H.R. 760

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 760 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 760

To make certain repairs, replacements, and restorations of private 
roads and bridges eligible for reimbursement under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 28, 2025

Mr. Edwards (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, and Mr. Moore of 
North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To make certain repairs, replacements, and restorations of private 
roads and bridges eligible for reimbursement under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 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 ``Restoring Access to Mountain Homes 
Act''.

SEC. 2. REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, AND RESTORATION WORK ON 
PRIVATE ROADS AND BRIDGES IMPACTED BY TROPICAL STORM 
HELENE.

(a) Eligibility for Reimbursement.--Notwithstanding any provision 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) or the regulations governing the public 
assistance program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under 
such Act, the State, Indian Tribal, and local governments in North 
Carolina covered under major disaster declaration FEMA-4827-DR-NC 
(relating to Tropical Storm Helene) shall be eligible for reimbursement 
for the cost of repairs, replacements, or restoration to private roads 
and bridges, without regard to pre-existing condition, under section 
428 of such Act that--
(1) are used as the sole means of access to primary 
residences or essential community services;
(2) are significantly damaged or destroyed as a direct 
result of Tropical Storm Helene as identified in FEMA-4827-DR-
NC; and
(3) does not duplicate work that has already been 
completed.
(b) Conditions of Reimbursement.--Reimbursement under this section 
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) Private roads or bridges shall be inspected by 
appropriate State, Indian Tribal, or local government officials 
or their designees to verify the scope, need, and cost-
effectiveness of any mitigation measures for the proposed 
repair, replacement, or restoration.
(2) The State, Indian Tribal, or local governments 
requesting assistance shall ensure that the private roads or 
bridges being repaired, replaced, or restored remain open for 
disaster recovery activities for the duration of the repair, 
replacement, or restoration process.
(3) The State or Indian Tribal governments shall be 
responsible for documenting all costs associated with repairs, 
replacements, or restorations within their jurisdiction in 
accordance with Federal Emergency Management Agency policy.
(4) The State, Indian Tribal, or local government applying 
for public assistance funding shall obtain authority or 
permission to perform the work to permanently repair, replace, 
or restore the private roads and bridges.
(5) The State, Indian Tribal, or local government applying 
for public assistance funding shall ensure the work under this 
section is performed in compliance with all applicable State 
and Federal regulations and requirements that pertain to work 
that is permanent in nature.
(c) Duplication of Benefits.--
(1) In general.--Any individual or household that has 
received assistance prior to the date of enactment of this 
section pursuant to section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) 
for the purposes of repairing a private road or bridge eligible 
under this section may proceed with such repairs or return any 
such assistance to have such repair eligible pursuant to this 
section.
(2) Calculation.--In the event the individual or household 
chooses to proceed with such repairs utilizing assistance 
provided pursuant to section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) 
for a private road or bridge, such assistance shall not be 
counted against the maximum amount of assistance for such 
individual or household under such section.
(d) Eligible Costs.--In determining eligible costs, the 
Administrator shall base such determinations on properly conducted and 
certified cost estimates prepared by professionally licensed engineers 
(mutually agreed upon by the Administrator and the applicant). Once 
certified by a professionally licensed engineer and accepted by the 
Administrator, the estimates on which grants made pursuant to this 
section are based shall be presumed to be reasonable and eligible 
costs, as long as there is no evidence of fraud.
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