Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Disaster Relief Integrity and Independence Act”.
Disaster Relief Integrity and Independence Act
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit determinations of Federal disaster assistance, funding, or relief on the basis of political affiliation and to establish a response timeline for requests for major disaster declarations, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Prohibiting political interference in Federal disaster assistance
Section 308 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5151) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
“(b) The President may not make determinations of Federal disaster assistance, including declarations of emergencies or major disasters, Federal funding, and other relief and assistance under this Act on the basis of political affiliation within a State, territory, or locality.”
Sec. 3 Timeliness in disaster response
Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Timeliness in disaster response
“(1) In general—Not later than 45 days after receipt of a request for a major disaster declaration under this section from a State, Tribal, or territorial government, the President shall respond to each such request.
“(2) Automatic approval—Any request made under paragraph (1) to which the President does not respond not later than 45 days after receipt of such request shall be deemed approved.
“(3) Limitation—The deadline under paragraph (1) shall not prevent submission and approval of disaster declaration amendment requests by a State, Tribal, or territorial government.”