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Senate Bill 2779
118th Congress(2023-2024)
Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Sep 13, 2023
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Introduced in Senate 
Sep 13, 2023
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Introduced in Senate(Sep 13, 2023)
Sep 13, 2023
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S. 2779 (Introduced-in-Senate)


118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2779


To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 13, 2023

Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act”.

SEC. 2. Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.

(a) In general.—Title V of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 508. Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.

“(a) Establishment.—The Secretary shall establish an Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience—

“(1) to direct and implement the post-disaster economic recovery responsibilities of the Economic Development Administration pursuant to subsections (c)(2) and (e) of section 209;

“(2) to direct and implement economic recovery support function activities as directed under the National Disaster Recovery Framework; and

“(3) to administer disaster appropriations made available to carry out activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).

“(b) Appointment and compensation authorities.—

“(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary is authorized to appoint such temporary personnel as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and compensation of personnel.

“(2) CONVERSION OF EMPLOYEES.—Notwithstanding chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, or any other provision of law relating to the examination, certification, and appointment of individuals in the competitive service, the Secretary is authorized to convert a temporary employee appointed under this subsection to a permanent appointment in the competitive service in the Economic Development Administration under merit promotion procedures if—

“(A) the employee has served continuously for at least 2 years under one or more appointments under this subsection; and

“(B) the employee's performance has been at an acceptable level of performance throughout the period or periods referred to in subparagraph (A).

“(3) COMPENSATION.—An individual converted under this subsection shall become a career-conditional employee, unless the employee has already completed the service requirements for career tenure.

“(c) Disaster team.—

“(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a disaster team (referred to in this section as the ‘disaster team’) for the deployment of individuals to carry out responsibilities of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience after a major disaster or emergency has been declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and the Department has been activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“(2) MEMBERSHIP.—

“(A) DESIGNATION OF STAFF.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall designate to serve on the disaster team—

“(i) employees of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience;

“(ii) employees of the Department who are not employees of the Economic Development Administration; and

“(iii) in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, employees of those agencies, as appropriate.

“(B) CAPABILITIES.—In designating individuals under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that the disaster team includes a sufficient quantity of—

“(i) individuals who are capable of deploying rapidly and efficiently to respond to major disasters and emergencies; and

“(ii) highly trained full-time employees who will lead and manage the disaster team.

“(3) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate and ongoing training is provided to members of the disaster team to ensure that the members are adequately trained regarding the programs and policies of the Economic Development Administration relating to post-disaster economic recovery efforts.

“(4) EXPENSES.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary may—

“(A) use, with or without reimbursement, any service, equipment, personnel, or facility of any Federal agency with the explicit support of that agency, to the extent such use does not impair or conflict with the authority of the President or the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) to direct Federal agencies in any major disaster or emergency declared under that Act; and

“(B) provide members of the disaster team with travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of services for, or relating to, the disaster team.”.

(b) Cost-Share.—Section 204(c) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3144(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(4) DISASTER RECOVERY.—In the case of a grant provided under section 209 for a project for economic recovery in response to a major disaster or emergency declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), the Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 100 percent.”.

(c) Authorization of appropriations for disaster economic recovery activities.—Section 703 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3233) is amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 703. Authorization of appropriations for post-disaster economic recovery activities.

“In addition to amounts made available under section 701, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out subsections (c)(2) and (e) of section 209 and for other activities of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience established under section 508(a), to remain available until expended.”.