H.R. 3347: Sovereign States Emergency Management Act

This bill, known as the Sovereign States Emergency Management Act, aims to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and establish a new disaster relief framework through block grants to states. Here is a summary of its key provisions:

Abolishment of FEMA

• The bill proposes to abolish FEMA two years after it is enacted.
• Any unused funds from FEMA at the time of its abolishment will be transferred to the U.S. Treasury.
• All responsibilities previously held by FEMA will be transferred to the President of the United States.
• Personnel and resources from FEMA will also be made available to the President for these functions.
• References to FEMA in existing laws will be updated to reflect these changes.

Disaster Relief Block Grant Program

• The bill establishes a program under the Secretary of the Treasury to provide grants to states for natural disaster and emergency relief.
• Each state will receive a grant amount determined by a formula that takes into account several factors, including:
  • Population size
  • Historical disaster frequency and severity
  • Geographic risk factors
  • Economic need, measured by per capita income
• States can use the grants for:
  • Disaster preparedness training and equipment
  • Response and recovery operations after a natural disaster
  • Mitigation projects aimed at reducing future disaster risks
• A maximum of 5% of the grant funds can be allocated for administrative costs by the states.

State Emergency Management Plans

• Each state is required to submit an emergency management plan annually that details how it plans to use the grant funds.
• The plan must include coordination between state, local, and tribal authorities.
• The effectiveness of the emergency management plan will be measured through specific goals for preparedness and response.

Accountability and Reporting

• States must report on the usage of grant funds and the outcomes achieved, including improvements in preparedness and response times.
• The Secretary of the Treasury will conduct annual audits of the grant program.
• 10% of the funds will be allocated for program administration and auditing expenses.

Termination of the Program

• The grant program will cease four years after the rules for fund allocation are issued by the Secretary.

Definitions

• The bill defines "emergency" as instances needing assistance to save lives, protect property, and public health.
• "Natural disaster" covers a range of events, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other catastrophic incidents.
• The term "State" includes all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam.

Relevant Companies

• None found