Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act

This legislation, known as the "Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act," aims to expand the scope of federal disaster assistance. It achieves this by amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act , which governs how the federal government provides aid during emergencies. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 102(2) of the Stafford Act to include algal blooms within the definition of a "major disaster." This crucial change means that communities suffering from the impacts of harmful algal blooms would become eligible for the same federal relief and emergency assistance currently available for other declared disasters like hurricanes, floods, and droughts.