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Potential Stafford Act Declarations for the Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Issues for Congress [July 23, 2010]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, P.L. 93-288, presents several options, and could provide a number of programs, to address the Gulf Coast oil spill. That spill is currently being addressed by a law fashioned for that purpose, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, P.L. 101-380. An emergency declaration under the Stafford Act would appear a potential approach to the current situation since it is intended to lessen the impact of an imminent disaster. A major disaster declaration would open up more Stafford Act programs that might be especially appropriate for the needs generated by the spill. FEMA assistance can be rapid and flexible, but it also would need to be carefully delineated to avoid duplication of benefits and general confusion when working in the milieu of P.L. 101-380. Under that law, which provides both authorities and a fund for compensation, the incident is currently being addressed and the federal response coordinated. During the previous large spill, the Exxon Valdez in 1989, the President turned down the governor of Alaska's two requests for an emergency declaration. The rationale for the turndowns was that a declaration by the President would hinder the government's litigation against Exxon that promised substantial compensation for the incident."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2010-07-23
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Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program and Homeless Assistance [October 4, 2012]
"The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFS) is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), making the program somewhat unique in that its purpose is outside of the agency's traditional focus on preparedness and disaster recovery for individual disaster events. EFS funding is provided to private non-profit organizations and local governments to supplement and expand their efforts to provide shelter, food, and supportive services for homeless individuals, to strengthen efforts to create more effective and innovative local programs, and to conduct minimum rehabilitation of existing mass shelter or mass feeding facilities, but only to the extent necessary to make facilities safe, sanitary, and bring them into compliance with local building codes. [...] This report opens with a legislative history of the EFS program. It then examines the program's current structure and operations, including the composition and responsibilities of the EFS National Board (hereinafter National Board), which is chaired by FEMA, the formula the National Board uses to allocate available funds to eligible local jurisdictions, and the composition and responsibilities of EFS local boards. The report then provides an analysis of the EFS program's relationship to other programs assisting those with acute needs, examines its funding, and congressional debate concerning its efficacy in helping individuals meet emergency needs and transition out of poverty."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2012-10-04
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FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues [Updated April 16, 2008]
"Some have criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) emergency housing policies, particularly its approach to health and safety standards (as exemplified by the evidence of formaldehyde in both trailers and mobile homes), as well as its overall strategy to perform its housing mission. To address disaster housing issues, Congress could opt to consider questions such as the following: how have disaster housing needs traditionally been addressed under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288, as amended)? How did FEMA's approach during Hurricane Katrina differ from previous disasters and why? Should FEMA have pursued expanded authorities at the start of the disaster? Should housing vouchers have been used earlier and tailored to the disaster event? With a substantial amount of available funding provided by Congress, but without requesting expanded authority, FEMA found its sole option was to use traditional disaster housing practices. Those practices, successful for disasters of a historically familiar size, were hard-pressed to meet the unprecedented demands of the Katrina catastrophic disaster. There are potential events (New Madrid earthquake or other large natural or terrorist events) that could conceivably produce many of the same challenges presented by the Gulf Coast hurricane season of 2005. Those challenges include large, displaced populations spread across the nation and separated families unable to return because of the loss of not only their homes but also their places of employment. Federal disaster housing policy may remain an issue in the 110th Congress, because, as Hurricane Katrina illustrated, the continued existence of communities after a catastrophic event involves extensive federal assistance issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2008-04-16
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Examination of Federal Disaster Relief Under the Budget Control Act [February 10, 2012]
"Concern over the size of the federal budget deficit and the national debt has brought congressional attention, as an ancillary issue, to both the amount of funding the federal government provides to states and localities for disaster assistance and the processes the federal government uses to provide that assistance. The amount of funding provided by Congress for declared emergencies and major disasters has grown considerably in the past decade, driven principally by the hurricane season of 2005. Although funds have been reallocated at times from one account to another to provide for disaster-related assistance, disaster relief funding has historically not been fully offset. Disaster relief funding has usually not been tightly constrained, either, with supplemental spending bills often funding these activities outside the allocations of discretionary budget authority and outlays associated with budget resolutions. Two potential methods for reducing the impact of disaster assistance spending on the federal budget are (1) the use of offsets and (2) placing controls on the level of allowable spending. Among its provisions, the Budget Control Act (P.L. 112-25, hereafter the BCA) provides a mechanism designed, arguably, to limit spending on major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288, hereafter the Stafford Act), thereby limiting the impact of such spending on the budget deficit. This report reviews current disaster funding practices and examines potential issues presented to disaster funding under the BCA mechanism. The report also discusses how OMB [Office of Management and Budget] calculates the 'allowable adjustment' to discretionary spending caps for disaster relief pursuant to the BCA, and the potential policy implications that may result from that process."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Painter, William L.; McCarthy, Francis X.
2012-02-10
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FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues [Updated June 26, 2008]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report is an update to a report of the same name that discusses the issue of FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina. "In the past, FEMA's approaches have turned on practical and theoretical considerations. Practical considerations include the agency's ability to house families and individuals within a short time frame and in proximity to the original disaster, and in the case of Hurricane Katrina, to make contact with the hundreds of thousands of applicants who registered for assistance. Some of the theoretical policy considerations include questions of equity, self-reliance, federalism, and the duration of federal assistance. Those considerations have led to process questions concerning program stewardship and the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse of federal resources. The Post-Katrina Act Emergency Management Reform Act, enacted in October of 2006 (P.L. 109-295), changed FEMA housing policy to provide the President with greater flexibility for meeting the challenges of disasters on a large scale. Future debate on the housing issue may also be affected by the report on the National Disaster Housing Strategy (as directed in P.L. 109-295) that was due to Congress in 2007, but is not yet completed. Legislation in the 110th Congress, such as S. 2386, which restores the Mortgage/Rental Assistance program, demonstrates ongoing Congressional interest in programs that augment existing housing assistance. Also, legislation (S. 2382) that would mandate that the FEMA Administrator assess the need for manufactured housing units and develop a strategy to optimize their use and disposal of those not needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2008-06-26
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FEMA's Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer [August 27, 2007]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (referred to as the Stafford Act-42 U.S.C. 5721 et seq.) authorizes the President to issue 'major disaster' or 'emergency' declarations before or after catastrophes occur. Emergency declarations trigger aid that protects property, public health, and safety and lessens or averts the threat of an incident becoming a catastrophic event. A major disaster declaration, issued after catastrophes occur, constitutes broader authority for federal agencies to provide supplemental assistance to help state and local governments, families and individuals, and certain nonprofit organizations recover from the incident. The end result of a presidential disaster declaration is well known, if not entirely understood. Various forms of assistance are provided, including aid to families and individuals for uninsured needs and assistance to state and local governments and certain non-profits in rebuilding or replacing damaged infrastructure. The amount of assistance provided through Presidential disaster declarations has exceeded $100 billion. Often, in recent years, Congress has enacted supplemental appropriations legislation to cover unanticipated costs. While the amounts spent by the federal government on different programs may be reported, and the progress of the recovery can be observed, much less is known about the process that initiates all of this activity. Yet, it is a process that has resulted in an average of more than one disaster declaration a week over the last decade. The disaster declaration procedure is foremost a process that preserves the discretion of the governor to request assistance and the president to decide to grant, or not to grant, supplemental help."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2007-08-27
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Homelessness: Targeted Federal Programs and Recent Legislation [May 17, 2012]
From the Summary: "The causes of homelessness and determining how best to assist those who find themselves homeless became particularly prominent, visible issues in the 1980s. The concept of homelessness may seem like a straightforward one, with individuals and families who have no place to live falling within the definition. However, the extent of homelessness in this country and how best to address it depend upon how one defines the condition of being homeless. [...] This report describes the federal programs that are targeted to assist those who are homeless; includes recent funding levels (see 'Table 1' and 'Table 2'); discusses current issues, including homelessness after the economic downturn and federal efforts to end homelessness; and provides information on recent legislation. Among active legislation are bills to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which includes transitional housing for those who are homeless as a result of domestic violence (S. 1925 and H.R. 4970) and legislation that would, among other things, reauthorize the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program (H.R. 3989 and H.R. 3990)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; McCallion, Gail; Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-
2012-05-17
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Considerations for a Catastrophic Declaration: Issues and Analysis [July 6, 2011]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) is the principal authority governing federal emergency and disaster response in the United States. The act authorizes the President to issue three categories of declaration: (1) major disaster, (2) emergency, or (3) fire assistance declarations in response to incidents that overwhelm the resources of state and local governments. Once a declaration is issued, a wide range of federal disaster assistance becomes available to eligible individuals and households, public entities, and certain nonprofit organizations. Disaster assistance authorized by the Stafford Act is appropriated by Congress and provided through the Disaster Relief Fund. Emergency declarations supplement and promote coordination of local and state efforts such as evacuations and protection of public assets. They may also be declared prior to the impact of an incident to protect property, public health and safety and lessen or avert the threat of a major disaster or catastrophe. […] This report examines concerns expressed by policymakers and experts that current Stafford Act declarations are inadequate to respond to, and recover from, highly destructive events, and presents the arguments for and against amending the act to add a catastrophic declaration amendment. This report also includes data analyses of past and potential disasters to determine what incidents might be deemed as catastrophic, and explores alternative policy options that might obviate the need for catastrophic declarations. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Lindsay, Bruce R.
2011-07-06
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Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program and Homeless Assistance [October 5, 2012]
"The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board (EFS) Program provides supplemental funding to homeless services providers across the nation. EFS was first authorized by P.L. 100-77, the Stewart B. McKinney-Bruce Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Title III, McKinney-Vento Act), which became law in 1987. Eligible services include the provision of overnight shelter and served meals, assistance to food banks and pantries, one month's rental or mortgage assistance to prevent evictions, and one month's utility payments to prevent service cut-offs. Since its inception, the program's recipient organizations have provided over 2 billion meals, 241 million nights of shelter, 4.3 million rent and mortgage payments, and 5.9 million utility payments. The program is administered by the EFS National Board, which is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and is comprised of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, the National Council of Churches, the Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities of North America, and United Way Worldwide. Two of the program's distinguishing features are its focus on local decision-making, and its relatively modest administrative costs. […] This report examines the administrative history of the program, the evolution of its award process, and the issues that Congress may consider as the EFS program approaches its fourth decade. In particular, the report highlights recent program delays in funding and, in general, how the EFS program and its emphasis on emergency services fit into the context of the federal government's approach to addressing homelessness."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2012-10-05
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Department of Homeland Security: FY2013 Appropriations [Updated June 21, 2013]
From the Document: "This report presents an analysis of the discretionary appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2013 (FY2013). It compares the President's request for FY2013 funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the enacted FY2012 appropriations for DHS, the House-passed and Senate-reported DHS appropriations legislation for FY2013, and the final DHS appropriations legislation included in Division D of P.L. 113-6. It tracks legislative action and congressional issues related to these bills with particular attention paid to discretionary funding amounts. The report does not provide indepth analysis of specific issues related to mandatory funding--such as retirement pay--nor does the report systematically follow any other legislation related to the authorization or amendment of DHS programs, activities, or fee revenues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.; Schwemle, Barbara L.; Bjelopera, Jerome P. . . .
2013-06-21
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Department of Homeland Security: FY2015 Appropriations [Updated June 2, 2015]
From the Document: "This report describes and analyzes the discretionary appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2015 (FY2015). It compares the President's request for FY2015 funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the enacted FY2014 appropriations for DHS, the House- and Senate-reported homeland security appropriations measures for FY2015, and the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 (P.L. 114-4)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.; Schwemle, Barbara L.; Bjelopera, Jerome P. . . .
2015-06-02
