6 U.S.C. § 316 — Preserving the Federal Emergency Man-

Page 163 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 317 1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘authorities, responsibil- ities, or functions’’. cy, including the functions of the Director of the Fed- eral Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treat- ment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of this title and the De- partment of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of this title. § 316. Preserving the Federal Emergency Man- agement Agency (a) Distinct entity The Agency shall be maintained as a distinct entity within the Department. (b) Reorganization Section 452 of this title shall not apply to the Agency, including any function or organiza- tional unit of the Agency. (c) Prohibition on changes to missions (1) In general The Secretary may not substantially or sig- nificantly reduce, including through a Joint Task Force established under section 348 of this title, the authorities, responsibilities, or functions of the Agency or the capability of the Agency to perform those missions, au- thorities, responsibilities,1 except as otherwise specifically provided in an Act enacted after October 4, 2006. (2) Certain transfers prohibited No asset, function, or mission of the Agency may be diverted to the principal and con- tinuing use of any other organization, unit, or entity of the Department, including a Joint Task Force established under section 348 of this title, except for details or assignments that do not reduce the capability of the Agen- cy to perform its missions. (d) Reprogramming and transfer of funds In reprogramming or transferring funds, the Secretary shall comply with any applicable pro- visions of any Act making appropriations for the Department for fiscal year 2007, or any suc- ceeding fiscal year, relating to the reprogram- ming or transfer of funds. (Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 506, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 611(13), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1400; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XIX, § 1901(d)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2670.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 506 of Pub. L. 107–296 was renumbered section 502 and is classified to section 312 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2016—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 114–328, § 1901(d)(1)(A), in- serted ‘‘, including through a Joint Task Force estab- lished under section 348 of this title, after ‘‘reduce’’. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 114–328, § 1901(d)(1)(B), inserted ‘‘including a Joint Task Force established under sec- tion 348 of this title,’’ after ‘‘Department,’’. § 317. Regional offices (a) In general There are in the Agency 10 regional offices, as identified by the Administrator. (b) Management of regional offices (1) Regional Administrator Each Regional Office shall be headed by a Regional Administrator who shall be ap- pointed by the Administrator, after consulting with State, local, and tribal government offi- cials in the region. Each Regional Adminis- trator shall report directly to the Adminis- trator and be in the Senior Executive Service. (2) Qualifications (A) In general Each Regional Administrator shall be ap- pointed from among individuals who have a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland secu- rity. (B) Considerations In selecting a Regional Administrator for a Regional Office, the Administrator shall consider the familiarity of an individual with the geographical area and demographic characteristics of the population served by such Regional Office. (c) Responsibilities (1) In general The Regional Administrator shall work in partnership with State, local, and tribal gov- ernments, emergency managers, emergency response providers, medical providers, the pri- vate sector, nongovernmental organizations, multijurisdictional councils of governments, and regional planning commissions and orga- nizations in the geographical area served by the Regional Office to carry out the respon- sibilities of a Regional Administrator under this section. (2) Responsibilities The responsibilities of a Regional Adminis- trator include— (A) ensuring effective, coordinated, and in- tegrated regional preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation activities and programs for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters (in- cluding planning, training, exercises, and professional development); (B) assisting in the development of re- gional capabilities needed for a national cat- astrophic response system; (C) coordinating the establishment of ef- fective regional operable and interoperable emergency communications capabilities; (D) staffing and overseeing 1 or more strike teams within the region under sub- section (f), to serve as the focal point of the Federal Government’s initial response ef- forts for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters within that region, and otherwise building Federal re- sponse capabilities to respond to natural dis- asters, acts of terrorism, and other man- made disasters within that region; (E) designating an individual responsible for the development of strategic and oper- ational regional plans in support of the Na- tional Response Plan; (F) fostering the development of mutual aid and other cooperative agreements;