Environment (Emergency Management) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate May 1, 2025

S 1564: Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act

S 1564, the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act, exempts ecosystem restoration projects from standard flood insurance map change fees and streamlines approvals for projects that recover or enhance floodplain functions. It allows communities to permit certain restoration projects within regulatory floodways if they meet specific criteria: the project won't increase base flood elevations by more than 1 foot, won't harm critical infrastructure, and includes a post-project analysis submitted within 180 days. The bill directly affects communities, developers, and landowners undertaking floodplain restoration, as it modifies FEMA's processes for approving such projects under the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must issue implementing guidance within 180 days of the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 13, 2025

S 1019: Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help rural water and wastewater systems prepare for and respond to disasters. It authorizes $20 million annually (2025-2029) for grants to qualified nonprofit organizations with disaster response experience, enabling them to provide onsite support, develop emergency plans, improve system resilience, and conduct assessments. The program specifically targets disadvantaged communities lacking resources for water system safety and covers activities like emergency repairs, vulnerability assessments, and coordination with agencies like FEMA. Eligible nonprofits must have licensed personnel or relevant expertise and cannot duplicate other federal funding.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Natural Disasters Tags Emergency Management Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 25, 2025

S 1107: MATCH Act of 2025

S 1107, the MATCH Act of 2025, allows states, local governments, and federally recognized tribes to pay for urgent emergency watershed protection measures (like flood prevention after disasters) before formally agreeing with the federal government. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to identify eligible emergency measures and create a state-level process for sponsors to request these upfront costs within 180 days of the bill's enactment. If an agreement is later made, these pre-agreement costs count toward the sponsor’s required contribution. However, sponsors bear the full risk of incurring these costs if no agreement is reached. The bill does not guarantee federal funding but streamlines cost-sharing for immediate disaster response.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Water Quality Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Nov 8, 2025

HR 5983: National Resilience and Recovery Fund Act

This bill creates a National Resilience and Recovery Fund financed by specific taxes on crude oil and natural gas production. The fund will be supported by taxes from Gulf of Mexico offshore oil production, environmental taxes on crude oil, and a new windfall profits tax on large crude oil producers exceeding 300,000 barrels per day in 2023. The money will directly support four existing federal disaster resilience programs: Hazard Mitigation Grants, Building Resilient Infrastructure, Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loans, and Flood Mitigation Assistance. The bill also clarifies that certain oil types (including oil from tar sands and oil shale) will be subject to these taxes, with the windfall tax applying to producers exceeding specified production thresholds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Transportation Funding Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5781: MATCH Act of 2025

The MATCH Act of 2025 creates a new emergency watershed program allowing state, local, or tribal governments to incur costs for urgent cleanup work after natural disasters *before* formally agreeing with the federal government. It requires the Secretary to identify eligible emergency measures and establish a state-level process for sponsors to request reimbursement for these preagreement costs within 180 days. Sponsors assuming these costs bear the financial risk, but if a formal agreement is later signed, those preagreement costs count toward the sponsor’s required contribution. The bill does not obligate the federal government to enter agreements, focusing solely on enabling reimbursement for specific, pre-approved emergency actions.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Water Quality Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2025

HR 403: Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to prioritize disaster resilience funding for vulnerable communities. It defines "environmental justice communities" (communities of color, low-income, or Tribal areas facing higher environmental risks) and "small impoverished communities" (under 50,000 people, economically disadvantaged), requiring FEMA to prioritize these groups for assistance. The bill increases federal funding coverage to 90% for mitigation projects in these communities (up from 75%) and mandates that projects account for future climate risks in design. It also creates a new federal database to track disaster spending and requires FEMA to provide outreach support to help eligible communities apply for funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Revenue Coastal & Flood Protection Environmental Justice Natural Disasters Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Jun 5, 2025

HR 3771: Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act

This bill establishes a federal program to improve coastal flood and storm surge forecasting through better models, data, and community preparedness. It directs the Under Secretary of Commerce to prioritize real-time prediction of ocean-driven flooding, incorporate sensor data (like urban heat mapping), and develop probabilistic forecasts for use by emergency managers and communities. The program also requires identifying and filling "data voids" in vulnerable coastal areas to enhance weather observations and emergency response tools, with pilot projects focusing on critical infrastructure like dams and power plants. Key mechanisms include annual budget submissions to Congress and interagency coordination with FEMA and the National Weather Service to implement these improvements.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2025

HR 5085: To exempt Federal actions related to the construction of infill housing from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.

HR 5085 exempts federal agencies from conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for infill housing projects that meet specific criteria. These projects must be located on previously developed urban sites (under 20 acres, with 75% urban adjacency), pass required environmental assessments, and avoid high-risk wildfire/flood zones per FEMA data. The bill also shortens FEMA’s natural hazard risk assessment update cycle from every 5 to every 3 years. This directly affects federal agencies approving housing developments and developers seeking streamlined project approvals.

Topics ✗ Environment ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Forestry Natural Disasters Affordable Housing Building Codes Zoning Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Jun 4, 2025

HR 3704: Coordinated Federal Response to Extreme Heat Act of 2025

This bill establishes a federal interagency committee within NOAA to coordinate heat-health response across 15+ departments (including HHS, EPA, and FEMA) and requires a 5-year strategic plan to improve data sharing, research, and public communication about extreme heat. It creates the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) to centralize heat-related data and forecasts, making it openly available for public use. The law mandates $5 million annually for 2025-2029 to fund these efforts, directly affecting federal agencies, state/local governments, Tribal nations, and communities facing heat risks. Key provisions include standardizing heat definitions, requiring agency coordination, and building public health preparedness tools to reduce heat-related illness and death.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Public Health Tags Emergency Management

in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1786: Harmful Algal Bloom Disaster Relief Act

HR 1786 amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to explicitly include "algal blooms" as a qualifying event for federal disaster declarations. This change expands eligibility for federal disaster assistance to communities affected by harmful algal blooms, which can contaminate water and harm ecosystems. The bill modifies Section 102(2) of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) by adding "algal blooms" to the list of recognized disasters alongside drought. It is a procedural adjustment to the law's definition, not a new funding or program.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Natural Disasters Water Quality Tags Emergency Management

All environment bills