119-s861

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 861 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 861

 To streamline the sharing of information among Federal disaster 
assistance agencies, to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance 
 to disaster survivors, to speed the recovery of communities from 
disasters, to protect the security and privacy of information provided 
 by disaster survivors, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 March 5, 2025

 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Paul, and Mr. Tillis) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To streamline the sharing of information among Federal disaster 
assistance agencies, to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance 
 to disaster survivors, to speed the recovery of communities from 
disasters, to protect the security and privacy of information provided 
 by disaster survivors, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster Assistance Simplification 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE INTAKE PROCESS 
 AND SYSTEM.

 The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 707. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE INTAKE 
 PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
 Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 ``

    (2) Applicant.--The term `applicant' means--
 ``
        (A) an individual, business, or organization that 
 applies for disaster assistance from a disaster 
 assistance program;
 ``
        (B) an individual, business, or organization on 
 behalf of which an individual described in subparagraph
        (A) applies for disaster assistance from a disaster 
 assistance program; and
 ``
            (C) an individual, business, or organization that 
 seeks assistance as a beneficiary of a State, local 
 government, or Indian tribal government that received 
 assistance under a disaster assistance program.
 ``

    (3) Disaster assistance agency.--The term `disaster 
 assistance agency' means--
 ``
        (A) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
 ``
        (B) any Federal agency that provides disaster 
 assistance to individuals, businesses, organizations, 
 States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, 
 communities, or organizations that the Administrator 
 certifies as a disaster assistance agency in accordance 
 with subsection

    (f) to carry out the purposes of a 
 disaster assistance program.
 ``

    (4) Disaster assistance information.--The term `disaster 
 assistance information' includes any personal, biographical, 
 demographic, geographical, financial, application decision, or 
 other information that a disaster assistance agency, or a 
 recipient of a Federal block grant from a disaster assistance 
 agency, is authorized to collect, maintain, disclose, or use 
 to--
 ``
        (A) process an application for disaster 
 assistance from a disaster assistance program; or
 ``
        (B) otherwise carry out the purpose of a disaster 
 assistance program.
 ``

    (5) Disaster assistance program.--The term `disaster 
 assistance program' means--
 ``
        (A) a program that provides disaster assistance 
 to individuals and households under title IV or V in 
 accordance with sections 408 and 502; or
 ``
        (B) any other assistance program authorized by a 
 Federal statute or funded with Federal appropriations 
 under which a disaster assistance agency awards or 
 distributes disaster assistance to an individual, 
 household, or organization, or provides a Federal block 
 grant for these purposes, that arises from a major 
 disaster or emergency declared under 

section 401 or 
 501, respectively, including--
 ``
            (i) disaster assistance;
 ``
            (ii) long-term disaster recovery 
 assistance;
 ``
            (iii) the post-disaster restoration of 
 infrastructure and housing;
 ``
            (iv) post-disaster economic 
 revitalization;
 ``
            (v) a loan authorized under 

section 7

    (b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636

    (b) ); 
 and
 ``
            (vi) food benefit allotments under 
 

section 412 of this Act and 

section 5

    (h) of the 
 Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
 2014

    (h) ).
 ``

    (6) Record.--The term `record' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 552a of title 5, United States Code.
 ``

    (b) Unified Disaster Assistance Intake Process and System.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 360 days after the date 
 of enactment of the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act, the 
 Administrator shall, in consultation with appropriate Federal, 
 State, local, and Indian tribal governments and entities, 
 develop and establish a unified intake process and system for 
 applicants for disaster assistance provided by a disaster 
 assistance agency to--
 ``
        (A) facilitate a consolidated application for any 
 form of disaster assistance provided by a disaster 
 assistance agency when appropriate to support the 
 nature and purposes of the assistance;
 ``
        (B) carry out the purposes of disaster assistance 
 programs swiftly, efficiently, fairly, and in 
 accordance with applicable laws and privacy and data 
 protections; and
 ``
            (C) support the detection, prevention, and 
 investigation of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination 
 in the administration of disaster assistance programs.
 ``

    (2) Capabilities of the consolidated application 
 system.--The unified intake process and system established 
 under paragraph

    (1) shall--
 ``
        (A) accept applications for disaster assistance 
 programs;
 ``
        (B) allow for applicants to receive status 
 updates on applications for disaster assistance 
 programs;
 ``
            (C) allow for applicants to update disaster 
 assistance information throughout the recovery journeys 
 of those applicants;
 ``
            (D) allow for the distribution of information on 
 additional recovery resources to disaster survivors 
 that may be available in a disaster-stricken 
 jurisdiction, in coordination with appropriate Federal, 
 State, local, and Tribal partners;
 ``
        (E) provide disaster survivors with information 
 and documentation on the applications of those disaster 
 survivors for a disaster assistance program;
 ``
        (F) allow for the distribution of application 
 data to support faster and more effective distribution 
 of Federal disaster assistance, including block grant 
 assistance, for disaster recovery;
 ``
        (G) allow for disaster assistance agencies to 
 communicate directly with disaster survivors; and
 ``
        (H) contain other capabilities determined 
 necessary by the heads of disaster assistance agencies.
 ``

    (3) Updates.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
 which the Administrator receives a request from a disaster 
 assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated 
 application described in paragraph

    (1) needed to administer the 
 disaster assistance programs of the disaster assistance agency, 
 the Administrator shall make those updates.
 ``
            (c) Authorities of Administrator.--The Administrator may--
 ``

    (1) collect, maintain, disclose, and use disaster 
 assistance information, including such information received 
 from any disaster assistance agency, with any other disaster 
 assistance agency for purposes of subsection

    (b)

    (1) ; and
 ``

    (2) subject to subsection
            (d) , authorize the collection, 
 maintenance, disclosure, and use of disaster assistance 
 information collected on or after the date of enactment of the 
 Disaster Assistance Simplification Act by publishing a notice 
 on a public website that--
 ``
        (A) includes a detailed description of--
 ``
            (i) the specific disaster assistance 
 information authorized to be collected, 
 maintained, disclosed, and used;
 ``
            (ii) why the collection, maintenance, 
 disclosure, or use of the disaster assistance 
 information is necessary to carry out the 
 purpose of a disaster assistance program;
 ``
            (iii) how the collection, maintenance, 
 disclosure, and use of disaster assistance 
 information incorporates fair information 
 practices; and
 ``
            (iv) the disaster assistance agencies 
 that will be granted access to the disaster 
 assistance information to carry out the purpose 
 of any disaster assistance program; and
 ``
        (B) provides that the submission of an 
 application through a unified disaster application 
 constitutes prior written consent to disclose disaster 
 assistance information to disaster assistance agencies 
 for the purpose of 

section 552a

    (b) of title 5, United 
 States Code.
 ``
            (d) Collection and Sharing of Records and Information.--
 ``

    (1) Effect of publication of notice on public website.--
 The publication of a notice by the Administrator on a public 
 website of a revision to the system of records of the unified 
 intake process and system established under subsection

    (b)

    (1) prior to any new collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use of 
 records to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance 
 program with respect to a major disaster or emergency declared 
 by the President under 

section 401 or 501, respectively, of 
 this Act shall be deemed to satisfy the notice and publication 
 requirements of 

section 552a

    (e)

    (4) of title 5, United States 
 Code, for the entire period of performance for any assistance 
 provided under a disaster assistance program.
 ``

    (2) Paperwork reduction act waiver.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Upon the declaration of a major 
 disaster or emergency pursuant to 

section 401 or 501, 
 respectively, of this Act, the Administrator may waive 
 the requirements of subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 
 44, United States Code (commonly known as the 
 `Paperwork Reduction Act'), with respect to the 
 voluntary collection of information specific to the 
 declared major disaster or emergency needed to carry 
 out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.
 ``
        (B) Duration.--A waiver described in subparagraph
        (A) shall be in effect for the entire period of 
 performance for any assistance provided under a 
 disaster assistance program with respect to a declared 
 major disaster or emergency.
 ``
            (C) Transparency.--If the Administrator waives 
 the requirements described in subparagraph
        (A) , the 
 Administrator shall--
 ``
            (i) promptly post on a public website--
 ``
            (I) a brief justification for the 
 waiver; and
 ``
            (II) the agencies and offices to 
 which the waiver shall apply;
 ``
            (ii) update the information posted under 
 clause
            (i) , as applicable; and
 ``
            (iii) comply with the requirements of 
 subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United 
 States Code (commonly known as the `Paperwork 
 Reduction Act') upon the expiration of the 
 period of performance of any assistance 
 provided under a disaster assistance program if 
 the collection of information may be utilized 
 for the purposes of supporting the disaster 
 assistance program in future major disaster or 
 emergency declarations.
 ``
            (D) Effectiveness of waiver.--Any waiver under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall take effect on the date on which 
 the Administrator posts information on the internet 
 website as provided for under subparagraph
            (C) .
 ``

    (e) Data Security.--The Administrator shall facilitate the 
collection of disaster assistance information into a unified 
application only after--
 ``

    (1) the Administrator certifies that the unified 
 application substantially complies with the data security 
 standards established pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 35 
 of title 44, United States Code, and any other applicable 
 Federal information security policy;
 ``

    (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a 
 privacy impact assessment for the unified application that is 
 similar to the privacy assessment conducted under 

section 208

    (b)

    (1)
        (B) of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
 note); and
 ``

    (3) the Administrator, in consultation with disaster 
 assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for 
 disaster assistance agencies and personnel granted access to 
 disaster assistance information to protect such information 
 from improper disclosure.
 ``

    (f) Certification of Disaster Assistance Agencies.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator may certify a Federal 
 agency as a disaster assistance agency after posting an 
 agreement between the Administrator and the Federal agency on a 
 public website that contains the detailed terms of the 
 agreement.
 ``

    (2) Contents of agreement.--An agreement between the 
 Administrator and a Federal agency described in paragraph

    (1) shall state that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
 the Federal agency will--
 ``
        (A) collect, disclose, maintain, and use disaster 
 assistance information in accordance with--
 ``
            (i) this section; and
 ``
            (ii) subject to subsection
            (i) (2) , any 
 existing policies of the Federal Emergency 
 Management Agency and the Federal agency for 
 information protection and use;
 ``
        (B) train any personnel granted access to 
 disaster assistance information on the rules of 
 behavior established by the Administrator under 
 subsection

    (e)

    (3) ;
 ``
            (C) in the event of any unauthorized disclosure 
 of disaster assistance information--
 ``
            (i) not later than 24 hours after 
 discovering the unauthorized disclosure--
 ``
            (I) in the case of an 
 unauthorized disclosure by the Federal 
 agency, notify the Administrator of the 
 disclosure; and
 ``
            (II) in the case of an 
 unauthorized disclosure by the Federal 
 Emergency Management Agency, notify 
 disaster assistance agencies of the 
 disclosure;
 ``
            (ii) cooperate fully with the 
 Administrator and disaster assistance agencies 
 in the investigation and remediation of the 
 disclosure; and
 ``
            (iii) cooperate fully in the prosecution 
 of a person responsible for the disclosure; and
 ``
            (D) assume responsibility for any compensation, 
 civil liability, or other remediation measure awarded 
 by a judgment of a court or agreed upon as a compromise 
 of any potential claim by or on behalf of an applicant, 
 including by obtaining credit monitoring and 
 remediation services, for an improper disclosure of 
 disaster assistance information that is--
 ``
            (i) caused, directly or indirectly, by 
 the acts or omissions of an officer, employee, 
 or contractor of the Federal agency; or
 ``
            (ii) from any electronic system of 
 records that was created or maintained by the 
 Federal agency pursuant to 

section 552a

    (e) of 
 title 5, United States Code.
 ``

    (g) Reports.--
 ``

    (1) FEMA.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 enactment of this section, and every year thereafter for 2 
 years, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of 
 disaster assistance agencies, shall submit to Congress a report 
 on the implementation of this section, including--
 ``
        (A) how disaster assistance agencies are working 
 together to implement the requirements under this 
 section;
 ``
        (B) the effect of this section on disaster 
 survivor burden and the speed and efficiency of 
 delivering disaster assistance; and
 ``
            (C) a description of any other challenges that 
 require further legislative action.
 ``

    (2) GAO.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
 enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the 
 United States shall submit to Congress a report on how the 
 implementation of this section has affected the disaster 
 survivor experience, and any recommendations for improvements 
 to the requirements under this section.
 ``

    (h) Briefings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, and again not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall brief 
Congress on--
 ``

    (1) the status of the implementation of the requirements 
 under this section; and
 ``

    (2) how disaster assistance agencies are working together 
 to implement the requirements under this section.
 ``
            (i) Rules of Construction.--
 ``

    (1) Inapplicability of matching program provisions.--The 
 disclosure and use of disaster assistance information subject 
 to the requirements of 

section 552a of title 5, United States 
 Code, among disaster assistance agencies or with State, local, 
 or Tribal governments carrying out disaster assistance programs 
 shall not--
 ``
        (A) be construed as a matching program for the 
 purpose of 

section 552a

    (a)

    (8) of title 5, United States 
 Code; or
 ``
        (B) be subject to subsection

    (e)

    (12) ,

    (o) ,

    (p)

    (1)
        (A)
            (ii) ,

    (q) ,

    (r) , or

    (u) of 

section 552a of 
 title 5, United States Code.
 ``

    (2) Authorities in other laws.--Nothing in this section 
 shall be construed to affect the authority of an entity to 
 share disaster assistance information regarding programs funded 
 or facilitated by the entity in accordance with any other law 
 or agency policy.
 ``

    (3) Applying to multiple programs.--Nothing in this 
 section shall be construed to require an applicant to apply to 
 more than 1 disaster assistance program.
 ``

    (4) Program authorization.--Nothing in this section shall 
 be construed to authorize a program that is not authorized by 
 law as of the date of enactment of this section.''.
 <all>