S. 4022: Disaster Recovery Improvement Act

The Disaster Recovery Improvement Act aims to expedite disaster relief funding and improve the federal response to natural disasters. This is accomplished through the establishment of an interagency task force by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will work to streamline processes and reduce delays in disaster funding. The main elements of the bill include:

Establishment of the Disaster Recovery Improvement Task Force

The bill requires the Administrator of FEMA to create an interagency task force within 90 days of the bill's enactment. This task force will focus on improving the efficiency of disaster relief funding.

Membership Composition

The task force will be made up of:

• A senior official from FEMA, who will serve as chair.
• Senior officials from other federal agencies involved in disaster recovery, including:
  • Small Business Administration
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Department of Labor
  • Department of Transportation
  • Department of Commerce
  • Department of the Treasury
  • Department of the Interior
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Office of Management and Budget
• Four state governors and four county commissioners from regions that have recently experienced major disasters.

Task Force Responsibilities

The task force will be responsible for:

• Identifying programs that aid in disaster recovery funding.
• Making recommendations on how to expedite disaster relief efforts, including:
  • Streamlining the establishment of temporary programs.
  • Improving the clarity and accessibility of funding applications.
  • Reducing delays in fund allocation.
• Assessing barriers to timely funding delivery and proposing solutions.
• Reporting on their findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of establishment.

Implementation and Reporting

Within 180 days after the task force submits its report, it must provide Congress with an implementation report detailing:

• Which recommendations will be implemented and why others may not be.
• The strategy for carrying out these recommendations.
• Any legislative recommendations needed to support the implementation of selected recommendations.

No Additional Funding

The bill stipulates that no additional federal funds are authorized for the implementation of this act.

Task Force Duration

The task force will terminate 90 days after submitting its final implementation report to Congress.

Relevant Companies

None found.