(1) Requirement.--Beginning not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, acting through the Under Secretary for
Health, shall carry out a plan to improve the methods by
which the Secretary identifies health care providers that are
not eligible to participate in the Veterans Community Care
Program.
(2) Matters included.--The plan under paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) Modifying the standard operating procedures of the
Office of Community Care of the Veterans Health
Administration regarding the exclusion of health care
providers from participating in the Veterans Community Care
Program to require the automated continuous matching of
health care providers in the Provider Profile Management
System of the Veterans Health Administration, or such
successor system, with covered data systems using multiple
unique identifiers, including taxpayer identification number,
national provider identifier, Social Security number, and
date of birth.
(B) A fraud risk analysis conducted by the Office of
Community Care regarding the exclusion of health care
providers from participating in the Veterans Community Care
Program that includes--
(i) an assessment of the likelihood and impact of inherent
fraud risks relating to the self-certification of State
licenses and addresses provided by health care providers;
(ii) a determination of the fraud risk tolerance; and
(iii) an examination of the suitability of existing fraud
controls.
(C) Any other matters the Under Secretary determines will
improve the oversight of health care providers participating
in the Veterans Community Care Program.
(b) Certification.--Not later than 270 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall certify to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate that the Secretary has
implemented the plan under subsection (a).
(c) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a report that--
(A) describes the progress the Under Secretary has made in
carrying out the plan under subsection (a); and
(B) includes recommendations for legislative action to
further improve the methods by which the Secretary identifies
health care providers that are not eligible to participate in
the Veterans Community Care Program.
(2) Update.--Not later than two years after the date on
which the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate an
update to the report.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered data systems'' means the following:
(A) The List of Excluded Individuals/Entities of the Office
of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
(B) The System for Award Management Exclusions list
described in part 9 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations,
and part 180 of title 2 of such Code, or successor
regulations.
(C) The monthly deactivation file of the National Plan and
Provider Enumeration System of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services.
(D) The National Practitioner Data Bank established
pursuant to the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986
(42 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.).
(2) The term ``Veterans Community Care Program'' means the
program established under section 1703 of title 38, United
States Code.
Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022
H.R. 7299
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening VA
Cybersecurity Act of 2022'' or the ``SVAC Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. INDEPENDENT CYBERSECURITY ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Independent Assessment Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded
research and development center to provide to the Secretary
an independent cybersecurity assessment of--
(A) five high-impact information systems of the Department
of Veterans Affairs; and
(B) the effectiveness of the information security program
and information security management system of the Department.
[[Page H8570]]
(2) Detailed analysis.--The independent cybersecurity
assessment provided under paragraph (1) shall include a
detailed analysis of the ability of the Department--
(A) to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and
availability of the information, information systems, and
devices of the Department; and
(B) to protect against--
(i) advanced persistent cybersecurity threats;
(ii) ransomware;
(iii) denial of service attacks;
(iv) insider threats;
(v) threats from foreign actors, including state sponsored
criminals and other foreign based criminals;
(vi) phishing;
(vii) credential theft;
(viii) cybersecurity attacks that target the supply chain
of the Department;
(ix) threats due to remote access and telework activity;
and
(x) other cyber threats.
(3) Types of systems.--The independent cybersecurity
assessment provided under paragraph (1) shall cover on-
premises, remote, cloud-based, and mobile information systems
and devices used by, or in support of, Department activities.
(4) Shadow information technology.--The independent
cybersecurity assessment provided under paragraph (1) shall
include an evaluation of the use of information technology
systems, devices, and services by employees and contractors
of the Department who do so without the heads of the elements
of the Department that are responsible for information
technology at the Department knowing or approving of such
use.
(5) Methodology.--In conducting the cybersecurity
assessment to be provided under paragraph (1), the federally
funded research and development center shall take into
account industry best practices and the current state-of-the-
art in cybersecurity evaluation and review.
(b) Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date on
which an independent assessment is provided to the Secretary
by a federally funded research and development center
pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a plan
to address the findings of the federally funded research and
development center set forth in such assessment.
(2) Elements.--The plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) Improvements to the security controls of the
information systems of the Department assessed under
subsection (a) to--
(i) achieve the goals specified in subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (2) of such subsection; and
(ii) protect against the threats specified in subparagraph
(B) of such paragraph.
(B) Improvements to the information security program and
information security management system of the Department to
achieve such goals and protect against such threats.
(C) A cost estimate for implementing the plan.
(D) A timeline for implementing the plan.
(E) Such other elements as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) Comptroller General of the United States Evaluation and
Review.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
submission of the plan under subsection (b)(1), the
Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(1) commence an evaluation and review of--
(A) the independent cybersecurity assessment provided under
subsection (a); and
(B) the response of the Department to such assessment; and
(2) provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the
results of the evaluation and review, including any
recommendations made to the Secretary regarding the matters
covered by the briefing.
Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022
H.R. 8416
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster
Survivors Fairness Act of 2022''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Information sharing for Federal agencies.
Sec. 3. Universal application for individual assistance.
Sec. 4. Repair and rebuilding.
Sec. 5. Direct assistance.
Sec. 6. State-managed housing pilot authority.
Sec. 7. Management costs.
Sec. 8. Individual assistance post-disaster housing study.
Sec. 9. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.
Sec. 10. Individual assistance dashboard.
Sec. 11. FEMA reports.
Sec. 12. Sheltering of emergency response personnel.
Sec. 13. GAO report on preliminary damage assessments.
Sec. 14. Applicability.
(c) Definitions.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms
used in this Act have the meanings given such terms in
section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
SEC. 2. INFORMATION SHARING FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) Establishment of Electronic Information Sharing
System.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall establish and maintain a web-based
interagency electronic information sharing system, to be
known as ``DisasterAssistance.gov'', to--
(A) facilitate the administration of the universal
application for direct Federal disaster assistance
established under section 3;
(B) carry out the purposes of disaster assistance programs
swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance with
applicable laws, regulations, and the privacy and data
protections provided under this section; and
(C) support the detection, prevention, and investigation of
waste, fraud, abuse, inequitable allocation of resources, or
discrimination in the administration of disaster assistance
programs.
(2) Authorities of administrator.--In establishing and
maintaining the electronic information sharing system under
this subsection, the Administrator may collect and maintain
disaster assistance information received from a disaster
assistance agency, a block grant recipient, or an applicant
for a disaster assistance program and share such information
with any other disaster assistance agency or block grant
recipient using such electronic information sharing system.
(b) Data Security.--The Administrator may facilitate the
collection of disaster assistance information into the
electronic information sharing system established under this
section only after the following requirements have been met:
(1) The Administrator certifies that the electronic
information sharing system substantially complies with the
data security standards and best practices established
pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 35 of title 44, United
States Code, and any other applicable Federal information
security policy.
(2) The Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a privacy
impact assessment for the electronic information sharing
system, in accordance with section 222 of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 142).
(3) The Administrator, after consulting with disaster
assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for
disaster assistance agencies, block grant recipients, and
personnel granted access to disaster assistance information
to protect such information from improper disclosure.
(c) Collection and Sharing of Additional Records and
Information.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator may authorize the
collection, maintenance, sharing, and use of additional
disaster assistance information by publishing a notice on
DisasterAssistance.gov that includes a detailed description
of--
(A) the specific amendments to the collection, maintenance,
and sharing of disaster assistance information authorized;
(B) why each such amendment to how disaster assistance
information is collected, maintained, or shared is necessary
to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program
and consistent with the fair information practice principles;
and
(C) the disaster assistance agencies and block grant
recipients that will be granted access to the additional
information to carry out the purposes of any disaster
assistance program.
(2) Notice and publication requirements.--The publication
of a notice under paragraph (1) of a revision to the
DisasterAssistance.gov system of records prior to any new
collection, or uses, of Privacy Act categories of records, to
carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program with
regard to a disaster declared by the President under section
401 or 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170; 5191), shall be
deemed to satisfy the notice and publication requirements of
section 552a(e)(4) of title 5, United States Code, for the
entire period of performance for any assistance provided
under a disaster assistance program.
(3) Waiver of information collection requirements.--
(A) In general.--Upon the declaration of a major disaster
or emergency pursuant to sections 401 or 501 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5170; 5191), the President may direct the
Administrator to waive the requirements of subchapter I of
chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, with respect to
voluntary collection of information for the duration of such
major disaster or emergency.
(B) Transparency.--Upon exercising the waiver authority
under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall--
(i) promptly post on a website of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency a brief justification for such waiver, the
anticipated period of time such waiver will be in effect, and
the disaster assistance offices within the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to which such waiver shall apply; and
(ii) update the information relating to such waiver, as
applicable.
(4) GAO review of waiver of information collection
requirements.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall issue a report describing the benefits
[[Page H8571]]
and potential risks associated with authorizing the waiver of
the information collection requirements described in
paragraph (3).
(B) Contents.--The report required under subparagraph (A)
shall include an assessment of the extent to which a waiver
described in paragraph (3) would--
(i) affect the paperwork burden for individuals, small
businesses, State, local and tribal governments, and other
persons;
(ii) affect the consistent application of Federal laws
relating to--
(I) privacy and confidentiality;
(II) security of information; and
(III) access to information; and
(iii) encourage or deter a State or other entity from
participating in the voluntary collection of information for
the duration of a major disaster or emergency.
(d) Use by Other Federal Agencies.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator may permit a Federal
agency other than a disaster assistance agency listed in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (f)(3) to use the
electronic information sharing system established under this
section for the purpose of facilitating disaster-related
assistance if such agency enters into an agreement containing
the terms described in paragraph (2).
(2) Agency agreement.--An agreement entered into under
paragraph (1) shall contain the following terms:
(A) The Federal agency shall--
(i) collect, share, maintain, and use disaster assistance
information in compliance with this section and any policies
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and any
information protection and use policies of such Federal
agency; and
(ii) train any personnel granted access to disaster
assistance information on the rules of behavior established
by the Administrator under subsection (b)(3).
(B) In the event of any unauthorized disclosure of disaster
assistance information, the Federal agency shall--
(i) notify the Administrator within 24 hours of discovering
any such unauthorized disclosure;
(ii) cooperate fully with the Administrator in the
investigation and remediation of any such disclosure;
(iii) cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person
responsible for such disclosure; and
(iv) assume the responsibility for any compensation, civil
liability, or other remediation measures, whether awarded by
a judgment of a court or agreed as a compromise of any
potential claims by or on behalf of an applicant, including
by obtaining credit monitoring and remediation services, for
an improper disclosure that is--
(I) caused, directly or indirectly, by the acts or
omissions of officers, employees, and contractors of the
agency; or
(II) from any electronic system of records that is created
or maintained by the agency pursuant to section 552a(e) of
title 5, United States Code.
(3) Publication of agency agreement.--The Administrator
shall publish an agency agreement entered into under this
subsection on the same website as the electronic information
sharing system established under this section.
(e) Rule of Construction.--The sharing and use of disaster
assistance information that is subject to the requirements of
section 552a of title 5, United States Code, by disaster
assistance agencies and block grant recipients shall not--
(1) be construed as a matching program for purposes of
section 552a(a)(8) of such title; or
(2) be subject to the remaining computer matching
provisions of section 552a of such title.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means--
(A) a person who applies for disaster assistance from a
disaster assistance program; and
(B) a person on whose behalf a person described in
subparagraph (A) has applied for disaster assistance.
(2) Block grant recipient.--The term ``block grant
recipient'' means a State, local government, or Indian Tribe
that receives assistance through the disaster assistance
program described in paragraph (5)(B)(i).
(3) Disaster assistance agency.--The term ``disaster
assistance agency'' means--
(A) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(B) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(C) the Small Business Administration;
(D) the Department of Agriculture;
(E) any other Federal agency that the Administrator permits
to use the electronic information sharing system under
subsection (d).
(4) Disaster assistance information.--The term ``disaster
assistance information'' includes any personal, demographic,
biographical, geographical, financial information, or other
information that a disaster assistance agency or block grant
recipient is authorized to collect, maintain, share, or use
to process an application for disaster assistance or
otherwise carry out a disaster assistance program.
(5) Disaster assistance program.--The term ``disaster
assistance program'' means--
(A) any program that provides assistance to individuals and
households under title IV or title V of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5170 et seq.); and
(B) any other assistance program carried out by a disaster
assistance agency that provides assistance to an individual,
household, or organization related to a major disaster or
emergency declared under sections 401 or 501 of such Act,
including--
(i) assistance for activities related to disaster relief,
long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and
housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation that are
authorized under title I of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);
(ii) any loan that is authorized under section 7(b) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); and
(iii) the distribution of food benefit allotments as
authorized under section 412 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5179)
and section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2014(h)).
SEC. 3. UNIVERSAL APPLICATION FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Universal Application.--The Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall develop and
establish a universal application for direct Federal disaster
assistance for individuals in areas impacted by emergencies
or disasters.
(b) Consultation and Support.--
(1) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the
Administrator shall consult with the following:
(A) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(B) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(C) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(D) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) Support.--The entities described in paragraph (1) shall
provide prompt support to the Administrator.
(c) Survey.--The application established under subsection
(a) shall include a voluntary survey to collect the
demographic data of an applicant.
(d) GAO Assessment on Identity Theft and Disaster Fraud in
Disaster Assistance Programs.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall--
(1) conduct an assessment of improper and potentially
fraudulent Federal disaster assistance for individuals made
to victims of major disasters declared in 2020 and 2021,
including through identity theft; and
(2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate a report that describes--
(A) the prevalence of improper and potentially fraudulent
Federal disaster assistance for individuals made to
registrants who used invalid information to apply for
disaster assistance, including through identity theft;
(B) the number of disaster victims whose claims for Federal
disaster assistance for individuals were denied due to
another individual filing a fraudulent application using
their personal identifying information;
(C) the adequacy of existing fraud prevention protocols in
place on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's online
application for Federal disaster assistance for individuals;
and
(D) recommendations for improving the identity verification
protocols in place for Federal disaster assistance for
individuals.
SEC. 4. REPAIR AND REBUILDING.
(a) In General.--Section 408(b)(1) of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5174(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``rendered uninhabitable'' and inserting
``damaged by a major disaster''; and
(2) by striking ``uninhabitable, as a result of damage
caused by a major disaster'' and inserting ``damaged by a
major disaster''.
(b) Hazard Mitigation.--Section 408 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Hazard mitigation.--
``(A) In general.--The President may provide financial
assistance to individuals and households, whose primary
residence, utilities, or residential infrastructure are
damaged by a major disaster, for cost-effective hazard
mitigation measures that reduce threats to life and property,
or future damage to such residence, utilities, or
infrastructure in future disasters.
``(B) Relationship to other assistance.--A recipient of
assistance provided under this paragraph shall not be
required to show that the assistance can be met through other
means, except insurance proceeds.''; and
(2) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``, financial assistance
for hazard mitigation under subsection (c)(5)(A),'' after
``subsection (c)(1)(A)(i)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Hazard mitigation.--The maximum financial assistance
any individual or household may receive under subsection
(c)(5) shall be equivalent to the amount set forth in
paragraph (1) with respect to a single major disaster.''.
SEC. 5. DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5174(c)) is further amended by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Repairs.--
[[Page H8572]]
``(A) Financial assistance for repairs.--The President may
provide financial assistance for the repair of owner-occupied
private residences, utilities, and residential infrastructure
(such as a private access route) damaged by a major disaster,
or with respect to individuals with disabilities, rendered
inaccessible by a major disaster.
``(B) Direct assistance for repairs.--
``(i) In general.--The President may provide direct
assistance to individuals and households who are unable to
make use of financial assistance under subparagraph (A) and
when there is a lack of available resources, for--
``(I) the repair of owner-occupied private residences,
utilities, and residential infrastructure (such as a private
access route) damaged by a major disaster, or with respect to
individuals with disabilities, rendered inaccessible by a
disaster; and
``(II) eligible hazard mitigation measures that reduce the
likelihood and future damage to such residences, utilities,
and infrastructure.
``(ii) Eligibility.--A recipient of assistance under this
subparagraph shall not be eligible for assistance under
paragraph (1), unless otherwise determined by the
Administrator.
``(C) Relationship to other assistance.--A recipient of
assistance provided under this paragraph shall not be
required to show that the assistance can be met through other
means, except insurance proceeds.''.
(b) State- or Indian Tribal Government-administered
Assistance and Other Needs Assistance.--Section 408(f) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(f)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and (e)''
each place it appears and inserting ``paragraphs (1)(B),
(2)(B), and (4) of subsection (c) and subsection (e)''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ``subsection (c)(1)(B),
(c)(4), or (e)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1)(B), (2)(B), or
(4) of subsection (c) or subsection (e)''.
SEC. 6. STATE-MANAGED HOUSING PILOT AUTHORITY.
Section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)(3)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (F);
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (G), (H), (I), and (J)
as subparagraphs (F), (G), (H), and (I), respectively; and
(C) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated--
(i) in clause (ii) by striking ``Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the'' and
inserting ``The''; and
(ii) in clause (iii) by striking--
(I) ``2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph
or'' and
(II) ``, whichever occurs sooner''; and
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Disaster assistance.--In the case of assistance
provided under subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(2)(B), and (c)(4),
the Federal share shall be not less than 75 percent.''.
SEC. 7. MANAGEMENT COSTS.
(a) In General.--Section 324(b)(2) of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5165b(b)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Individual assistance.--A grantee under section
408(f) may be reimbursed not more than 12 percent of the
total award amount under each such section.
``(D) Crisis counseling assistance, training, and case
management services.--A grantee and subgrantee, cumulatively,
may be reimbursed not more than 15 percent of the total
amount of the grant award under either section 416 or 426.''.
(b) Administrative Costs.--Section 408(f)(1) of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(A) grant to state.--'' and all that
follows through ``subsection (g),'' and inserting ``Subject
to subsection (g),'' ; and
(2) by striking subparagraph (B).
SEC. 8. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE POST-DISASTER HOUSING STUDY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency shall--
(1) conduct a study and develop a plan under which the
Agency will address the challenges associated with providing
housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or
emergencies pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.),
including circumstances in which--
(A) the presence of multiple families within a single
household; and
(B) the near loss of a community, with the majority of
homes destroyed in such community, with discrete assessments
on flood, wildfire, and earthquake events; and
(2) make recommendations for legislative changes needed to
address the challenges described in paragraph (1).
(b) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection
(a), the Administrator shall consult with other relevant
Federal agencies and stakeholders.
(c) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of the activities
carried out under subsection (a), the Administrator shall
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report
containing the study and recommendations required under
subsection (a).
SEC. 9. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER
ASSISTANCE.
(a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) post-disaster assistance.''.
(b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency may enter into a cooperative
agreement to provide funding to a State agency established
under subsection (c) to establish and operate a website to
provide information relating to post-disaster recovery
funding and resources to a community or an individual
impacted by a major disaster or emergency.
``(2) Management.--A website created under this subsection
shall be--
``(A) managed by the State agency; and
``(B) suitable for the residents of the State of the State
agency.
``(3) Content.--The Administrator may enter into a
cooperative agreement to establish a website under this
subsection only to provide 1 or more of the following:
``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local sources of post-
disaster recovery funding or assistance that may be available
to a community after a major disaster or emergency.
``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local sources of post-
disaster recovery funding or assistance that may be available
to an individual impacted by a major disaster or emergency.
``(C) A technical guide that lists and explains the costs
and benefits of alternatives available to a community to
mitigate the impacts of a major disaster or emergency and
prepare for sequential hazards such as flooding after a
wildfire.
``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that enters into a
cooperative agreement under this subsection shall cooperate
with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,
the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
in developing a website under this subsection.
``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to
establish a website under this subsection shall update the
website not less than once every 6 months.''.
SEC. 10. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DASHBOARD.
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 431. INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DASHBOARD.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after a
declaration by the President that a major disaster exists
under section 401, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall publish on a website of the Agency an
interactive web tool displaying the following information
with respect to such disaster:
``(1) The number of applications for assistance under
section 408, including a description of the number of
applications for assistance related to housing under such
section and the number of applications for assistance to
address other needs under section 408(e).
``(2) The number of applications for such assistance that
are approved.
``(3) The number of applications for such assistance that
are denied.
``(4) A ranked list of the reasons for the denial of such
applications, including the number of applications for each
reason for denial.
``(5) If available, the dollar amount of assistance
provided pursuant to section 408 to applicants who are--
``(A) property owners with a household annual income--
``(i) above the national median household income; and
``(ii) below the national median household income; and
``(B) renters with a household annual income--
``(i) above the national median household income; and
``(ii) below the national median household income.
``(6) The estimated percentage of residential property that
was destroyed as a result of the major disaster, if
available.
``(b) Personally Identifiable Information.--The
Administrator shall ensure that none of the information
published under subsection (a) contains the personally
identifiable information of an applicant.''.
SEC. 11. FEMA REPORTS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the
Senate a report with respect to fiscal year 2016 through the
most recent fiscal year ending before the date of enactment
of this
[[Page H8573]]
Act, and an annual report for any fiscal year beginning on or
after the date of enactment of this Act, describing--
(1) the average amount of individual assistance and
individual and household assistance provided under section
408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) to, and the rate of
denial of individual assistance and individual and household
assistance provided under such section for--
(A) all individuals;
(B) households;
(C) individuals and households with an annual income under
75 percent of the national median household income;
(D) individuals with an annual income over 125 percent of
the national median household income; and
(E) individuals with an annual income between 75 percent
and 125 percent of the national median household income; and
(2) an explanation for any factors causing an increase in
the rate of denial of the assistance described in paragraph
(1), if applicable.
SEC. 12. SHELTERING OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL.
Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(e) Sheltering of Emergency Response Personnel.--
``(1) In general.--For any major disaster for which the
President has authorized emergency protective measures for an
area within the jurisdiction of a State, tribal, or local
government, the Administrator may reimburse the State,
tribal, or local government for costs relating to sheltering
emergency response personnel, including individuals that are
a part of the same predisaster household as such personnel,
in exclusive-use congregate or non-congregate settings if the
Governor of the State or chief executive of the tribal or
local government determines that the damage or disruption to
such area is of such a magnitude as to disrupt the provision
of emergency protective measures within such area.
``(2) Limitation of assistance.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator may only reimburse a
State, tribal, or local government for the costs of
sheltering emergency response personnel under paragraph (1)
for such a period of time as the Administrator determines
reasonable based in the individual characteristics of and
impacts to the affected area, including the extent of damage,
the availability of alternative housing options, the
availability of utilities, and disruptions to transportation
infrastructure.
``(B) Maximum duration of reimbursement.--The period of
reimbursement under subparagraph (A) may not exceed the 6-
month period beginning on the date on which the incident
period ends.
``(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `emergency
response personnel' means--
``(A) employees or contracted employees providing law
enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical,
emergency management, or emergency communications services;
and
``(B) elected officials, except members of Congress,
responsible for the overseeing or directing emergency
response operations or recovery activities.''.
SEC. 13. GAO REPORT ON PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study on the practices, including the
accuracy of such practices, that the Federal Emergency
Management Agency uses when conducting preliminary damage
assessments for the purposes of providing assistance under
section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42. U.S.C. 5174).
(b) Contents.--The Comptroller General shall include in the
study conducted under subsection (a) the following:
(1) A comparison of the process and procedures used by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete preliminary
damage assessments to the process and procedures used by
private insurance companies following a major disaster.
(2) A review of training provided to individuals conducting
preliminary damage assessments.
(3) A comparison of damage estimates for homes owned by
individuals above the national median income to homes owned
by individuals at or below the national median income.
SEC. 14. APPLICABILITY.
The amendments made by sections 4, 5, 7, 9, and 12 shall
only apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of
enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 2 of House Resolution
1464, the ordering of the yeas and nays on postponed motions to suspend
the rules with respect to such measures is vacated to the end that all
such motions are considered as withdrawn.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Louisiana
(Mr. Carter) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bills.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the en bloc motion to suspend the rules will be followed
by 5-minute votes on motions to suspend the rules and pass: S. 3369, S.
4359, H.R. 2250, and H.R. 3630.
This is a 15-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 381,
nays 39, not voting 12, as follows:
[Roll No. 481]
YEAS--381
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Axne
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice (OK)
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Bourdeaux
Bowman
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brown (MD)
Brown (OH)
Brownley
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burchett
Bush
Bustos
Butterfield
Calvert
Cammack
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Cawthorn
Chabot
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Cole
Comer
Connolly
Conway
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crow
Cuellar
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis, Danny K.
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Demings
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Duncan
Dunn
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fallon
Feenstra
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Flores
Foster
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (CA)
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gibbs
Gimenez
Golden
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green, Al (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Harder (CA)
Harshbarger
Hartzler
Hayes
Herrell
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Hollingsworth
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huffman
Huizenga
Issa
Jackson Lee
Jacobs (CA)
Jacobs (NY)
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jones
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kahele
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Keller
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaMalfa
Lamb
Lamborn
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawrence
Lawson (FL)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Leger Fernandez
Lesko
Letlow
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lieu
Lofgren
Long
Lowenthal
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luria
Lynch
Mace
Malinowski
Malliotakis
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Mann
Manning
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McKinley
McNerney
Meeks
Meijer
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Mrvan
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (NC)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nehls
Newhouse
Newman
Norcross
O'Halleran
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Owens
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Peltola
Perlmutter
Peters
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Ross
Rouzer
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Rutherford
Ryan (NY)
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sempolinski
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Speier
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Suozzi
Swalwell
Takano
Tenney
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Valadao
Van Duyne
Vargas
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (TX)
[[Page H8574]]
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Yarmuth
Zeldin
NAYS--39
Babin
Biggs
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Brooks
Buck
Budd
Burgess
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Davidson
Donalds
Fulcher
Gohmert
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Harris
Hern
Hice (GA)
Loudermilk
Massie
McHenry
Miller (IL)
Moore (AL)
Norman
Perry
Posey
Rice (SC)
Rose
Rosendale
Roy
Taylor
Van Drew
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
NOT VOTING--12
Cheney
Clarke (NY)
Estes
Ferguson
Herrera Beutler
Jackson
Johnson (GA)
Jordan
Kinzinger
Mullin
Pence
Welch
{time} 1406
Messrs. VAN DREW and HARRIS changed their vote from ``yea'' to
``nay.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the bills were passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress
Aderholt (Guest)
Bass (Cicilline)
Brooks (Moore (AL))
Cawthorn (Gaetz)
Conway (Valadao)
Courtney (Perlmutter)
Cuellar (Correa)
DeFazio (Pallone)
Demings (Kelly (IL))
DesJarlais (Fleischmann)
Green (TN) (Fleischmann)
Higgins (NY) (Cicilline)
Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski)
Johnson (TX) (Pallone)
Khanna (Neguse)
Kind (Beyer)
Kirkpatrick (Pallone)
Larson (CT) (Cicilline)
Lawson (FL) (Wasserman Schultz)
Long (Fleischmann)
Lowenthal (Beyer)
Maloney, Sean P. (Cicilline)
McBath (Kelly (IL))
McEachin (Beyer)
Meng (Rice (NY))
Morelle (Rice (NY))
Murphy (FL) (Wasserman Schultz)
Napolitano (Correa)
Newman (Correa)
O'Halleran (Pappas)
Palazzo (Bilirakis)
Pascrell (Pallone)
Payne (Pallone)
Porter (Neguse)
Rice (SC) (Valadao)
Rush (Beyer)
Sires (Pallone)
Stevens (Neguse)
Thompson (CA) (Correa)
Timmons (Mace)
Waltz (Valadao)
Wilson (FL) (Cicilline)
____________________