H.R. 3661 — Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), not later than 6 months after enactment, to convene an advisory panel to review processes and procedures for determining incident periods (i.e., time frames defining eligibility for federal assistance) for all hazards in emergencies or major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The panel must include at least 2 representatives from national emergency management organizations, 2 county officials, 1 from the National Weather Service, and at least 5 from emergency management personnel in each of FEMA's 10 regions from state, local, territorial, or Tribal authorities—with representation from rural, urban, underrepresented, Tribal, and insular jurisdictions to the extent practicable. In its review, the panel must consider the effectiveness of incident periods for (1) slow-onset disasters, (2) correlated non-contiguous disasters, (3) compound disasters, and (4) cascading disasters. FEMA must submit an interim report to Congress with findings and recommendations (including legislation) not later than 1 year after enactment and make it publicly available; submit a final report to specified House and Senate committees not later than 2 years after enactment summarizing findings, implementation actions, and further legislative recommendations; and, immediately after a 30-day congressional review period for the final report, initiate rulemaking to implement the panel's recommendations.

This section authorizes the FEMA Administrator, under the predisaster hazard mitigation program (section 203 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5133) and the post-disaster hazard mitigation grant program (section 404, 42 U.S.C. 5170c)—which provide grants to states and localities for cost-effective measures to reduce disaster injuries, loss of life, and property damage—to deem eligible innovative preparedness and mitigation projects for extreme heat events (including equipment stockpiling and installation for households, first responders, public health and health care systems, and emergency voucher programs), extreme cold events, community cooling centers (i.e., public facilities enabling healthy body temperatures during extreme heat), and resilience centers (i.e., hazard-resistant public facilities for community resilience programming before, during, and after emergencies). The Administrator must issue guidance on eligible fund uses for such centers. Assistance provided must supplement, not supplant, other federal aid.

This section directs the FEMA Administrator, not later than one year after enactment, to issue guidance related to (1) extreme temperature events, including heat waves and freezes, for publication in the FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide; (2) hazard mitigation, including eligibility criteria for projects that primarily mitigate extreme heat impacts and projects specified in section 3(a)(2); and (3) extreme heat for hazard mitigation planning under section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165) (i.e., state mitigation plans that enable an increased federal cost share of up to 20% for post-disaster hazard mitigation measures), the National Preparedness Course Catalog, National Disaster Recovery Framework, National Response Recovery Framework, and Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a study, not later than one year after enactment, measuring the impacts of extreme heat and cold and recommending guidance on mitigation and response, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and other federal agency heads. The study must examine (1) impacts on disadvantaged communities, infrastructure (e.g., buildings, roads, utilities, power generation, air conditioning), short- and long-term health outcomes, and pets and livestock; (2) geographical and regional differences; (3) effectiveness of emergency alerts and their language; (4) metrics for defining and communicating severity; (5) compounding effects with wildfire smoke; (6) best practices for community education and safety; (7) effects on the FEMA workforce; (8) first responder training protocols; and (9) incorporation into local and state emergency management plans. Not less than one year after enactment, the Administrator must submit a report on the study and additional recommendations to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.