Restructures FEMA as a cabinet-level independent agency and makes a broad set of changes to how federal disaster aid is delivered for public facilities, homeowners, renters, mitigation projects, and environmental reviews.

• Establishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a cabinet-level independent establishment, with an Administrator appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and transfers FEMA functions out of the Department of Homeland Security within one year.
• Sets a 75 percent minimum federal cost share for repairing damaged public and private nonprofit facilities, creates cost-estimate review deadlines of 90 days, and requires a 5-year deadline for submitting estimates.
• Allows a 180-day-later effective date for the public facility grant changes and directs FEMA to create a unified interagency review process for environmental and historic reviews of disaster recovery projects.
• Allows states to take over certain federal environmental review responsibilities under a written agreement with the Administrator, with inspector general audits.
• Requires FEMA to provide a universal application for individual assistance, adds a Veterans Advocate position at FEMA, and requires a public dashboard tracking individual assistance applications and denials.

• Homeland Security Committee (House)
• Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee
• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (House)
• Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

Emergency Management