S. 3363: Transparency in Recovery Assistance and Claims Knowledge Act

This bill, known as the Transparency in Recovery Assistance and Claims Knowledge Act (TRACK Act), aims to enhance transparency and accountability regarding public assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following major disasters. It introduces several key provisions:

Public Assistance Dashboard

The bill requires FEMA to create and maintain an interactive dashboard on its website for each major disaster declared by the President. This dashboard will provide the public with access to detailed information on public assistance awards related to that disaster. The information to be included in the dashboard will cover:

• Damage Category Code: The classification of the type of damages caused by the disaster.
• Grant Award Details: For each proposed grant award, the dashboard will show:
• Cost estimates
• Applicant ID
• Date of each submission
• Descriptions of each project
• Overall project cost with a breakdown of funding sources, specifically Federal and non-Federal shares.
• Status of Reviews: Information on the progress of FEMA's review and approval of cost estimates, which includes:
• Approval dates for projects
• When grants are issued
• Explanatory Information: If any cost estimate is not approved or if there are delays in grant disbursement, FEMA must provide explanations and detail any corrective actions taken.
• Project Updates: The status of each project's progress will be updated and made available.
• Assistance Requests: Data on requests for assistance, including submission dates, amounts, timelines for providing required information, and approval/disbursement dates for awards.
• Additional Information: Any other relevant details that FEMA identifies as necessary for maintaining transparency and accountability in public assistance administration.

Goals of the Legislation

The main goal of the TRACK Act is to improve the way federal disaster assistance is administered by providing comprehensive access to information, which may help ensure that funds are used effectively and that the public can track the assistance process. By requiring FEMA to publish this detailed information, the bill seeks to promote better oversight and accountability in the distribution of federal disaster relief funds.

Reporting and Accountability

The legislation emphasizes the importance of transparency in governmental processes, particularly in the context of disaster recovery, where large sums of taxpayer money are involved. Stakeholders, including the public and local governments, will have clearer insights into how disaster recovery funds are allocated and spent, fostering trust and potentially improving outcomes for affected communities.

Implementation Timeline

This bill does not specify an implementation timeline but mandates FEMA to set up this dashboard in response to future major disasters declared by the President.

Relevant Companies

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