H.R. 3957: To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide certain fire management assistance to Indian Tribal Governments, and for other purposes.

This bill proposes amendments to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include Indian Tribal Governments in the eligibility for certain fire management assistance. Here’s a summary of the key changes the bill seeks to implement:

Inclusion of Indian Tribal Governments

The bill amends the Stafford Act by explicitly adding Indian Tribal Governments as eligible entities for fire management assistance, which previously included only State and local governments. This means that Indian Tribal Governments can now directly request federal assistance for fire management activities.

Request Process

Under the amended provisions, the Chief Executive of an Indian Tribal Government, similar to a State Governor, can directly submit requests for assistance to the federal government for fire-related emergencies. This streamlines the process and grants more authority to tribal communities in managing fire emergencies.

Savings Provision

The bill also includes a savings provision that allows Indian Tribal Governments to receive assistance even if a state also requests support for the same incident. This means that if a tribal government's request for assistance is not approved, they can still potentially access resources if a state submits a request for the same fire incident.

Regulatory Updates

The President is tasked with updating regulations within one year of the bill's enactment. These updates will:

• Allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to accept requests and provide grants directly to Indian Tribal Governments.
• Ensure that Indian Tribal Governments that do not receive direct assistance can still access funding through state requests.
• Account for the unique needs and circumstances of Indian Tribal Governments when developing regulations.
• Include consultation with Indian Tribal Governments in the regulatory update process.

Definition of Fire Management Assistance Declaration

The bill defines a "fire management assistance declaration" as one that is approved under specific regulatory criteria, ensuring clarity about the standards and requirements for such declarations.

Relevant Companies

None found.