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Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act

USA119th CongressHR-403| House 
| Updated: 1/15/2025
Eric Swalwell

Eric Swalwell

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (6)
Jared Huffman (Democratic)Ed Case (Democratic)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the "Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act," aims to significantly enhance predisaster mitigation efforts by amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It establishes new definitions for high hazard risk , environmental justice communities , and small impoverished communities , which are central to its prioritization strategy. The legislation directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop guidance for incorporating climate change into risk assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and building codes, ensuring projects are designed for future climate projections. It also increases the federal share for mitigation activities in small impoverished and environmental justice communities to up to 90% of the total cost, recognizing their unique needs. To bolster funding, the bill raises the percentage of the Disaster Relief Fund allocated for predisaster mitigation from 6% to 15% and allows for setting aside 2% of major disaster grants for community planning. FEMA is mandated to conduct targeted community outreach to increase applications from vulnerable communities and assist them with grant development and project planning based on climate conditions and hazard risks. Finally, the Act requires FEMA to establish a central federal database within three years to consolidate funding data from various agencies involved in post-disaster response and predisaster mitigation. This database will categorize spending, include demographic data, and facilitate post-project evaluations to analyze the effectiveness and savings generated by predisaster mitigation efforts.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6138
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3655
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jan 15, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6138
    Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3655
    Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act


  • January 14, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 14, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.


  • January 15, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Emergency Management

Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act

USA119th CongressHR-403| House 
| Updated: 1/15/2025
This bill, known as the "Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act," aims to significantly enhance predisaster mitigation efforts by amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It establishes new definitions for high hazard risk , environmental justice communities , and small impoverished communities , which are central to its prioritization strategy. The legislation directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop guidance for incorporating climate change into risk assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and building codes, ensuring projects are designed for future climate projections. It also increases the federal share for mitigation activities in small impoverished and environmental justice communities to up to 90% of the total cost, recognizing their unique needs. To bolster funding, the bill raises the percentage of the Disaster Relief Fund allocated for predisaster mitigation from 6% to 15% and allows for setting aside 2% of major disaster grants for community planning. FEMA is mandated to conduct targeted community outreach to increase applications from vulnerable communities and assist them with grant development and project planning based on climate conditions and hazard risks. Finally, the Act requires FEMA to establish a central federal database within three years to consolidate funding data from various agencies involved in post-disaster response and predisaster mitigation. This database will categorize spending, include demographic data, and facilitate post-project evaluations to analyze the effectiveness and savings generated by predisaster mitigation efforts.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6138
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3655
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jan 15, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6138
    Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3655
    Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act


  • January 14, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 14, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.


  • January 15, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Eric Swalwell

Eric Swalwell

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (6)
Jared Huffman (Democratic)Ed Case (Democratic)Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

Emergency Management

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted