PRIA Logo™
119-s-270119th Congress

Natural Disaster Resilience and Recovery Accountability Act

Sponsored By: Senator Lankford, James [R-OK]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a federal commission to review and reform how the government prepares for and recovers from natural disasters. The bill would establish the Commission on Federal Natural Disaster Resilience and Recovery inside the Office of Management and Budget with 15 appointed members to inventory programs, evaluate effectiveness, and deliver specific legislative and administrative recommendations.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Commission meetings and reports

If enacted, the Commission must hold its first meeting within 240 days and may meet in person or online. It could hold hearings, take testimony, and request information from federal agencies; agency heads must provide requested information when the chair asks. Many agencies (for example, FEMA, HUD, EPA, SBA, Treasury, Commerce, Interior, DHS, DOT, DOE, Labor) would be required to advise and consult with the Commission. The Commission must send interim reports to Congress starting 180 days after enactment and every 180 days, and a final report no later than two years after its first meeting. The final report must list federally funded programs, budget data, statutory authorities, and specific policy and legislative recommendations. The Commission would end 60 days after the final report is submitted.

Commission membership and staff pay

If enacted, the bill would make a 15‑member Commission appointed by the OMB Director. One member must be an OMB employee and appointments must be made within 120 days. The Commission would elect a chair by at least 8 votes and the OMB employee would be vice chair. The chair would appoint an executive director by an 8‑vote majority and could hire or remove staff without normal civil service rules. Pay for the executive director and staff could be set outside standard pay rules but could not exceed Executive Schedule level V. Non‑Federal members could receive travel pay; Federal members get no extra compensation.

New federal disaster commission

If enacted, the bill would create a Commission inside OMB to study federal natural disaster resilience and recovery programs. The Commission would review grants, budgets, and agency programs to propose administrative and legislative reforms. The bill defines "natural disaster" to include cold or hot weather, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and ice storms. The Commission could also add other qualifying events it deems appropriate.

No new money for the commission

If enacted, the bill would not authorize any new appropriations. Money to run the Commission would have to come from amounts already appropriated to the OMB. No additional funds could be appropriated to carry out the Act.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lankford, James [R-OK]

OK • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation