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This bill would change federal disaster law so Indian tribal governments can ask directly for fire management assistance when a wildfire threatens their lands or communities. Right now, these requests are mainly made through a state government. The bill would give tribal governments the same direct path to FEMA that states and local governments already have, and it would require the federal government to update its rules within one year. It also says tribal governments should still be able to get help through a state request if a direct tribal request is not approved.
- Lets the chief executive of an Indian tribal government directly request a fire management assistance declaration and related grants and resources.
- Requires the President to update federal regulations within one year so FEMA can accept and handle these direct tribal requests.
- Says tribes that are denied direct assistance can still receive help if the same fire incident is approved through a state request.
- Requires federal officials to consider the special needs of tribal governments and to consult with them government-to-government when writing the new rules.
Official Summaries
Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act
This bill allows Indian tribal governments to directly participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program, as opposed to participating through states.
Currently, only states may submit requests to FEMA for declarations authorizing FMAG assistance, and Indian tribal governments affected by a fire must use a state’s authorization to receive FMAG assistance. The bill authorizes Indian tribal governments to submit FMAG declaration requests directly to FEMA and receive FMAG assistance under their own declarations. Indian tribal governments may still choose instead to receive FMAG assistance under an authorization requested by a state.
Also, the bill requires FEMA to update its FMAG regulations within one year after enactment to carry out the bill.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 443 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 443
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request
fire management assistance declarations and grants, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025
Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Rounds) 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 allow Indian tribal governments to directly request
fire management assistance declarations and grants, 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 ``Fire Management Assistance Grants
for Tribal Governments Act''.
SEC. 2. INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ELIGIBILITY.
(a) In General.--Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, Indian tribal
government,'' before ``or local government'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as
subsections (c) through (f), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Procedure for Request.--The Governor of a State or the Chief
Executive of an Indian tribal government affected by a fire described
in subsection (a) may directly submit a request to authorize assistance
under this section.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section shall prohibit an
Indian tribal government from receiving assistance under this section
pursuant to an authorization made at the request of a State under
subsection (b) if assistance is not authorized under this section for
the same incident based on a request by the Indian tribal government
under subsection (b).''.
(b) Regulations.--
(1) Fire management assistance declaration defined.--In
this subsection, the term ``fire management assistance
declaration'' means a declaration approved under section
204.21(a) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) Update.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall issue regulations
updating part 204 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, to
carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).
(3) Contents.--In issuing the regulations required under
paragraph (2), the President shall--
(A) authorize the Federal Emergency Management
Agency to directly receive a request for a fire
management assistance declaration from an Indian tribal
government and directly provide related grants and
resources to Indian tribal governments;
(B) clarify that Indian tribal governments for
which the President does not grant a request described
in subparagraph (A) remain eligible to receive
assistance under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5187) through assistance granted under a fire
management assistance declaration made at the request
of a State;
(C) consider the unique conditions that affect the
general welfare of Indian tribal governments; and
(D) enter into government-to-government
consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding
the regulations.
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