H.R. 10002: Guaranteed Disaster Assistance Act

This bill would change one part of the federal disaster law so that the President must carry out the hazard mitigation program after a major disaster or emergency, instead of only being allowed to do so.

What that means in practice

• Under current law, the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act lets the President provide hazard mitigation assistance, but it is discretionary.
• This bill would change that wording to make the program mandatory.
• The hazard mitigation program is used for actions meant to reduce future disaster damage, such as strengthening infrastructure, improving drainage, elevating buildings, or otherwise reducing risk before the next disaster happens.

Main effect of the bill

• If enacted, federal disaster response would include required hazard mitigation assistance rather than optional assistance.
• This could make it more likely that mitigation funding and projects are provided after covered disasters.
• The bill does not appear to create a new program from scratch; it changes the legal language governing an existing one.

What the bill does not do

• It does not, based on this text alone, specify new funding amounts.
• It does not describe exactly which projects must be funded.
• It does not change other parts of disaster relief law in the text provided.

Relevant Companies

• None found