H.R. 3177

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3177 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3177

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to ensure that cost estimates, acquisition of proper materials, and any 
other activity related to certain projects under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act are performed by 
professionals licensed in the relevant State, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 5, 2025

Mr. Ezell (for himself, Mr. Carbajal, and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to ensure that cost estimates, acquisition of proper materials, and any 
other activity related to certain projects under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act are performed by 
professionals licensed in the relevant State, 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. COST ESTIMATES BY APPROPRIATELY LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.

(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall use appropriately licensed professionals to 
perform any covered activity with respect to a project eligible for 
assistance under sections 406 or 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172; 42 U.S.C. 5189f).
(b) Requirements.--
(1) Consent of appropriately licensed professional.--The 
Administrator may not disapprove, with respect to a project 
described under subsection (a), any plan, rebuilding proposal, 
material suggestion for rebuilding, or direct purchase of 
materials without the direct consent of an appropriately 
licensed professional.
(2) Purchase approval.--Any purchase suggested by an 
appropriately licensed professional for any project described 
under subsection (a) shall be approved by the Administrator.
(3) Acceptance of plans, projects, and materials.--Unless 
fraud is evident and traceable, any plans proposed, projects 
prepared, and materials requested or purchased by an 
appropriately licensed professional may not be rejected, 
rescinded, or stalled by the Administrator.
(4) Contract process.--The Administrator may not reject or 
hinder the process of entering into a contract with an 
appropriately licensed professional if such process is 
suggested by a State or local government.
(5) State hiring responsibility.--It shall be the 
responsibility of the State to hire an appropriately licensed 
professional to develop the scope of work related to performing 
a covered activity.
(6) Employee of fema.--Any employee of the Agency that 
assists directly with the management of a rebuilding project 
eligible for assistance under section 406 or 428 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5172; 42 U.S.C. 5189f) shall be an appropriately 
licensed professional.
(c) Regulations.--The Administrator shall update regulations and 
policies, to the extent necessary, to implement the requirements of 
this Act.
(d) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Appropriately licensed professional.--The term 
``appropriately licensed professional'' means an individual--
(A) who is--
(i) employed by the Agency to perform a 
covered activity; or
(ii) contracted by the Agency or a State or 
local governmental entity; and
(B) licensed--
(i) in the State in which a project 
described under this section shall be carried 
out; and
(ii) as an engineer, architect, builder, 
tradesperson, or any other profession related 
to performing a covered activity relating to 
such project.
(2) Covered activity.--The term ``covered activity'' 
includes--
(A) preparing a cost estimate for a project 
eligible for assistance under section 406 or 428 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172; 42 U.S.C. 5189f); and
(B) purchasing the proper materials, equipment, 
vehicles, and any other items necessary to carry out a 
project described under subparagraph (A).
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