Congressional Research Service Reports - 891 Matching Results
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- Green Infrastructure and Issues in Managing Urban Stormwater
- This report discusses the issue of stormwater, or runoff, which is considered largely a problem of excess rainwater or snowmelt impacting communities. Prevailing engineering practices were to move stormwater away from cities as rapidly as possible to avoid potential damages from flooding. More recently, these practices have evolved and come to recognize stormwater as a resource that, managed properly within communities, has multiple benefits.
- Private Flood Insurance in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- This report briefly discusses federal law regarding flood insurance. By law or regulation, federal agencies, federally-regulated lending institutions, and government-sponsored enterprises must require certain property owners to purchase flood insurance as a condition of any mortgage that these entities make, guarantee, or purchase.
- The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief
- This report discusses the responsibility of four federal agencies for long-term earthquake risk reduction under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). Congress has not introduced legislation in the 114th Congress that addresses the NEHRP program directly.
- DHS Appropriations FY2016: Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
- This report is part of a suite of reports that discuss appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2016. It specifically discusses appropriations for the components of DHS included in the third title of the homeland security appropriations bill--the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- An Examination of Federal Disaster Relief Under the Budget Control Act
- The first section of this report addresses the pre-BCA (Budget Control Act) funding mechanism for major disaster declarations, including the role of the President's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). Next, this report provides a basic overview of how that funding mechanism has evolved under the BCA, and how Hurricane Sandy was addressed under that mechanism. Finally, the report explores a number of other issues pertinent to disaster relief funding in the BCA-regulated environment.
- Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding
- This report discusses the federal funding of firefighters, though most funding for firefighters is provided by state and local governments. During the 1990s, shortfalls in state and local budgets, coupled with increased responsibilities of local fire departments, led many in the fire community to call for additional financial support from the federal government.
- Federal Aid for Reconstruction of Houses of Worship: A Legal Analysis
- This report examines the constitutional rules governing federal funding for religious buildings and analyzes the Court's previous decisions on this issue. It also analyzes more recent lower court and administrative opinions that have distinguished the Court's decisions and allowed public funds to be awarded to houses of worship.
- Emergency Relief for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Transit Systems: In Brief
- This report describes Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assistance for the repair and reconstruction of highways and bridges damaged by disasters (such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012) or catastrophic failures (such as the collapse of the Skagit River Bridge in Washington State in 2013).
- Green Infrastructure and Issues in Managing Urban Stormwater
- Managing stormwater is one of the biggest and most expensive problems facing cities across the United States. This report discusses legislation that has been introduced to support research and implementation of green/innovative stormwater infrastructure. Overall, many in Congress remain concerned about how municipalities will pay for needed investments in water infrastructure projects generally—not limited to green infrastructure—and what role the federal government can and should play in those efforts.
- DHS Appropriations FY2016: Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
- This report is part of a suite of reports that discuss appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2016. It specifically discusses appropriations for the components of DHS included in the third title of the homeland security appropriations bill--the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Collectively, Congress has labeled these components in the appropriations act in recent years as "Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery."
- Drought Legislation: Comparison of Selected Provisions in H.R. 2898 and S. 1894
- This report summarizes the provisions of S. 1894, as introduced, and H.R. 2898, as passed by the House for conservation of fish species and their habitats in drought-stricken areas. It identifies comparable provisions between the two bills and discusses some of the ways in which those provisions overlap or differ. It also summarizes selected other major provisions in each bill.
- California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues
- This report provides a summary of California's 2012-2015 drought including: comparisons, where applicable, to previous droughts; a summary of the key regulatory requirements that at certain times limit water deliveries (or exports) from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers' Delta; and a brief discussion of California water rights with their relation to different types of federal contracts and their associated water allocations.
- Stafford Act Declarations 1953-2014: Trends, Analyses, and Implications for Congress
- This report discusses the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which authorizes the President to issue declarations that provide states and localities with a range of federal assistance in response to natural and man-made incidents.
- Federal Disaster Assistance Response and Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries
- This report is designed to assist Members of Congress and their staff as they address the needs of their states, communities, and constituents after a disaster. It includes a summary of federal programs that provide federal disaster assistance to individual survivors, states, territories, local governments, and nongovernmental entities following a natural or man-made disaster.
- Wildfire Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 114th Congress
- This report provides background information and analysis of funding for federal wildfire suppression operations. It concludes by summarizing relevant legislative proposals introduced in the 114th Congress and discussing their possible implications.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
- This report contains information on how to ascertain if an individual is eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits.
- Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies
- This report provides information that can aid policy makers as they navigate through the many levels of responsibility of dealing with emergencies, and numerous policy pressure points, by having an understanding of the laws and administrative policies governing the disaster response and recovery process. The report also reviews the legislative framework that exists for providing federal assistance.
- Deployable Federal Assets Supporting Domestic Disaster Response Operations: Summary and Considerations for Congress
- This report reviews several key concepts about federal disaster assets, and highlights possible issues Congress may consider when evaluating their authorization and appropriation.
- FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Program: Background and Considerations for Congress
- This report provides background on key elements of the FEMA's Public Assistance Program, such as the eligibility of applicants, the types of assistance available, and the methods FEMA uses for awarding grant assistance. The PA Program provides financial grant assistance to states, tribes, and local communities both in the response to and recovery from significant disasters.
- The U.S. Tsunami Program: A Brief Overview
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS) manages two tsunami warning centers that monitor, detect, and issue warnings for tsunamis. This report discusses these centers, which monitor and evaluate data from seismic networks and determine if a tsunami is likely based on the location, magnitude, and depth of an earthquake.
- United States Fire Administration: An Overview
- This report discusses the United States Fire Administration (USFA), which aims to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire.
- United States Fire Administration: An Overview
- This report discusses the United States Fire Administration (USFA), which aims to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire.
- Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding
- This report discusses the firefighting activities that are traditionally the responsibility of states and local communities. It also talks about funding for firefighters, which is provided mostly by state and local governments. However, during the 106th Congress, many in the fire community asserted that local fire departments require and deserve greater support from the federal government.
- Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
- This report discusses the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act, which authorizes grants to career, volunteer, and combination local fire departments for the purpose of increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry-minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
- The U.S. Tsunami Program: A Brief Overview
- This report provides an introduction to U.S. Tsunami warning centers and discusses the national Tsunami hazard mitigation program.
- Major Disaster Assistance from the Disaster Relief Fund: State Profiles
- This report outlines the trend in Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) obligations for both the national and state level for the period FY2000 through FY2013. It also includes individual profiles for each state and additional resources and key policy staff that can provide more information on the programs that are discussed.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Alabama
- This In Focus provides an overview of the assistance provided to Alabama by the FEMA DRF (Disaster Relief Fund) from 2002-2013.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Hawaii
- This In Focus provides an overview of the assistance provided to Hawaii by the FEMA DRF (Disaster Relief Fund) from 2002-2013.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Idaho
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Illinois
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Indiana
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Iowa
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Kansas
- This report describes the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Kentucky
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Louisiana
- This In Focus provides an overview of the assistance provided to Louisiana by the FEMA DRF (Disaster Relief Fund) from 2002-2013.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Maine
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Maryland
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Massachusetts
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Michigan
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Minnesota
- This In Focus provides an overview of the assistance provided to Minnesota by the FEMA DRF (Disaster Relief Fund) from 2002-2013.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Mississippi
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Missouri
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Montana
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Nebraska
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Nevada
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: New Hampshire
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: New Jersey
- This report discusses the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) that is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: New Mexico
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: New York
- No Description Available.
- FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: North Carolina
- No Description Available.