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42 U.S.C. § 5121 — Congressional findings and declarations

Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5121 — Congressional findings and declarations

**(a)** The Congress hereby finds and declares that— (1) because disasters often cause loss of life, human suffering, loss of income, and property loss and damage; and (2) because disasters often disrupt the normal functioning of governments and communities, and adversely affect individuals and families with great severity; special measures, designed to assist the efforts of the affected States in expediting the rendering of aid, assistance, and emergency services, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas, are necessary. **(b)** It is the intent of the Congress, by this chapter, to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal Government to State and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage which result from such disasters by— (1) revising and broadening the scope of existing disaster relief programs; (2) encouraging the development of comprehensive disaster preparedness and assistance plans, programs, capabilities, and organizations by the States and by local governments; (3) achieving greater coordination and responsiveness of disaster preparedness and relief programs; (4) encouraging individuals, States, and local governments to protect themselves by obtaining insurance coverage to supplement or replace governmental assistance; (5) encouraging hazard mitigation measures to reduce losses from disasters, including development of land use and construction regulations; (6) providing Federal assistance programs for both public and private losses sustained in disasters; and (7) identifying and improving the climate and natural hazard resilience of vulnerable communities.

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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_326279839aad662b1e5e18d2
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-42/section-5121-congressional-findings-and-declarations--0bee108742.md
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Source location: Title 42, Chapter 68, § 5121; chapter-068-disaster-relief.md

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**(a)** The Congress hereby finds and declares that— (1) because disasters often cause loss of life, human suffering, loss of income, and property loss and damage; and (2) because disasters often disrupt the normal functioning of governments and communities, and adversely affect individuals and families with great severity; special measures, designed to assist the efforts of the affected States in expediting the rendering of aid, assistance, and emergency services, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas, are necessary. **(b)** It is the intent of the Congress, by this chapter, to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal Government to State and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage which result from such disasters by— (1) revising and broadening the scope of existing disaster relief programs; (2) encouraging the development of comprehensive disaster preparedness and assistance plans, programs, capabilities, and organizations by the States and by local governments; (3) achieving greater coordination and responsiveness of disaster preparedness and relief programs; (4) encouraging individuals, States, and local governments to protect themselves by obtaining insurance coverage to supplement or replace governmental assistance; (5) encouraging hazard mitigation measures to reduce losses from disasters, including development of land use and construction regulations; (6) providing Federal assistance programs for both public and private losses sustained in disasters; and (7) identifying and improving the climate and natural hazard resilience of vulnerable communities.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

23 U.S.C. § 125 — Emergency relief

**(a) In General.—** Subject to this section and section 120, an emergency fund is authorized for expenditure by the Secretary for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads, and trails, in any area of the United States, including Indian reservations, that the Secretary finds have suffered serious damage as a result of— (1) a natural disaster over a wide area, such as by a flood, hurricane, tidal wave, earthquake, severe storm, wildfire, or landslide; or (2) catastrophic failure from any external cause. **(b) Restriction on Eligibility.—** Funds under this section shall not be used for the repair or reconstruction of a bridge that has been permanently closed to all vehicular traffic by the State or responsible local official because of imminent danger of collapse due to a structural deficiency or physical deterioration. **(c) Funding.—** (1) **In general.—** — Subject to the limitations described in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) such sums as are necessary to establish the fund authorized by this section and to replenish that fund on an annual basis. (2) **Limitations.—** — The limitations referred to in paragraph (1) are that— (A) not more than $100,000,000 is authorized to be obligated in any 1 fiscal year commencing after September 30, 1980, to carry out this section, except that, if for any fiscal year the total of all obligations under this section is less than the amount authorized to be obligated for the fiscal year, the unobligated balance of that amount shall— (i) remain available until expended; and (ii) be in addition to amounts otherwise available to carry out this section for each year; and (B) (i) pending such appropriation or replenish

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

7 U.S.C. § 2012 — Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term: **(a)** “Access device” means any card, plate, code, account number, or other means of access, including point of sale devices, that can be used, alone or in conjunction with another access device, to obtain payments, allotments, benefits, money, goods, or other things of value, or that can be used to initiate a transfer of funds under this chapter. **(b)** “Allotment” means the total value of benefits a household is authorized to receive during each month. **(c)** “Allowable medical expenses” means expenditures for (1) medical and dental care, (2) hospitalization or nursing care (including hospitalization or nursing care of an individual who was a household member immediately prior to entering a hospital or nursing home), (3) prescription drugs when prescribed by a licensed practitioner authorized under State law and over-the-counter medication (including insulin) when approved by a licensed practitioner or other qualified health professional, (4) health and hospitalization insurance policies (excluding the costs of health and accident or income maintenance policies), (5) medicare premiums related to coverage under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 1395](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1395&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], (6) dentures, hearing aids, and prosthetics (including the costs of securing and maintaining a seeing eye dog), (7) eye glasses prescribed by a physician skilled in eye disease or by an optometrist, (8) reasonable costs of transportation necessary to secure medical treatment or services, and (9) maintaining an attendant, homemaker, home health aide, housekeeper, or child care services due to age, infirmity, or illness. **(d) Benefit.—** The term “benefi

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 7 U.S.C. § 2012

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5179 — Benefits and distribution

**(a) Persons eligible; terms and conditions** Whenever the President determines that, as a result of a major disaster, low-income households are unable to purchase adequate amounts of nutritious food, he is authorized, under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, to distribute through the Secretary of Agriculture or other appropriate agencies benefit allotments to such households pursuant to the provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 of 1964 11 So in original. See 2008 Amendment note below. (P.L. 91–671; 84 Stat. 2048) [[7 U.S.C. 2011](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section2011&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] and to make surplus commodities available pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. **(b) Duration of assistance; factors considered** The President, through the Secretary of Agriculture or other appropriate agencies, is authorized to continue to make such benefit allotments and surplus commodities available to such households for so long as he determines necessary, taking into consideration such factors as he deems appropriate, including the consequences of the major disaster on the earning power of the households, to which assistance is made available under this section. **(c) Food and Nutrition Act provisions unaffected** Nothing in this section shall be construed as amending or otherwise changing the provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 of 1964 1 [[7 U.S.C. 2011](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section2011&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] except as they relate to the availability of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in an area affected by a major disaster.

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 5179

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5189 — Simplified procedure

**(a) In general** If the Federal estimate of the cost of— (1) repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing under [section 5172 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section5172&num=0&edition=prelim) any damaged or destroyed public facility or private nonprofit facility, (2) emergency assistance under section 5170b or 5192 of this title, or (3) debris removed under [section 5173 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section5173&num=0&edition=prelim), is less than $1,000,000 (or, if the Administrator has established a threshold under subsection (b), the amount established under subsection (b)), the President (on application of the State or local government or the owner or operator of the private nonprofit facility) may make the contribution to such State or local government or owner or operator under section 5170b, 5172, 5173, or 5192 of this title, as the case may be, on the basis of such Federal estimate. Such $1,000,000 amount or, if applicable, the amount established under subsection (b), shall be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor. **(b) Threshold** (1) **Report** — Not later than 1 year after January 29, 2013, the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (in this section referred to as the “Administrator”), shall— (A) complete an analysis to determine whether an increase in the threshold for eligibility under subsection (a) is appropriate, which shall include consideration of cost-effectiveness, speed of recovery, capacity of grantees, past performance, and accountability measures; and (B) submit to the Committee on Transpo

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 5189

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5202 — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 108(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4708

### Statutory Notes Section, Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 606, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 164; Pub. L. 95–51, § 1, June 20, 1977, 91 Stat. 233; Pub. L. 96–568, § 2, Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3334, authorized appropriations of such sums as necessary to carry out this chapter through the close of Sept. 30, 1981.

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 5202

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5195 — Authorization of appropriations and transfers of funds

**(a) Authorization of appropriations** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter. **(b) Transfer authority** Funds made available for the purposes of this subchapter may be allocated or transferred for any of the purposes of this subchapter, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to any agency or government corporation designated to assist in carrying out this subchapter. Each such allocation or transfer shall be reported in full detail to the Congress within 30 days after such allocation or transfer.

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 5195

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5133 — Predisaster hazard mitigation

**(a) Definition of small impoverished community** In this section, the term “small impoverished community” means a community of 3,000 or fewer individuals that is economically disadvantaged, as determined by the State in which the community is located and based on criteria established by the President. **(b) Establishment of program** The President may establish a program to provide technical and financial assistance to States and local governments to assist in the implementation of predisaster hazard mitigation measures that are cost-effective and are designed to reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property, including damage to critical services and facilities under the jurisdiction of the States or local governments. **(c) Approval by President** If the President determines that a State or local government has identified natural disaster hazards in areas under its jurisdiction and has demonstrated the ability to form effective public-private natural disaster hazard mitigation partnerships, the President, using amounts in the National Public Infrastructure Predisaster Mitigation Fund established under subsection (i) (referred to in this section as the “Fund”), may provide technical and financial assistance to the State or local government to be used in accordance with subsection (e). **(d) State recommendations** (1) **In general** (A) *Recommendations* — The Governor of each State may recommend to the President not fewer than five local governments to receive assistance under this section. (B) *Deadline for submission* — The recommendations under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted to the President not later than October 1, 2001, and each October 1st thereafter or such later date in the year as the President may establish. (C) *C

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 5133

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 5165e — Integrated plan for administrative cost reduction

**(a) In general** Not later than 365 days after February 29, 2016, the Administrator shall— (1) develop and implement an integrated plan to control and reduce administrative costs for major disasters, which shall include— (A) steps the Agency will take to reduce administrative costs; (B) milestones needed for accomplishing the reduction of administrative costs; (C) strategic goals for the average annual percentage of administrative costs of major disasters for each fiscal year; (D) the assignment of clear roles and responsibilities, including the designation of officials responsible for monitoring and measuring performance; and (E) a timetable for implementation; (2) compare the costs and benefits of tracking the administrative cost data for major disasters by the public assistance, individual assistance, hazard mitigation, and mission assignment programs, and if feasible, track this information; and (3) clarify Agency guidance and minimum documentation requirements for a direct administrative cost claimed by a grantee or subgrantee of a public assistance grant program. **(b) Congressional update** Not later than 90 days after February 29, 2016, the Administrator shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the plan required to be developed under subsection (a)(1). **(c) Updates** If the Administrator modifies the plan or the timetable under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report notifying Congress of the modification, which shall include the

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 5165e

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

6 U.S.C. § 721 — Surge Capacity Force

**(a) Establishment** (1) **In general** — Not later than 6 months after October 4, 2006, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan to establish and implement a Surge Capacity Force for deployment of individuals to respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including catastrophic incidents. (2) **Authority** (A) *In general* — Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the plan shall provide for individuals in the Surge Capacity Force to be trained and deployed under the authorities set forth in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [[42 U.S.C. 5121](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section5121&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.]. (B) *Exception* — If the Administrator determines that the existing authorities are inadequate for the training and deployment of individuals in the Surge Capacity Force, the Administrator shall report to Congress as to the additional statutory authorities that the Administrator determines necessary. **(b) Employees designated to serve** The plan shall include procedures under which the Secretary shall designate employees of the Department who are not employees of the Agency and shall, in conjunction with the heads of other Executive agencies, designate employees of those other Executive agencies, as appropriate, to serve on the Surge Capacity Force. **(c) Capabilities** The plan shall ensure that the Surge Capacity Force— (1) includes a sufficient number of individuals credentialed in accordance with [section 320 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title6-section320&num=0&edition=prelim) that are capable of deploying rapidly and efficiently after acti

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 6 U.S.C. § 721

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

33 U.S.C. § 701n — Emergency response to natural disasters

**(a) Emergency fund** (1) There is authorized an emergency fund to be expended in preparation for emergency response to any natural disaster, in flood fighting and rescue operations, or in the repair or restoration of any flood control work threatened or destroyed by flood, including the strengthening, raising, extending, realigning, or other modification thereof as may be necessary in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers for the adequate functioning of the work for flood control and subject to the condition that the Chief of Engineers may include modifications to the structure or project, or in implementation of nonstructural alternatives to the repair or restoration of such flood control work if requested by the non-Federal sponsor; in the emergency protection of federally authorized hurricane or shore protection being threatened when in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers such protection is warranted to protect against imminent and substantial loss to life and property; in the repair and restoration of any federally authorized hurricane or shore protective structure or project damaged or destroyed by wind, wave, or water action of other than an ordinary nature to the pre-storm level of protection, to the design level of protection, or, notwithstanding the authorized dimensions of the structure or project, to a level sufficient to meet the authorized purpose of such structure or project, whichever provides greater protection, when, in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers, such repair and restoration is warranted for the adequate functioning of the structure or project for hurricane or shore protection, including to ensure the structure or project is functioning adequately to protect against projected changes in wave action or height or storm surge (incl

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 33 U.S.C. § 701n

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