Summary:
Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015

TITLE I--EMERGENCY DROUGHT RESPONSE APPROPRIATIONS FROM RECLAMATION FUND This bill provides emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2015 from the Reclamation Fund to the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Army Corps of Engineers for water projects, programs, grants, or loans in states impacted by drought.

Interior is provided additional amounts for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), including amounts for water reclamation and reuse projects, the WaterSMART program under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, and water acquisition, water conveyance, and facilities construction under the Refuge Water Supply Program.

The EPA is provided additional amounts for cleanup of polluted groundwater supplies, capitalization grants for state water pollution control revolving funds and for drinking water treatment revolving loan funds, and loans under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014.

USDA is provided additional amounts for: (1) the Rural Utilities Service for direct and guaranteed loans and grants for rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal programs; and (2) emergency grants, upon declaration of a natural disaster, to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to address impacts of drought.

Additional amounts are also provided to:

 DOJ for the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist state or local law enforcement agencies in the suppression of cannabis operations; the Army Corps to carry out the Water Resources and Development Act of 2007; and projects under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 in drought-affected states that reduce fire risk, improve water quality or downstream water quantity, or expand ground water recharge capacity. TITLE II--NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AUTHORIZATIONS

National Water Recycling and Reclamation Act of 2015

The EPA must establish a National Water Recycling and Reclamation Program to provide private or governmental entities with grants for up to 80% of the costs for water recycling and reclamation projects for which eligible costs are anticipated to exceed $1 million. Selection criteria for such grants include the extent to which projects address water demand and supply, environmental protection, and federal return on investment through renewable water supplies.

Reclamation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act or RIFIA

Interior may provide financial assistance, such as secured loans or loan guarantees, to private entities, state or local governments, irrigation districts, water users' associations, or other entities that contract with the United States under federal reclamation law to carry out water projects within the 17 western states served by Reclamation, other states where Reclamation is authorized to provide project assistance, Alaska, and Hawaii. Projects eligible for assistance include:

 reclamation and reuse of municipal, industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater and naturally impaired ground; water infrastructure projects that would contribute to a safe, adequate water supply for domestic, agricultural, environmental, or municipal and industrial use; new water conduits, pipelines, canals, pumping or power facilities; energy efficiency projects; accelerated repair and replacement of aging water distribution facilities; brackish or sea water desalination; or acquisition of real property or an interest therein for water storage, reclaimed or recycled water, or wastewater that is integral to an authorized project. Priority must be given to projects that promote wastewater recycling, agricultural or urban water conservation and efficiency, stormwater capture, or other innovations that reduce reliance on surface and groundwater supplies.

To be eligible for assistance, eligible project costs of a project and other projects in a watershed must be reasonably anticipated to be at least $10 million.

The interest of a secured loan may not be more than the yield on Treasury securities of a similar maturity.

 Interior may sell or reoffer into the capital markets a secured loan after the substantial completion of the project. The final maturity date of a secured loan may not be later than 35 years after the expected date of substantial completion of the underlying project.

Interior may also enter into cost-shared financial assistance agreements with nonfederal entities in the 17 Reclamation-served western states or Hawaii to carry out the planning, design, and construction of any permanent water storage and conveyance facility used solely to regulate and maximize the water supply arising from a project that is eligible for assistance, including recycled water projects not congressionally authorized, to: (1) recycle wastewater or ground water, or (2) use integrated and coordinated water management on a watershed or regional scale. The federal share of the cost of such a project shall be: (1) nonreimbursable, and (2) the lesser of 50% of the total cost or $15 million (adjusted for inflation). Reclamation Title Transfer Act of 2015 Reclamation may establish a program that: (1) identifies and analyzes the potential for public benefits from the transfer of eligible facilities out of federal ownership, and (2) facilitates the transfer of such facilities to qualifying entities to promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities.

"Eligible facilities" is defined as reclamation projects or facilities (including dams and appurtenant works, infrastructure, recreational facilities, buildings, distribution and drainage works, and associated land or interests in land or water) for which the United States holds title and that meet the criteria for potential transfer. A "qualifying entity" is a state, local government, Indian tribe, municipal or quasi-municipal corporation, or other entity (such as a water district) that has the capacity to continue to manage the conveyed property for the same purposes that the property has been managed under the reclamation laws.

Reclamation may convey an eligible facility to a qualifying entity if Congress is notified before the conveyance and does not disapprove. A right of first refusal is granted to a qualifying entity that is operating an eligible facility at the time conveyance is being considered.

The bill terminates Reclamation's authority to carry out such conveyances 15 years after this Act's enactment.

Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015

The EPA must provide grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure. One of the centers must be the national electronic clearinghouse center and must operate a website and a public database on the infrastructure.

The EPA must provide grants for innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects and must give priority to applications from: (1) a community that has combined storm and sanitary sewers in its collection system or is low-income or disadvantaged, or (2) an eligible entity that will use at least 10% of the grant for a low-income or disadvantaged community.

The EPA must ensure that: (1) EPA offices promote the use of the infrastructure in, and coordinate its integration into, permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance; and (2) the EPA's Office of Water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of the infrastructure.

The EPA must: (1) direct EPA regional offices to promote and integrate the use of the infrastructure, and (2) promote sharing information about the infrastructure approaches. The EPA must establish an innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard consisting of voluntary, measurable goals to increase the percentage of annual water managed by entities that use the infrastructure.

TITLE III--IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Restoring America's Watersheds Act of 2015

The Forest Service must establish a Water Source Protection Program within the region of the National Forest System west of the 100th Meridian.

USDA is authorized to enter into water source investment partnerships with specified end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds that provide water to nonfederal partners.

The Forest Service must establish a Watershed Condition Framework within such region to: (1) identify for restoration up to five priority watersheds in each National Forest and up to two priority watersheds in each national grassland, and (2) develop and implement a watershed restoration action plan for each priority watershed.

The Forest Service must also establish a Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Program within such region to:

 carry out critical maintenance and urgent repairs and improvements on National Forest System roads, trails, and bridges; restore fish and other aquatic organism passage by removing or replacing unnatural barriers to the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms; and decommission unneeded roads and trails. The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund is reauthorized through FY2024.

Five Demonstrations of Advancing Yields by Fixing Operations of Reservoirs to Encompass Climatic and Atmospheric Science Trends Act

The Department of the Army must establish up to five pilot projects to implement forecast-based reservoir operations in states with drought emergencies during water year 2015.

Interior must establish a wind and solar energy leasing pilot program to conduct lease sales of certain sites located on Reclamation land for purposes of carrying out wind and solar energy projects. The bill sets forth procedures for qualified developers to bid on sites that Interior offers for lease. Interior, within five years after enactment of this Act, must determine whether to expand the pilot program to apply to all authorized Reclamation lands.

The general term for issued leases is: (1) an initial term of 25 years, and (2) any additional period after the initial 25-year term during which electricity is being produced annually in commercial quantities from the lease. However, a lease term may not be more than 5 years for the placement and operation of a meteorological or data collection facility or for the development or demonstration of a new wind or solar energy technology.

Interior must establish and require payment of a royalty as a condition of issued leases. The royalty must be a percentage of the gross proceeds from the sale of electricity produced on land that is the subject of the lease.

Lease royalties and authorized bonuses collected by Interior must be distributed in a manner such that:

 25% is paid to the states and 25% is paid to the counties within the boundaries of which the royalties or bonuses are derived; 25% is deposited into a Fish and Wildlife Restoration Fund for Interior to use or make payments to states, federal agencies, or others for protecting fish and wildlife in regions impacted by the development of hydropower by federal agencies and the development of wind or solar energy on Reclamation land; 15% is paid to state Reclamation offices during the first 15 years after enactment of this Act for purposes of reducing the number of renewable energy permits that have not been processed before the enactment of this Act; and the remainder is deposited into the general fund of the Treasury for purposes of reducing the annual federal budget deficit. The Safe Drinking Water Act is amended to require a state to operate an EPA-prescribed injection control program for underground wells if the EPA finds that the state improperly issued permits under the state's underground injection control program.

DOJ must maintain a registry of incidents of cultivation of marijuana on government property or while intentionally trespassing on another's property.

DOJ is authorized to use amounts from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to pay for costs incurred by state, local, or tribal governments in connection with the remediation of an area formerly used for the production or cultivation of marijuana in which such a government assisted in a federal prosecution related to marijuana.

The bill requires court sentences for certain marijuana offenses to include an order requiring the defendant to reimburse federal, state, or local governments for costs incurred for cleanup associated with the cultivation of marijuana by the defendant or on premises or in property that the defendant owns, resides in, or does business in.

 The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is amended to: (1) include "planning for or addressing the impact of drought" among the activities for which Reclamation may make grants and enter cooperative agreements for water management improvement, (2) include Hawaii among the states in which eligible grant and agreement applicants may be located, (3) reauthorize such grants and agreements for FY2015-FY2023, and (4) reauthorize the authority of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide grants to state water resource agencies under the national water availability and use assessment program for FY2014-FY2023.

The Internal Revenue Code is amended to establish a refundable tax credit for the purchase and installation of a qualified water-harvesting system.

The Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 is amended to authorize Interior, subject to feasibility studies and other specified conditions, to develop additional project benefits (such as additional conservation storage capacity) through the construction of new or supplementary works on a project in conjunction with its authority to modify Reclamation dams and related facilities to preserve their structural safety. Interior may expend available appropriated funds for construction of a project that meets certain environmental standards, but the bill prohibits the federal cost-share from exceeding 25% of the project costs.

TITLE IV--PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Water Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2015

The Department of Energy must establish a program to award prizes for development of water desalination technologies.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service must collaborate with Reclamation to provide assistance, upon request, to water or power delivery authorities for purposes of increasing water use efficiency and providing on-farm assistance to address water quantity and water quality conservation practices.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must prepare a California salmon drought plan.

The President must update the National Response Plan and the National Disaster Recovery Framework to include a plan for catastrophic drought.

drought recovery resilience act title emergency drought response appropriations reclamation fund bill provides emergency supplemental appropriations fy2015 reclamation fund department_of_the_interior environmental_protection_agency epa department_of_agriculture usda department_of_justice doj army_corps_of_engineers water projects programs grants loans states impacted drought interior provided additional amounts bureau_of_reclamation reclamation including amounts water reclamation reuse projects program reclamation_states emergency drought relief_act water acquisition water conveyance facilities construction refuge water supply program epa provided additional amounts cleanup groundwater supplies capitalization grants state water pollution control revolving funds drinking water treatment revolving loan funds loans water_infrastructure_finance innovation_act usda provided additional amounts rural_utilities_service direct guaranteed loans grants rural water wastewater waste disposal programs emergency grants declaration natural disaster assist low income migrant seasonal farmworkers address impacts drought additional amounts provided doj drug_enforcement_administration assist state local law enforcement agencies suppression cannabis operations army corps carry water resources development act projects land_and_water_conservation_fund_act drought affected states reduce fire risk improve water quality downstream water quantity expand ground water recharge capacity title new water infrastructure program authorizations national water recycling reclamation act epa establish national water recycling reclamation program provide private governmental entities grants costs water recycling reclamation projects eligible costs anticipated exceed million selection criteria grants include extent projects address water demand supply environmental protection federal return investment renewable water supplies reclamation infrastructure finance innovation_act interior provide financial assistance secured loans loan guarantees private entities state local governments irrigation districts water users associations entities contract united_states federal reclamation law carry water projects western states served reclamation states reclamation authorized provide project assistance alaska hawaii projects eligible assistance include reclamation reuse municipal industrial domestic agricultural wastewater naturally impaired ground water infrastructure projects contribute safe adequate water supply domestic agricultural environmental municipal industrial use new water conduits pipelines canals pumping power facilities energy efficiency projects accelerated repair replacement aging water distribution facilities brackish sea water desalination acquisition real property interest water storage recycled water wastewater integral authorized project priority given projects promote wastewater recycling agricultural urban water conservation efficiency stormwater capture innovations reduce reliance surface groundwater supplies eligible assistance eligible project costs project projects watershed reasonably anticipated million interest secured loan yield treasury securities similar maturity interior sell capital markets secured loan substantial completion project final maturity date secured loan later years expected date substantial completion underlying project interior enter cost shared financial assistance agreements nonfederal entities reclamation served western states hawaii carry planning design construction permanent water storage conveyance facility solely regulate maximize water supply arising project eligible assistance including recycled water projects congressionally authorized recycle wastewater ground water use integrated coordinated water management watershed regional scale federal share cost project shall nonreimbursable lesser total cost million adjusted inflation reclamation title transfer act reclamation establish program identifies analyzes potential public benefits transfer eligible facilities federal ownership facilitates transfer facilities qualifying entities promote efficient management water water related facilities eligible facilities defined reclamation projects facilities including dams appurtenant works infrastructure recreational facilities buildings distribution drainage works associated land interests land water united_states holds title meet criteria potential transfer qualifying entity state local government indian tribe municipal quasi municipal corporation entity water district capacity continue manage conveyed property purposes property managed reclamation laws reclamation convey eligible facility qualifying entity congress notified conveyance disapprove right refusal granted qualifying entity operating eligible facility time conveyance considered bill terminates reclamation authority carry conveyances years act enactment innovative stormwater infrastructure act epa provide grants eligible higher education institutions research institutions establish maintain centers_of_excellence innovative stormwater control infrastructure centers national electronic clearinghouse center operate website public database infrastructure epa provide grants innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects priority applications community combined storm sanitary sewers collection system low income disadvantaged eligible entity use grant low income disadvantaged community epa ensure epa offices promote use infrastructure coordinate integration permitting programs planning efforts research technical assistance funding guidance epa office_of_water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms implementation infrastructure epa direct epa regional offices promote integrate use infrastructure promote sharing information infrastructure approaches epa establish innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard consisting voluntary measurable goals increase percentage annual water managed entities use infrastructure title iii improved infrastructure water management restoring america watersheds act forest_service establish water source protection program region national_forest_system west usda authorized enter water source investment partnerships specified end water users protect restore condition national_forest watersheds provide water nonfederal partners forest_service establish watershed condition framework region identify restoration priority watersheds national_forest priority watersheds national grassland develop implement watershed restoration action plan priority watershed forest_service establish forest_service legacy roads trails remediation program region carry critical maintenance urgent repairs improvements national_forest_system roads trails bridges restore fish aquatic organism passage removing replacing barriers passage fish aquatic organisms decommission roads trails collaborative forest landscape restoration fund reauthorized fy2024 demonstrations advancing yields fixing operations reservoirs encompass climatic atmospheric science trends act department_of_the_army establish pilot projects implement forecast based reservoir operations states drought emergencies water year interior establish wind solar energy leasing pilot program conduct lease sales certain sites located reclamation land purposes carrying wind solar energy projects bill sets forth procedures qualified developers bid sites interior offers lease interior years enactment act determine expand pilot program apply authorized reclamation lands general term issued leases initial term years additional period initial year term electricity produced annually commercial quantities lease lease term years placement operation meteorological data collection facility development demonstration new wind solar energy technology interior establish require payment royalty condition issued leases royalty percentage gross proceeds sale electricity produced land subject lease lease royalties authorized bonuses collected interior distributed manner paid states paid counties boundaries royalties bonuses derived deposited fish wildlife restoration fund interior use payments states federal agencies protecting fish wildlife regions impacted development hydropower federal agencies development wind solar energy reclamation land paid state reclamation offices years enactment act purposes reducing number renewable energy permits processed enactment act remainder deposited general_fund_of_the_treasury purposes reducing annual federal budget deficit safe_drinking_water_act amended require state operate epa prescribed injection control program underground wells epa finds state improperly issued permits state underground injection control program doj maintain registry incidents cultivation marijuana government property intentionally trespassing property doj authorized use amounts department_of_justice assets forfeiture fund pay costs incurred state local tribal governments connection remediation area production cultivation marijuana government assisted federal prosecution related marijuana bill requires court sentences certain marijuana offenses include order requiring defendant reimburse federal state local governments costs incurred cleanup associated cultivation marijuana defendant premises property defendant owns resides business omnibus_public_land_management_act amended include planning addressing impact drought activities reclamation grants enter cooperative agreements water management improvement include hawaii states eligible grant agreement applicants located reauthorize grants agreements fy2015 fy2023 reauthorize authority geological survey provide grants state water resource agencies national water availability use assessment program fy2014-fy2023 internal_revenue_code amended establish refundable tax credit purchase installation qualified water harvesting system reclamation safety dams act amended authorize interior subject feasibility studies specified conditions develop additional project benefits additional conservation storage capacity construction new supplementary works project conjunction authority modify reclamation dams related facilities preserve structural safety interior expend available appropriated funds construction project meets certain environmental standards bill prohibits federal cost share exceeding project costs title planning future water innovation prize competition act department_of_energy establish program award prizes development water desalination technologies natural_resources_conservation_service collaborate reclamation provide assistance request water power delivery authorities purposes increasing water use efficiency providing farm assistance address water quantity water quality conservation practices fish_and_wildlife_service prepare california salmon drought plan president update national response plan national disaster recovery framework include plan catastrophic drought


Summary:
Water Recycling Acceleration Act of 2015

Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to provide that any water recycling project for which funding may otherwise be available under such Act shall not be required to have been previously specifically authorized by law for such funding, if that project reclaims and reuses: (1) municipal, industrial, domestic, or agricultural wastewater; or (2) naturally impaired ground and surface waters.

Requires the Department of the Interior to give funding priority to such projects:

 that are located in an area that has been identified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought at any time during the previous four-year period or that was designated as a disaster area by the state between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018; that are likely to provide for a more reliable water supply and to protect, restore, and enhance river or estuarine ecosystems or their immediate tributaries; that are likely to improve water resource flexibility and reduce impacts on environmental resources; that are regional in nature; that have multiple stakeholders; that provide multiple benefits, including water supply reliability, ecosystem benefits, groundwater management and enhancements, and water quality improvements; and for which a feasibility study has been completed and any necessary environmental or public reviews have been initiated. Requires Interior to: (1) issue water recycling project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that include such criteria; (2) solicit water recycling project proposals; and (3) review each proposed water recycling project for the purpose of determining whether or not the proposal, and the process under which the proposal was developed, comply with federal law applicable to the development of water recycling projects.

Terminates Interior's authority under this Act 10 years after its enactment.

water recycling acceleration act amends reclamation_wastewater groundwater_study facilities act provide water recycling project funding available act shall required previously specifically authorized law funding project municipal industrial domestic agricultural wastewater naturally impaired ground surface waters requires department_of_the_interior funding priority projects located area identified drought monitor experiencing severe extreme exceptional drought time previous year period designated disaster area state january december likely provide reliable water supply protect restore enhance river estuarine ecosystems immediate tributaries likely improve water resource flexibility reduce impacts environmental resources regional nature multiple stakeholders provide multiple benefits including water supply reliability ecosystem benefits groundwater management enhancements water quality improvements feasibility study completed necessary environmental public reviews initiated requires interior issue water recycling project solicitation evaluation guidelines include criteria solicit water recycling project proposals review proposed water recycling project purpose determining proposal process proposal developed comply federal law applicable development water recycling projects terminates interior authority act years enactment


Summary:
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to define a "major disaster for wildfire on federal lands" as any wildfire that, in the determination of the President, warrants assistance under this Act to supplement the efforts and resources of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture: (1) on federal lands, or (2) on non-federal lands pursuant to a fire protection agreement or cooperative agreement.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a request to the President for a declaration that such a major disaster exists. Requires such a request to:

 certify that the amount appropriated in the current fiscal year for wildfire suppression operations of the federal land management agencies under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary, net of any concurrently enacted rescissions of wildfire suppression funds, increases the total unobligated balance of amounts available for wildfire suppression by an amount equal to or greater than the average total costs incurred by such agencies per year for wildfire suppression operations over the previous 10 fiscal years; certify that the amount available for wildfire suppression operations of the federal land management agencies under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary will be obligated not later than 30 days after such Secretary notifies the President that wildfire suppression funds will be exhausted to fund ongoing and anticipated wildfire suppression operations related to the wildfire on which such request is based; and specify the amount required in the current fiscal year to fund wildfire suppression operations related to the wildfire on which such request is based. Authorizes the President to: (1) declare that such a major disaster exists based on such a request, (2) establish a specific account for assistance pursuant to such a declaration, and (3) transfer funds from such account to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct wildfire suppression operations on such lands. Requires the respective Secretary to secure reimbursement of transferred amounts used for wildfire suppression operations on non-federal land.

amends robert stafford disaster relief emergency assistance_act define major disaster wildfire federal lands wildfire determination president warrants assistance act supplement efforts resources department_of_the_interior_or_the_department_of_agriculture federal lands non federal lands pursuant fire protection agreement cooperative agreement authorizes secretary interior secretary agriculture submit request president declaration major disaster exists requires request certify appropriated current fiscal year wildfire suppression operations federal land management agencies jurisdiction respective secretary net concurrently enacted rescissions wildfire suppression funds increases total unobligated balance amounts available wildfire suppression equal greater average total costs incurred agencies year wildfire suppression operations previous fiscal years certify available wildfire suppression operations federal land management agencies jurisdiction respective secretary obligated later days secretary notifies president wildfire suppression funds exhausted fund ongoing anticipated wildfire suppression operations related wildfire request based specify required current fiscal year fund wildfire suppression operations related wildfire request based authorizes president declare major disaster exists based request establish specific account assistance pursuant declaration transfer funds account secretary interior secretary agriculture conduct wildfire suppression operations lands requires respective secretary secure reimbursement transferred amounts wildfire suppression operations non federal land


Summary:
Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2015

 Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include community centers, including tax-exempt houses of worship, as "private nonprofit facilities" for purposes of disaster relief and emergency assistance eligibility under such Act.

Makes a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization, eligible for federal contributions for the repair, restoration, and replacement of facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster, without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.

Makes this Act applicable to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.

federal disaster assistance nonprofit fairness act amends robert stafford disaster relief emergency assistance_act include community centers including tax exempt houses worship private nonprofit facilities purposes disaster relief emergency assistance eligibility act makes church house worship private nonprofit facility operated religious organization eligible federal contributions repair restoration replacement facilities damaged destroyed major disaster regard religious character facility primary religious use facility makes act applicable provision assistance response major disaster emergency declared october


Summary:
National Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax relief for disasters declared in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 by:

 allowing an election to expense qualified disaster expenses (i.e., for the abatement of hazardous substances, removal of debris, demolition, and repair of business-related property); increasing the tax deduction for charitable contributions for disaster relief for individual and corporate taxpayers; allowing through 2015 the deduction of losses and net operating losses attributable to disasters; allowing waivers of requirements relating to mortgage revenue bonds; extending through 2015 the additional allowance for depreciation of business property (bonus depreciation); allowing an increase through 2015 of the new markets tax credit limitation amount within a federally-declared disaster area; permitting the use of tax-exempt retirement plan funds in federally-declared disasters without penalty; allowing an additional tax exemption for individuals who are displaced as a result of a federally-declared disaster; allowing an exclusion from gross income of imputed income from the cancellation of indebtedness resulting from federally-declared disasters; providing a special rule to allow individuals affected by a disaster in 2012, 2013, 2014, or 2015 to claim a full earned income tax credit; increasing the rehabilitation tax credit for buildings affected by a federally-declared disaster; permitting one additional advance refunding of a tax-exempt bond that is outstanding on the date on which a federally-declared disaster occurs; allowing the issuance of qualified disaster area recovery bonds; allowing an additional allocation of the low-income housing tax credit in 2016 to states affected by a federally-declared disaster occurring in 2012, 2013, 2014, or 2015;   allowing payments of disaster assistance to tax-exempt mutual ditch or irrigation companies without affecting their tax-exempt status; allowing an exclusion from gross income for disaster mitigation payments received from state and local governments; allowing a tax deduction for payments to a tax-exempt natural disaster fund; allowing a five-year replacement period for property located in a disaster area for purposes of the exclusion of gain from an involuntary conversion; allowing employers a business-related tax credit for up to 40% of wages paid to employees in a disaster area; and allowing an enhanced tax deduction for medical expenses related to an injury occurring in a disaster area.

national disaster tax relief_act amends_the_internal_revenue_code provide tax relief disasters declared allowing election expense qualified disaster expenses abatement hazardous substances removal debris demolition repair business related property increasing tax deduction charitable contributions disaster relief individual corporate taxpayers allowing deduction losses net operating losses attributable disasters allowing waivers requirements relating mortgage revenue bonds extending additional allowance depreciation business property bonus depreciation allowing increase new markets tax credit limitation federally declared disaster area permitting use tax exempt retirement plan funds federally declared disasters penalty allowing additional tax exemption individuals displaced result federally declared disaster allowing exclusion gross income imputed income cancellation indebtedness resulting federally declared disasters providing special rule allow individuals affected disaster claim earned income tax credit increasing rehabilitation tax credit buildings affected federally declared disaster permitting additional advance refunding tax exempt bond outstanding date federally declared disaster occurs allowing issuance qualified disaster area recovery bonds allowing additional allocation low income housing tax credit states affected federally declared disaster occurring allowing payments disaster assistance tax exempt mutual ditch irrigation companies affecting tax exempt status allowing exclusion gross income disaster mitigation payments received state local governments allowing tax deduction payments tax exempt natural disaster fund allowing year replacement period property located disaster area purposes exclusion gain involuntary conversion allowing employers business related tax credit wages paid employees disaster area allowing enhanced tax deduction medical expenses related injury occurring disaster area


Summary:
Preparedness and Risk Management for Extreme Weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness Act of 2015 or the PREPARE Act of 2015

 This bill directs the President to establish the Interagency Council on Extreme Weather Resilience, Preparedness, and Risk Management (Council). The Council shall:

 establish government-wide goals and priorities for, and develop, recommend, coordinate, and track implementation of priority interagency federal government actions related to, extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management; support regional, state, local, and tribal action to assess extreme weather-related vulnerabilities and cost effectively increase extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management of communities, critical economic sectors, natural and built infrastructure, and natural resources; facilitate the integration of meteorological and extreme weather science; assess the specific recommendations relating to extreme weather in all relevant provisions of the Government Accountability Office's High-Risk Series, identify the feasibility of revising federal programs to implement such recommendations, and develop a plan to address such recommendations; develop or adopt a framework for evaluating the progress and success of extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management-related efforts that is complementary to any national indicator system developed as part of the National Climate Assessment; develop or adopt performance metrics that allow tracking of the actions taken and progress made toward meeting and implementing the established government-wide goals and priorities; provide recommendations to the Council on Environmental Quality and OMB on how agencies should update agency extreme weather plans and remove barriers to state and local extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk management in agency regulations, guidance, and policy; make information available online for tracking implementation of agency extreme weather plans and government-wide goals and priorities and on recommendations relating to extreme weather in all relevant High-Risk Series provisions; issue guidance to agencies on developing agency extreme weather plans and agency regulations, guidance, and policies to remove barriers to state and local extreme weather resilience; designate one or more agencies to establish a website that provides information on risks related to extreme weather, preparedness, resilience, and risk management to support state, local, tribal, and private decisionmakers; and publish biannually an inventory of all regional agency offices, centers, and programs that assist with extreme weather preparedness and risk management at the state or local level. Each agency shall submit biannually to OMB and to the Council a comprehensive plan that integrates consideration of extreme weather into its operations and overall mission objectives. OMB shall consolidate and submit such plans to Congress.

Annual agency performance plans shall include the most recent agency extreme weather plan.

preparedness risk management extreme weather patterns assuring resilience effectiveness act prepare act bill directs president establish interagency council extreme weather resilience preparedness risk management council council shall establish government wide goals priorities develop recommend coordinate track implementation priority interagency federal_government actions related extreme weather resilience preparedness risk management support regional state local tribal action assess extreme weather related vulnerabilities cost effectively increase extreme weather resilience preparedness risk management communities critical economic sectors natural built infrastructure natural resources facilitate integration meteorological extreme weather science assess specific recommendations relating extreme weather relevant provisions government_accountability_office high risk series identify feasibility revising federal programs implement recommendations develop plan address recommendations develop adopt framework evaluating progress success extreme weather resilience preparedness risk management related efforts complementary national indicator system developed national climate assessment develop adopt performance metrics allow tracking actions taken progress meeting implementing established government wide goals priorities provide recommendations council_on_environmental_quality omb agencies update agency extreme weather plans remove barriers state local extreme weather resilience preparedness risk management agency regulations guidance policy information available online tracking implementation agency extreme weather plans government wide goals priorities recommendations relating extreme weather relevant high risk series provisions issue guidance agencies developing agency extreme weather plans agency regulations guidance policies remove barriers state local extreme weather resilience designate agencies establish website provides information risks related extreme weather preparedness resilience risk management support state local tribal private publish biannually inventory regional agency offices centers programs assist extreme weather preparedness risk management state local level agency shall submit biannually omb council comprehensive plan integrates consideration extreme weather operations overall mission objectives omb shall consolidate submit plans congress annual agency performance plans shall include recent agency extreme weather plan


Summary: Directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) develop a plan for the purchase and installation of an earthquake early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone; (2) identify the funds needed, and make grants to states, Indian tribes, and local governments, to implement the plan; and (3) report to Congress on actions taken.

directs federal_emergency_management_agency fema develop plan purchase installation earthquake early warning system zone identify funds needed grants states indian tribes local governments implement plan report congress actions taken


Summary:
Fairness in Flood Insurance Act of 2015

This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to declare that, in any appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or any judicial review of a final administrative determination, regarding the designation of flood elevation determinations or the identification of special flood hazard areas, FEMA shall have the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the elevations proposed or the designation of an identified special flood hazard area is scientifically and technically correct.

FEMA shall:

 reimburse the reasonable legal and related expenses of any individual or community that succeeds on such an appeal; and revise and update any floodplain areas and flood-risk zones upon the request from any owner or lessee of real property located in a floodplain area or flood-risk zone (currently, only upon the request of FEMA or of a state or local government), if sufficient technical data justifying the request is submitted. A state or local government, or the owner or lessee of real property, who has formally requested FEMA to update a flood map that FEMA has denied may at any time appeal the denial according to a specified procedure. The basis for appeal shall be possession of knowledge or information that:

 the base flood elevation level or designation of any aspect of a flood map is scientifically or technically inaccurate; or specified factors exist, including natural or manmade topographical features, that mitigate the risk of flooding. These flood mitigation factors shall also be considered in the establishment and updating of areas with special flood hazards.

When estimating risk premium rates for flood insurance, and prescribing chargeable premium rates, FEMA shall take into consideration the differences between properties located in coastal areas and properties located inland.

FEMA shall consult with the Technical Mapping Advisory Council about methods of making or actions to make the Council's flood map processes more efficient and achieve other specified goals.

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 is amended to require FEMA to ensure that the Flood Insurance Advocate has sufficient staff to carry out all of the Advocate's duties and responsibilities, which shall include providing direction as necessary, including by direct conversations with insurance agents.

The Government Accountability Office shall study:

 the scientific and technical adequacy of the flood maps FEMA proposes and establishes, and the effects on the National Flood Insurance Program and otherwise of changing the standard for designating special flood hazard areas from having a 1% or greater to having a 10% or greater chance of experiencing flooding in any given year.

fairness flood insurance act bill amends national_flood_insurance_act declare appeal federal_emergency_management_agency fema judicial review final administrative determination designation flood elevation determinations identification special flood hazard areas fema shall burden proving clear convincing evidence proposed designation identified special flood hazard area scientifically technically correct fema shall reimburse reasonable legal related expenses individual community appeal revise update floodplain areas flood risk zones request owner lessee real property located floodplain area flood risk zone currently request fema state local government sufficient technical data justifying request submitted state local government owner lessee real property formally requested fema update flood map fema denied time appeal denial according specified procedure basis appeal shall possession knowledge information base flood elevation level designation aspect flood map scientifically technically inaccurate specified factors exist including natural manmade features mitigate risk flooding flood mitigation factors shall considered establishment updating areas special flood hazards estimating risk premium rates flood insurance prescribing premium rates fema shall consideration differences properties located coastal areas properties located inland fema shall consult technical mapping advisory_council methods making actions council flood map processes efficient achieve specified goals homeowner flood insurance affordability act amended require fema ensure flood insurance advocate sufficient staff carry advocate duties responsibilities shall include providing direction necessary including direct insurance agents government_accountability_office shall study scientific technical adequacy flood maps fema proposes establishes effects national_flood_insurance_program changing standard designating special flood hazard areas having greater having greater chance experiencing flooding given year


Summary:
Flood Insurance Integrity Act of 2015

 Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review every four years the rate tables established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for implementing the national flood insurance program under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and determine whether: (1) the chargeable premium rates for flood insurance coverage determined by those tables are actuarially sound, based on standard actuarial practices used in the private sector; and (2) such chargeable premium rates are sufficient to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the national flood insurance program.

Directs GAO to review annually the process for establishing and updating flood insurance rate maps and determine the degree of accuracy of the mapping process.

flood insurance integrity act directs government_accountability_office gao review years rate tables established federal_emergency_management_agency implementing national_flood_insurance_program national_flood_insurance_act determine premium rates flood insurance coverage determined tables actuarially sound based standard actuarial practices private sector premium rates sufficient ensure long term financial sustainability national_flood_insurance_program directs gao review annually process establishing updating flood insurance rate maps determine degree accuracy mapping process


Summary:
Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for a specified portion of the cost of commercial and residential buildings that comply with resilient construction requirements in a federally-declared major disaster area. Defines "resilient construction requirements" as requirements that such buildings are designed and constructed to: (1) resist hazards brought on by a major disaster; (2) continue to provide their primary functions after a major disaster; (3) reduce the magnitude or duration of a disruptive event; and (4) have the absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and recoverability to withstand a potentially disruptive event.

Terminates such credit for any any property for which a certificate of occupancy is issued after December 31, 2019.

disaster savings resilient construction act amends_the_internal_revenue_code allow business related tax credit specified portion cost commercial residential buildings comply resilient construction requirements federally declared major disaster area defines resilient construction requirements requirements buildings designed constructed resist hazards brought major disaster continue provide primary functions major disaster reduce magnitude duration disruptive event capacity adaptive capacity withstand potentially disruptive event terminates credit property certificate occupancy issued december


Summary:
Flood Insurance Mitigation and Policyholder Protection Act of 2015

This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to require that any report of an on-site inspection of a property by a claims adjustor or engineer for the purpose of assessing any claim for losses covered by a flood insurance policy under such Act:

 may not be transmitted to any other person, employer, agency, or entity, before it is transmitted to the insured; may not include alterations by, or at the request of, anyone other than such preparer and shall include the preparer's certification that it does not contain any such alterations; and shall be transmitted in a manner that gives reasonable assurance that it was transmitted directly to the insured by the preparer. A claimant is authorized, in the case of a denial by FEMA or an insurance company of a claim for losses that is appealed to FEMA, to institute an action on such claim against FEMA or such insurance company in U.S. district court within one year after the date of a final determination upon appeal denying such claim.

 FEMA must, within 60 days after enactment of this Act, issue guidelines required under the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 for alternative mitigation methods, other than building elevation, to reduce flood risk to residential buildings that cannot be elevated due to their structural characteristics.

flood insurance mitigation policyholder protection act bill amends national_flood_insurance_act direct federal_emergency_management_agency fema require report site inspection property claims engineer purpose assessing claim losses covered flood insurance policy act transmitted person employer agency entity transmitted insured include alterations request preparer shall include preparer certification contain alterations shall transmitted manner gives reasonable assurance transmitted directly insured preparer claimant authorized case denial fema insurance company claim losses appealed fema institute action claim fema insurance company district_court year date final determination appeal denying claim fema days enactment act issue guidelines required homeowner flood insurance affordability act alternative mitigation methods building elevation reduce flood risk residential buildings elevated structural characteristics


Summary:
American Red Cross Sunshine Act

This bill authorizes the Comptroller General to review the involvement of the American National Red Cross (the corporation) in any federal program or activity the corporation carries out (current law), including in connection with events for which the government provides leadership or support under the national preparedness system. For purposes of such review, the Comptroller General shall have: (1) access to and the right to examine and copy all corporation records the Comptroller General deems relevant, and (2) access to and the right to interview any corporation employee or volunteer the Comptroller General believes to have relevant knowledge.

The Comptroller General may: (1) subpoena a record or employee of the corporation, and (2) bring a civil action in U.S. district court for the District of Columbia to enforce compliance with such subpoena.

The corporation's Office of the Ombudsman must enhance dispute resolution regarding concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the corporation and regularly report to the corporation's board of governors information on trends and patterns on concerns communicated to the Office regarding the corporation. The Office must make information available on its website on how to submit concerns about the organization.

The bill requires audits, every three years, by: (1) the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration of the corporation's revenues, expenditures, and governance; (2) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General of the corporation's disaster assistance services; and (3) the U.S. Agency for International Development Inspector General of the corporation's international activities.

DHS must: (1) conduct a one-year pilot program with the corporation to develop mechanisms for DHS to better leverage social media to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and (2) annually report on the extent to which DHS partnered with the corporation in furtherance of preparedness and response capabilities.

american red cross sunshine act bill authorizes comptroller_general review involvement american national red cross corporation federal program activity corporation carries current law including connection events government provides leadership support national preparedness system purposes review comptroller_general shall access right examine copy corporation records comptroller_general deems relevant access right interview corporation employee volunteer comptroller_general believes relevant knowledge comptroller_general subpoena record employee corporation bring civil action district_court district_of_columbia enforce compliance subpoena corporation office_of_the_ombudsman enhance dispute resolution concerns raised stakeholders corporation regularly report corporation board_of_governors information trends patterns concerns communicated office corporation office information available website submit concerns organization bill requires audits years treasury inspector_general tax administration corporation revenues expenditures governance department_of_homeland_security dhs inspector_general corporation disaster assistance services agency international_development inspector_general corporation international activities dhs conduct year pilot program corporation develop mechanisms dhs better leverage social media improve preparedness response capabilities annually report extent dhs partnered corporation furtherance preparedness response capabilities


Summary:
First Responders Passport Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Passport Act of June 4, 1920 to waive passport fees for an individual who is operating under a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with the U.S. government, including a volunteer, to aid a foreign country suffering from a qualifying natural disaster.

 The Department of State shall report to Congress on the number of fee waivers for the issuance of passports to first responders.

responders passport act sec bill amends passport act june waive passport fees individual operating contract grant cooperative agreement government including volunteer aid foreign country suffering qualifying natural disaster department_of_state shall report congress number fee waivers issuance passports responders


Summary:
Disaster Assistance Equity Act of 2015

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to modify the definition of "private nonprofit facility" to include any facilities (including roads, bridges, sewer systems, and other critical community infrastructure) owned or operated by a common interest community that provide essential services of a governmental nature.

The bill also defines additional terms under such Act, including "condominium" and "housing cooperative." "Common interest community" is defined as: (1) any nonprofit mandatory membership organization comprised of owners of real estate (other than a condominium or housing cooperative) described in a declaration or created pursuant to a covenant or other applicable law with respect to which a person, by virtue of the person's ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance or improvement of, or services or other expenses related to, common elements, other units, or any other real estate other than the unit described in the declaration; and (2) a condominium project that is comprised entirely of detached single family units or that is comprised of four or more multi-unit housing structures and that owns or operates facilities that provide essential services of a governmental nature.

The bill amends such Act to provide that for purposes of the provision of federal disaster assistance with respect to residential elements that are the legal responsibility of an association for a condominium or housing cooperative, the terms "individual" or "household" include the association.

The President must determine the maximum amount of assistance that any such association may receive under such Act for a single disaster.

disaster assistance equity act bill amends robert stafford disaster relief emergency assistance_act modify definition private nonprofit facility include facilities including roads bridges sewer systems critical community infrastructure owned operated common interest community provide essential services governmental nature bill defines additional terms act including condominium housing cooperative common interest community defined nonprofit mandatory membership organization comprised owners real estate condominium housing cooperative described declaration created pursuant covenant applicable law respect person virtue person ownership unit obligated pay share real estate taxes insurance premiums maintenance improvement services expenses related common elements units real estate unit described declaration condominium project comprised entirely single family units comprised multi unit housing structures owns operates facilities provide essential services governmental nature bill amends act provide purposes provision federal disaster assistance respect residential elements legal responsibility association condominium housing cooperative terms individual household include association president determine maximum assistance association receive act single disaster


Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE) shall adopt procedures to:

 improve communication and coordination between DOE's energy response team, federal partners, and industry; leverage the Energy Information Administration's subject matter expertise within DOE's energy response team to improve supply chain situation assessments; establish company liaisons and direct communication with DOE's energy response team to improve situation assessments; streamline and enhance processes for obtaining temporary regulatory relief to speed up emergency response and recovery; facilitate and increase engagement among states, the oil and natural gas industry, and DOE in developing state and local energy assurance plans; establish routine education and training programs for key government emergency response positions with DOE and states; and involve states and the oil and natural gas industry in comprehensive drill and exercise programs. These activities shall include collaborative efforts with state and local government officials and the private sector.

department_of_energy doe shall adopt procedures improve communication coordination doe energy response team federal partners industry leverage energy_information_administration subject matter expertise doe energy response team improve supply chain situation assessments establish company liaisons direct communication doe energy response team improve situation assessments streamline enhance processes obtaining temporary regulatory relief speed emergency response recovery facilitate increase engagement states oil natural gas industry doe developing state local energy assurance plans establish routine education training programs key government emergency response positions doe states involve states oil natural gas industry comprehensive drill exercise programs activities shall include collaborative efforts state local government officials private sector


Summary:
Small Municipality Flood Relief Act of 2015

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to release a local government from certain land restrictions imposed on a parcel under the hazard mitigation program for recipients of acquisition or relocation project assistance if:

 the local government submits to the state, more than five years after the closeout of the acquisition or relocation project, a request for such release; on the date of the request, the parcel is not in an area designated by FEMA as having special flood hazards; the local government certifies that no coercion took place against the original property owner in acquiring the parcel; the state in which the parcel is located approves the request and submits to FEMA a recommendation for its approval; the local government repays FEMA for the amount of hazard mitigation assistance received for the acquisition or relocation project or substitutes a different parcel that is at least twice as large as, and subject to the same restrictions being released for, the original parcel; and FEMA gives final approval to the request.

small municipality flood relief_act bill amends robert stafford disaster relief emergency assistance_act authorize federal_emergency_management_agency fema release local government certain land restrictions imposed parcel hazard mitigation program recipients acquisition relocation project assistance local government submits state years acquisition relocation project request release date request parcel area designated fema having special flood hazards local government certifies coercion took place original property owner acquiring parcel state parcel located approves request submits fema recommendation approval local government repays fema hazard mitigation assistance received acquisition relocation project substitutes different parcel twice large subject restrictions released original parcel fema gives final approval request


Summary:
Emergency Flood Response Act

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and carry out a pilot program to assist flood response efforts at state and federal regional levels in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure.

FEMA may award grants to up to 10 eligible entities to: (1) establish or maintain a flood emergency fund, and (2) ensure a unified command system organizational framework for emergency flood activities. An "eligible entity" is a levee maintaining agency or unit of local government that is responsible for emergency flood response efforts.

Funds awarded under this bill may be used for emergency flood activities, including prompt emergency action to prevent levee failure, close levee breaks, make relief cuts and dewater flooded areas, and otherwise physically limit the extent, depth, and duration of flood waters in the event of a levee failure. Funds awarded may not be used if the emergency flood activity is required by law to be performed by the Corps of Engineers and the Corps immediately exercises its authority.

FEMA shall ensure that, following an expenditure of funds from a grantee's flood emergency fund, the grantee will seek all available state and federal disaster assistance reimbursements for such expenditures and deposit the reimbursements in the fund. The federal share of the cost of a flood emergency activity carried out using grant funds made available under this Act may not exceed 50%.

emergency flood response_act bill directs federal_emergency_management_agency fema establish carry pilot program assist flood response efforts state federal regional levels response levee failure potential levee failure fema award grants eligible entities establish maintain flood emergency fund ensure unified command system organizational framework emergency flood activities eligible entity levee maintaining agency unit local government responsible emergency flood response efforts funds awarded bill emergency flood activities including prompt emergency action prevent levee failure close levee breaks relief cuts flooded areas physically limit extent depth duration flood waters event levee failure funds awarded emergency flood activity required law performed corps_of_engineers corps immediately exercises authority fema shall ensure following expenditure funds grantee flood emergency fund grantee seek available state federal disaster assistance reimbursements expenditures deposit reimbursements fund federal share cost flood emergency activity carried grant funds available act exceed


Summary:
Flood Insurance Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015

This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA) to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to declare that the final engineering report of an on-site property inspection conducted by an engineer to assess claims for losses covered by a flood insurance policy:

 may not be transmitted to any other person, employer, agency, or entity before it is transmitted to the insured; may not include alterations by anyone other than the person responsible for the report; and shall be transmitted to the insured in a manner giving reasonable assurance that it is transmitted directly to the insured by the responsible person in charge. The bill prescribes the manner in which such reports (including any adjustment and field reports) shall be transmitted to the insured.

 The bill revises the statute of limitations for appealing a disallowed claim for judicial review. The current limit of one year after the mailing date of FEMA's notice of disallowance or partial disallowance is repealed. The statute shall be extended to two years after the occurrence of the losses involved in a claim.

If FEMA, or an insurance company denies any claim for losses that is appealed to FEMA, the claimant may institute an action in U.S. district court not later than the later of: (1) the expiration of the 90-day period beginning the date of a final determination upon appeal denying such claim in whole or in part, or (2) the expiration of the 2-year period after the occurrence of the losses.

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 is amended to require the Flood Insurance Advocate to provide a direct point of contact for policyholders under the National Flood Insurance Program to discuss the status of their claim appeals and the basis of the initial decision to deny their claims.

The NFIA is further amended to require FEMA to conduct an annual review of each private entity participating in the Program, including any company that has contracted with a Write Your Own insurance company to provide any service related to a policy or claim under the Program, including adjusting, engineering, and legal services, to ensure compliance with FEMA policies and procedures to prevent fraud and protect policyholders.

A Write Your Own means the cooperative undertaking between the insurance industry and the Federal Insurance Administration which allows participating property and casualty insurance companies to write and service standard flood insurance policies. FEMA shall also: (1) create and maintain a publically searchable online database that includes specified information regarding claims filed under the Program, and (2) establish guidelines and standards to require that any engineering or litigation cost billed to the Program by a Write Your Own insurance company is justified on a case-by-case basis.

A claim for damage to or loss of property shall not be denied based on the exclusion of earth movement (earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, sinkhole, mudflow, or shock wave) in the Standard Flood Insurance Policy if the claim is filed as the result of a flood, including a claim for damage to or loss or property caused by earth movement caused by a flood.

 The Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 is amended to require FEMA to ensure that: (1) the appeals process has clear rules, forms, and deadlines; (2) these are given to a claimant at the time a claim is first denied; and (3) the policyholder's legal options are explained upon denial of appeal.

The Department of Homeland Security shall report to Congress on specific actions it will take to:

 identify individuals and private entities that have engaged in activities to defraud policyholders under the Program following Superstorm Sandy, and prevent those individuals and private entities from continuing to receive federal funding. FEMA shall report to Congress regarding National Flood Insurance Program Transformation Task Force recommendations for reforming the Program, and a timeline for implementing them.

flood insurance transparency accountability_act bill amends national_flood_insurance_act direct federal_emergency_management_agency fema declare final engineering report site property inspection conducted engineer assess claims losses covered flood insurance policy transmitted person employer agency entity transmitted insured include alterations person responsible report shall transmitted insured manner giving reasonable assurance transmitted directly insured responsible person charge bill prescribes manner reports including adjustment field reports shall transmitted insured bill revises statute limitations appealing disallowed claim judicial review current limit year mailing date fema notice disallowance partial disallowance repealed statute shall extended years occurrence losses involved claim fema insurance company denies claim losses appealed fema claimant institute action district_court later later expiration day period beginning date final determination appeal denying claim expiration year period occurrence losses homeowner flood insurance affordability act amended require flood insurance advocate provide direct point contact policyholders national_flood_insurance_program discuss status claim appeals basis initial decision deny claims amended require fema conduct annual review private entity participating program including company contracted write insurance company provide service related policy claim program including adjusting engineering legal services ensure compliance fema policies procedures prevent fraud protect policyholders write means cooperative undertaking insurance industry federal insurance administration allows participating property casualty insurance companies write service standard flood insurance policies fema shall create maintain searchable online database includes specified information claims filed program establish guidelines standards require engineering litigation cost billed program write insurance company justified case case basis claim damage loss property shall denied based exclusion earth movement earthquake volcanic wave standard flood insurance policy claim filed result flood including claim damage loss property caused earth movement caused flood bereuter flood insurance reform_act amended require fema ensure appeals process clear rules forms deadlines given claimant time claim denied policyholder legal options denial appeal department_of_homeland_security shall report congress specific actions identify individuals private entities engaged activities defraud policyholders program following sandy prevent individuals private entities continuing receive federal funding fema shall report congress national_flood_insurance_program transformation task_force recommendations reforming program timeline implementing


Summary:
Individual Assistance Improvement Act of 2015

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit to Congress an annual report on recommendations for improving federal assistance for small states and rural areas under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and additional resources required for such improvements.

In measuring the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster and evaluating the need for assistance to individuals under that Act, FEMA shall not apply, with respect to a rural area, the factor relating to concentration of damages.

 FEMA shall provide the governor or the chief executive of an Indian tribal government with documentation related to a major disaster declaration decision within 25 days after such individual requests that documentation, including: (1) an analysis of the factors that it considered in making the decision, and (2) its rationale.

The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a comprehensive review of: (1) FEMA's damage assessment processes for major disaster declarations, and (2) the teams that carry out such processes.

FEMA shall conduct a study, biennially, to: (1) compare the average amount of individual assistance provided per person for each major disaster declared during the five most recently completed fiscal years, the average damages realized per individual for each disaster, and the average damages realized per individual for each event where a request for a major disaster declaration was denied during the five most recently completed fiscal years; and (2) collect the data needed to update a table relating to the average amount of individual assistance by state.

individual assistance improvement act bill requires federal_emergency_management_agency fema submit congress annual report recommendations improving federal assistance small states rural areas robert stafford disaster relief emergency assistance_act additional resources required improvements measuring severity magnitude impact disaster evaluating need assistance individuals act fema shall apply respect rural area factor relating concentration damages fema shall provide governor chief executive indian tribal government documentation related major disaster declaration decision days individual requests documentation including analysis factors considered making decision rationale government_accountability_office shall conduct comprehensive review fema damage assessment processes major disaster declarations teams carry processes fema shall conduct study biennially compare average individual assistance provided person major disaster declared recently completed fiscal years average damages realized individual disaster average damages realized individual event request major disaster declaration denied recently completed fiscal years collect data needed update table relating average individual assistance state


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Service Provider Opportunity Clarification Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue regulations providing examples of activities that would be considered a failure to make a good faith effort to comply with the requirements imposed on any entity (other than a small business) awarded a prime contract exceeding $500,000 (or exceeding $1 million if for construction of a public facility) that contains an SBA clause that:

 notifies potential offering companies of SBA requirements relating to contracts awarded pursuant to the negotiated method of procurement; or requires any bidder selected for a contract reward to submit to the appropriate federal agency a subcontracting plan which incorporates specified SBA information.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure service provider opportunity clarification act sec bill requires small_business_administration sba issue regulations providing examples activities considered failure good faith effort comply requirements imposed entity small business awarded prime contract exceeding exceeding million construction public facility contains sba clause notifies potential offering companies sba requirements relating contracts awarded pursuant negotiated method procurement requires bidder selected contract reward submit appropriate federal agency subcontracting plan incorporates specified sba information


Summary:
FEMA Help and Education for Local Partners Act (FEMA HELP Act)

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and convene a multi-agency federal disaster assistance team to work and coordinate with state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders to develop a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery by using a full range of federal program funding resources through collaboration among FEMA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Highway Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Department of Defense, the Army Corps of Engineers, and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

FEMA shall: (1) ensure that each coordinating officer is trained in a range of applicable disaster recovery funding programs across the team members, and (2) establish and publish guidelines and criteria for making and communicating decisions regarding funding eligibility and requirements for disaster recovery personnel across the team members.

fema help education local partners act fema help act bill directs federal_emergency_management_agency fema establish convene multi agency federal disaster assistance team work coordinate state local tribal territorial leaders develop comprehensive approach disaster recovery range federal program funding resources collaboration fema department_of_housing_and_urban_development federal_highway_administration small_business_administration federal_transit_administration department_of_defense army_corps_of_engineers state local tribal territorial governments fema shall ensure coordinating officer trained range applicable disaster recovery funding programs team members establish publish guidelines criteria making communicating decisions funding eligibility requirements disaster recovery personnel team members


Summary:
Small Business Contracting and Acquisition Programs Efficiency Act of 2016 or the SB CAPE Act of 2016

This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to initiate a review of the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (OGCBD) of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

This review shall examine:

 the extent to which SBA personnel who carry out certain procurement and business development programs report to the OGCBD, whether greater efficiency and consistency in the certification process of the procurement and business development programs could be achieved by creating a single organizational unit of employees to process all certifications required by such programs, whether greater efficiency and efficacy in the performance of such programs could be achieved by improving the alignment of the field personnel assigned to them, how the OGCBD could improve its staffing of regulatory drafting functions and its coordination with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to ensure timely rulemaking by the SBA, and any other areas in which the GAO determines that the SBA could improve its performance with respect to procurement and business development programs.

small business contracting acquisition programs efficiency_act cape act bill directs government_accountability_office gao initiate review office government contracting business development small_business_administration sba review shall examine extent sba personnel carry certain procurement business development programs report greater efficiency consistency certification process procurement business development programs achieved creating single organizational unit employees process certifications required programs greater efficiency efficacy performance programs achieved improving alignment field personnel assigned improve staffing regulatory functions coordination federal_acquisition_regulatory_council ensure timely rulemaking sba areas gao determines sba improve performance respect procurement business development programs


Summary:
Rail Safety Act

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and preposition caches of emergency response equipment, which may include firefighting equipment and fire suppression agents, to facilitate the rapid deployment of resources needed to reduce damage to life, property, and the environment in the event of an accident involving rail tank cars transporting hazardous material, crude oil, or flammable liquids.

Such caches shall be strategically prepositioned along rail routes over which a high volume of high-hazard trains operate in a manner that lowers the response time of firefighters to fight fires involving flammable liquids and to prevent such fires from spreading. FEMA may collect fees from railroad carriers to develop and preposition the caches.

rail safety act bill directs federal_emergency_management_agency fema develop emergency response equipment include firefighting equipment fire suppression agents facilitate rapid deployment resources needed reduce damage life property environment event accident involving rail tank cars transporting hazardous material crude oil flammable liquids shall strategically rail routes high volume high hazard trains operate manner lowers response time firefighters fight fires involving flammable liquids prevent fires spreading fema collect fees railroad carriers develop


Summary:
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act

This bill provides $5 billion in supplemental appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Public Health Emergency Fund.

The bill designates the funds as an emergency requirement, and provides that the funds are only available if the President subsequently designates the funds. (Emergency spending is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.)

HHS may use the funds provided by this bill to acquire products such as drugs, vaccines and other biological products, and medical devices for deposit into the Strategic National Stockpile.

The bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Public Health Emergency Fund from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.

public health emergency preparedness act bill provides billion supplemental appropriations department_of_health_and_human_services hhs public health emergency fund bill designates funds emergency requirement provides funds available president subsequently designates funds emergency spending exempt discretionary spending limits budget enforcement rules hhs use funds provided bill acquire products drugs vaccines biological products medical devices deposit strategic national stockpile bill amends balanced_budget emergency deficit control act exempt public health emergency fund sequestration process automatic usually board spending reductions budgetary resources permanently cancelled enforce specific budget policy goals


Summary: This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a 90-day minimum automatic extension of tax deadlines applicable to individuals and businesses affected by a federally-declared disaster.

bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code provide day minimum automatic extension tax deadlines applicable individuals businesses affected federally declared disaster


Summary:
Emergency Financial Manager Reform Act of 2016

This bill requires a state with a state-appointed emergency financial manager to certify that the appointment: (1) does not have the purpose or effect of limiting the right to vote on account of race or color, and (2) followed a notice and comment period.

If a state with a state-appointed emergency financial manager fails to submit such certification, then the Department of Justice may reduce by 5% that state's allocation of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program.

emergency financial manager reform_act bill requires state state appointed emergency financial manager certify appointment purpose effect limiting right vote account race color followed notice comment period state state appointed emergency financial manager fails submit certification department_of_justice reduce state allocation funds edward_byrne_memorial_justice assistance grant program


Summary:
National Landslide Loss Reduction Act

This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a national program to identify landslide hazards and reduce losses from landslides.

The USGS shall:

 develop a national strategy for research on landslides and landslide hazards; develop and maintain a landslide hazard assessment system and a national landslide hazard inventory database; in coordination with state geological surveys, conduct federal-state working groups to establish regional priorities for identifying, mapping, and assessing hazards and develop and implement guidelines for geologists and geological and geotechnical engineers; compile, maintain, and evaluate data on landslide hazard stabilization and reduction of losses and on the nationwide impact of landslides on health and safety, the economy, and the environment; and in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and state geological surveys, develop and disseminate guidelines and training materials (in coordination with specified entities) for planners and decision makers on the use of the system and reducing losses from landslides. NOAA and the NWS shall develop and disseminate landslide-related curricula and training modules for state and local officials and emergency managers.

The bill establishes an Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslides and an Advisory Committee on Landslides.

 The Department of the Interior shall make grants to support: (1) state and local government efforts to map and assess landslide hazards; and (2) efforts by institutions of higher education, state and local governments, and nongovernmental entities to research landslides.

national loss reduction act bill requires geological survey usgs establish national program identify hazards reduce losses usgs shall develop national strategy research hazards develop maintain hazard assessment system national hazard inventory database coordination state geological surveys conduct federal state working groups establish regional priorities identifying mapping assessing hazards develop implement guidelines geological engineers compile maintain evaluate data hazard stabilization reduction losses nationwide impact health safety economy environment coordination national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration noaa national_weather_service nws federal_emergency_management_agency fema state geological surveys develop disseminate guidelines training materials coordination specified entities planners decision makers use system reducing losses noaa nws shall develop disseminate related curricula training modules state local officials emergency managers bill establishes interagency_coordinating_committee advisory_committee department_of_the_interior shall grants support state local government efforts map assess hazards efforts institutions higher education state local governments nongovernmental entities research


Summary:
SCORE for Small Business Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Small Business Act, with respect to the SCORE program (Service Corps of Retired Executives), to:

 reauthorize the program for FY2017-FY2018; require the Small Business Administration to award a grant to the SCORE Association (or any successor group) to manage the SCORE program; modify program requirements with respect to the role of participating volunteers, program plans and goals, and reporting; and outline privacy requirements pertaining to the disclosure of information of businesses assisted under such program. The SCORE Association shall:

 make use of online counseling, including by webinars and an electronic mentoring platform; study the future role of the SCORE program; and develop a strategic plan for how the program will evolve to meet the needs of America's entrepreneurs over the next five years.

score small_business_act bill amends small_business_act respect score program service_corps_of_retired_executives reauthorize program fy2017 fy2018 require small_business_administration award grant score association successor group manage score program modify program requirements respect role participating volunteers program plans goals reporting outline privacy requirements pertaining disclosure information businesses assisted program score association shall use online counseling including electronic mentoring platform study future role score program develop strategic plan program meet needs america entrepreneurs years


Summary:
Natural Disaster Reinsurance Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise it regarding estimated loss costs associated with contracts for reinsurance coverage.

Treasury may make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance coverage. Only eligible state programs may purchase such coverage.

Each contract for reinsurance coverage shall furnish insurance coverage against residential property losses to homes, including condominium and cooperative ownership, and the contents of apartment buildings.

The bill prescribes a minimum level of retained losses and maximum federal liability.

Any insurer who participates in an eligible state program may establish a Catastrophe Capital Reserve Fund to hold funds on Treasury's behalf to offset reinsurance claims.

The bill establishes the Consumer Hurricane, Earthquake, Loss Protection (HELP) Fund to: (1) make payments to covered purchasers under contracts for reinsurance coverage for eligible losses, and (2) pay for Commission operating costs and reinsurance program administrative expenses.

natural disaster reinsurance act bill directs department_of_the_treasury establish national_commission catastrophe preparation protection advise estimated loss costs associated contracts reinsurance coverage treasury homeowners protection coverage available contracts reinsurance coverage eligible state programs purchase coverage contract reinsurance coverage shall furnish insurance coverage residential property losses homes including condominium cooperative ownership contents apartment buildings bill prescribes minimum level retained losses maximum federal liability insurer participates eligible state program establish catastrophe capital reserve fund hold funds treasury behalf offset reinsurance claims bill establishes consumer hurricane earthquake loss protection help fund payments covered purchasers contracts reinsurance coverage eligible losses pay commission operating costs reinsurance program administrative expenses


Summary:
Federal Disaster Notification and Payment Protection Act of 2016

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to recoup a debt owed to the United States related to assistance provided to an individual or household under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to a major disaster declared by the President on or after January 1, 2011, if:

 the assistance was distributed based on an error by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the collection of the debt would be against equity and good conscience, and the debt is not the result of fraud or other fault of the debtor or any party having an interest in the assistance distributed. The Stafford Act is amended to require the President to establish a process to ensure that each individual and business that applies for a category of federal disaster assistance is provided written notice that describes:

 the various categories of federal disaster assistance that may be available, the impact that receiving or declining such assistance will have on eligibility for other categories of assistance, and repayment requirements or penalties that may apply if multiple categories of assistance are accepted. An individual or business that is not provided such notice may not be held responsible for any repayment requirement or penalty that would otherwise result from the receipt of such assistance.

federal disaster notification payment protection act bill prohibits use federal funds recoup debt owed united_states related assistance provided individual household robert stafford disaster relief emergency assistance_act respect major disaster declared president january assistance distributed based error federal_emergency_management_agency fema collection debt equity good conscience debt result fraud fault debtor party having interest assistance distributed stafford act amended require president establish process ensure individual business applies category federal disaster assistance provided written notice describes categories federal disaster assistance available impact receiving declining assistance eligibility categories assistance repayment requirements penalties apply multiple categories assistance accepted individual business provided notice held responsible repayment requirement penalty result receipt assistance