May 29, 2025
Ms. Titus (for herself and Mr. Stanton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to take certain actions relating to incident periods and extreme weather, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act
.
Sec. 2. Incident periods
(a) In general
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall convene an advisory panel consisting of emergency management personnel to assist the Agency in reviewing the process and procedures related to the determination of incident periods for all hazards for emergencies or major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
(b) Membership
(1) In general
This advisory panel convened under subsection (a) shall consist of at least 2 representatives from national emergency management organizations, at least 2 relevant county officials, at least 1 representative from the National Weather Service, and at least 5 representatives from each of the 10 regions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency selected from emergency management personnel employed by State, local, territorial, or Tribal authorities within each region.
(2) Inclusion on panel
To the furthest extent practicable, representation on the advisory panel shall include emergency management personnel from rural, urban, underrepresented, Tribal, and insular jurisdictions and representatives of State or local governments with responsibility for the financial or budgetary impact of disasters.
(c) Considerations
In reviewing the process and procedures related to the determination of incident periods under subsection (a), the advisory panel convened under such subsection shall consider the effectiveness of incident periods, including—
(1)
incident periods for slow on-set disasters;
(2)
incident periods for correlated non-contiguous disasters;
(3)
incident periods for compound disasters; and
(4)
incident periods for cascading disasters.
(d) Interim report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a report regarding the findings of the review under this section that includes any recommendations of the advisory panel convened under subsection (a), including additional legislation that may be necessary to address such findings.
(e) Final report
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report discussing—
(1)
a summary of the findings of the advisory panel convened under subsection (a);
(2)
the implementation of recommendations from such advisory panel; and
(3)
any additional legislative recommendations necessary to improve the effectiveness of incident periods.
(f) Rulemaking
Immediately following a 30 day congressional review period of the report described in subsection (e), the Administrator shall begin a rulemaking to issue such regulations as are necessary to implement the recommendations of the advisory panel.
Sec. 3. Mitigation and preparedness
(a) In general
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may, under section 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133 and 5170c)—
(1)
consider innovative preparedness and mitigation projects eligible for the purposes of mitigating impacts during an extreme heat event, including stockpiling and installing equipment for households, first responders, and public health and health care systems and emergency voucher programs;
(2)
consider innovative preparedness and mitigation projects eligible for the purposes of mitigating the impacts of extreme cold; and
(3)
with respect to eligible uses of funds authorized, provide, and issue relevant guidance, for the establishment and function of—
(A)
community cooling centers; and
(B)
resilience centers.
(b) Supplement not supplant
Assistance provided under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other assistance provided under any other Act.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Community cooling center
The term community cooling center means a public serving facility that provides an environment for people to maintain a healthy body temperature during an extreme heat event.
(2) Resilience center
The term resilience center means a public serving facility with a hazard resistant design with the purpose of programing, operations, and communication to build community resilience before, during, and after emergency events.
Sec. 4. Guidance
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue guidance related to—
(1)
extreme temperature events, including heat waves and freezes, and publish such guidance in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide;
(2)
hazard mitigation, including eligibility criteria for projects that primarily mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and projects specified in section 3(a)(2); and
(3)
extreme heat for the purposes of hazard mitigation planning under section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165), the National Preparedness Course Catalog, National Disaster Recovery Framework, National Response Recovery Framework, and Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
Sec. 5. Study on extreme heat and cold
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a study to measure the impact of extreme heat and recommend guidance on mitigating and responding to extreme heat and cold.
(b) Consultation
In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with relevant stakeholders and the heads of other Federal agencies.
(c) Content
In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall—
(1)
examine and consider solutions to address the impact of extreme heat and cold on—
(A)
disadvantaged communities;
(B)
buildings, roads, utilities, power generation, air conditioning units, and other relevant infrastructure;
(C)
short- and long-term health outcomes; and
(D)
pets and livestock;
(2)
evaluate the geographical and regional differences in the occurrence and impact of extreme heat and cold;
(3)
evaluate the effectiveness of emergency alerts and the language used in such alerts to improve public safety during extreme heat and cold events;
(4)
examine metrics for defining and communicating the severity of an extreme heat and cold event;
(5)
examine the compounding effects and consequential risk of extreme heat and cold and wildfire smoke;
(6)
recommend best practices for community education and safety during extreme heat and cold events;
(7)
examine the impact extreme heat and cold to the health and safety of the Federal Emergency Management Agency workforce when responding to disasters;
(8)
develop guidance for first responder training protocol for extreme heat and cold emergencies; and
(9)
recommend guidance for incorporating extreme heat and cold into local and State government emergency management preparedness plans.
(d) Report to Congress
Not less than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the Senate a report containing—
(1)
the results of study required under subsection (a); and
(2)
any additional recommendations for developing a framework for mitigating and responding to extreme heat and cold emergencies.