S. 485Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Hazard and Flooding Mitigation Funding Assurance Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:41 AM UTC

The bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the President to fund at least 75% of the cost of hazard‑mitigation assistance, with the option to fund up to 100%, and it explicitly adds mitigation of post‑wildfire flooding and debris flow as an eligible activity. This changes how federal disaster mitigation money is allocated and affects communities receiving such assistance after disasters.

Key Provisions

President must contribute not less than 75% of the cost for hazard‑mitigation projects and may fund up to 100% of the cost.
Adds "mitigating post‑wildfire flooding and debris flow from burn scars" as an eligible mitigation activity under the program.
Applies these changes to assistance provided under section 404 of the Stafford Act for projects after the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S459)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 16, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 16, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S459)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 16, 2023

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 485 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Feb 16, 2023

Madam President, I am joined by Senators Brown, Warren, Van Hollen, Booker, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Padilla, and Merkley in reintroducing the Respect for Workers Act, a bill that would ensure that at…

Madam President, I am joined by Senators Brown, Warren, Van Hollen, Booker, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Padilla, and Merkley in reintroducing the Respect for Workers Act, a bill that would ensure that at least one Federal Reserve Governor has demonstrated primary experience in supporting or protecting the rights of workers.

Today, the Federal Reserve is attempting to curb inflation without plunging the economy into a recession. Over the past year, it has increased the Federal funds rate by 4\1/2\ percentage points to cool the economy and ease prices--its fastest pace of rate hikes since the early 1980s. But this is a difficult balancing act. If the Federal Reserve does not get its policies right, it may fail to defeat inflation or drive us into a recession. Workers would bear the brunt of the economic fallout attached to either outcome through higher prices or higher unemployment.

Arguably no group is more affected by the Federal Reserves efforts to meet its dual mandate to promote stable prices and maximum employment than workers. But, while the law requires the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to represent diverse geographic regions and a wide array of commercial interests, no Federal Reserve Governor is required to have a background in protecting the interests of workers. Indeed, while the interests of Wall Street, nonbank financial institutions, and big business have long been well-represented on the Board, everyday working men and women have not been given the same voice in monetary policymaking.

Our bill fills this hole by requiring at least one Federal Reserve Governor has experience addressing the challenges facing workers. This is not a new concept. In fact, our bill is modeled on the 2015 law that requires at least one of the seven Federal Reserve Governors to be an individual ``with demonstrated primary experience working in or supervising community banks.''

In short, the Respect for Workers Act would ensure workers' economic needs are represented at the Federal Reserve. It would build a stronger, more representative Board of Governors and promote a healthier economy.

I thank the AFL-CIO, Groundwork Collaborative, National Employment Law Project, MIT Professor and Former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Simon Johnson, and Georgetown Law Professor Adam Levitin for their support and urge our colleagues to join in pushing to enact this legislation.

Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Feb 16, 2023

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 16, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 485

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 16, 2023

Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide hazard mitigation assistance for mitigating and preventing post-wildfire flooding and debris flow, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hazard and Flooding Mitigation Funding Assurance Act.

Amendments to improve hazard mitigation assistance

(a)

In general

Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief And Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking The President may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost and inserting The President shall contribute not less than 75 percent of the cost and may contribute not more than 100 percent of the cost; and

(2)

in subsection (f)—

(A)

in paragraph (13), by striking and at the end;

(B)

in paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(15)

mitigating post-wildfire flooding and debris flow from burn scars.

(b)

Application

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to assistance provided under section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) on or after the date of enactment of this Act.