Congressional Research Service Reports - 891 Matching Results
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- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): Background and Funding
- This report begins by describing the population using emergency food assistance. It goes on to discuss the the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) program, including its administration at the federal, state, and local levels, eligibility rules, and funding structure. The report concludes by summarizing TEFAP's role in disaster response and recent reauthorization efforts.
- Hurricane Michael: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources
- This report provides a brief overview of emergency and major disaster declarations relevant to Hurricane Michael, and selected federal resources and links to CRS products related to Stafford Act declarations, disaster response, and recovery.
- Hurricane Florence: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources
- This report provides a brief overview of emergency and major disaster declarations relevant to Hurricane Florence, and selected federal resources and links to CRS products related to emergency and disaster declarations, disaster response, and recovery.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
- This report describes the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits, which are available only to those individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a declared major disaster and information on how to ascertain if an individual is eligible for DUA benefits.
- The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief
- This report discusses the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program which is made up of four agencies (FEMA, The National Science Foundation, USGS, and National Institute of Standards and Technology) which are responsible for monitoring, reporting, and studying earthquakes and increasing resiliency to earthquakes through means such as stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, and recovery plans.
- Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies
- This report provides information to aid policymakers related to the laws and administrative policies governing the disaster response and recovery process. It also reviews the legislative framework for providing federal financial assistance following disasters, as well as the policies the executive branch employs to provide supplemental help to state (or territory), tribal, and local governments during time of disasters.
- The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Reinsurance, and Catastrophe Bonds
- This report discusses the use of reinsurance to transfer some of the risk of an insurance policy from the primary insurer to a secondary insurer, and the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) decision to use reinsurance through the issuance of catastrophe bonds (which pay out when a particular type of disaster set out in the bond agreement occurs) by the secondary private insurers.
- National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority
- This report evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly in the context of major floods, and also discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP.
- Tax Policy and Disaster Recovery
- This report discusses, in broad terms, disaster-related tax policy. Challenges associated with using the tax code to deliver federal financial assistance following natural disasters are also discussed.
- Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program
- This report describes the current role of private insurers in U.S. flood insurance, and discusses barriers to expanding private sector involvement. The report considers potential effects of increased private sector involvement in the U.S. flood market, both for the NFIP and for consumers. Finally, the report outlines the provisions relevant to private flood insurance in the House and Senate NFIP reauthorization bills.
- What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses?
- This report provides a short overview of what would happen if the NFIP were not to be reauthorized by November 30, 2018, and allowed to lapse.
- Federal Disaster Assistance: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood
- This report provides an overview of the assistance available to individuals and households following a flood and provides links to more comprehensive guidance on both flood insurance and disaster assistance.
- Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- This report discusses the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the requirements that private insurers must meet to satisfy the federal flood insurance requirements. It also discusses legislation in the 115th Congress related to flood insurance.
- National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress
- This report summarizes key insurance reform provisions in recent legislation, identifies issues for congressional consideration as part of the possible reauthorization of the NFIP, and describes selected provisions which relate to the issues listed above in the bill to reauthorize the NFIP passed by the House (H.R. 2874, the 21st Century Flood Reform Act) and the bills yet to be considered by the Senate (S. 1313, S. 1368, and S. 1571).
- National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority
- This report evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly in the context of major floods, and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP.
- The National Hurricane Center and Forecasting Hurricanes: 2017 Overview and 2018 Outlook
- This report first provides a synopsis of the role of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS), in forecasting hurricanes, and it discusses some of the advances and remaining challenges in hurricane forecasting. The report then provides an overview of the 2017 hurricane season, with a focus on the three destructive hurricanes named above, and includes a brief summary of the hurricane outlook for 2018.
- Wildfire Statistics
- This report briefly covers statistics about wildfires, such as annual wildfires and acres burned and top five years with largest wildfires.
- Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery
- This report briefly discusses the options for federal support and assistance for areas affected by wildfire disasters, including the period during wildfires, in the aftermath, and subsequently for preventing a recurrence.
- 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.
- Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program
- This report describes the current role of private insurers in U.S. flood insurance, and discusses barriers to expanding private sector involvement. The report considers potential effects of increased private sector involvement in the U.S. flood market -- both for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and for consumers -- and outlines the provisions relevant to private flood insurance in the House and Senate NFIP reauthorization bills.
- FEMA and SBA Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Households: Application Process, Determinations, and Appeals
- This report provides an overview of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Individual Assistance (IA) program and the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) Disaster Loan Program. It includes discussions about how declarations put the programs into effect, the application process for both programs, the criteria used by FEMA and the SBA to determine assistance, and the FEMA and SBA appeal processes. The report concludes with policy observations and considerations for Congress.
- Closing the Flood Insurance Gap
- This report discusses the flood insurance coverage gaps in the United States, provides statistics on the level of coverage and amount of flooding in coastal areas recently hit by hurricanes, and provides possible solutions to the flood insurance gap.
- Education-Related Regulatory Flexibilities, Waivers, and Federal Assistance in Response to Disasters and National Emergencies
- This report is intended to inform Congress of existing statutory and regulatory provisions that may aid in responding to future disasters and national emergencies that may affect the provision of or access to education and highlight the actions of previous Congresses to provide additional recovery assistance. This report reflects the most recently available guidance, as of the date of publication, related to education-related disaster response and flexibilities. It will be updated should new or additional statutes be enacted or guidance be issued.
- Potential Options for Electric Power Resiliency in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- This report explores several alternative electric power system structures for meeting the electricity services and needs of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
- Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- This report discusses the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the requirements that private insurers must meet to satisfy the federal flood insurance requirements. It also discusses legislation in the 115th Congress related to flood insurance.
- FEMA Individual Assistance Programs: In Brief
- This report discusses FEMA's individual assistance programs for victims of natural disasters. It provides a short summary of the types of individual assistance programs administered by FEMA following a disaster. This report also provides a summary of the criteria FEMA uses in determining which individual assistance programs may be made available to impacted areas following a major disaster declaration, and discusses a proposed rule to change these criteria.
- The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief
- This report discusses the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) and its funding and legislation related to it in the 115th Congress.
- National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority
- This report evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, particularly in the context of major floods, and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP.
- Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- This report provides a brief overview of the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) and its funding and authorization status.
- Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- This report provides introductory information on key components of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), ranging from floodplain mapping to the standard flood insurance forms. This report will be updated as significant revisions are made to the NFIP through legislation or administrative action. However, this report does not provide detail on current or future legislative issues for Congress, which are covered in a separate report
- Federal Disaster Assistance: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood
- This report discusses federal disaster relief programs, such as the National Flood Insurance Program, available to people after a flood.
- 2017 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations: Overview
- This report discusses supplemental appropriations for 2017 disaster relief and recovery and provides a detailed breakdown of the requested, enacted, and proposed supplemental funding in each of these measures, and provides a contact listing for CRS experts on the funded relief and recovery programs.
- What Happens if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses?
- This report provides a short overview of what would happen if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were not to be reauthorized by July 31, 2018, and allowed to lapse.
- The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Reinsurance, and Catastrophe Bonds
- This report discusses the use of reinsurance to transfer some of the risk of an insurance policy from the primary insurer to a secondary insurer and the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) decision to use reinsurance through the issuance of catastrophe bonds (which pay out when a particular type of disaster set out in the bond agreement occurs) by the secondary private insurers.
- Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations
- This report provides an overview of the accounts that fund wildfire management activities and historical wildfire management appropriations data, as well as information on FY2018 appropriations.
- The First Responder Network (FirstNet) and Next-Generation Communications for Public Safety: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the FirstNet communication system for first responders and other emergency personnel. Its creation, purpose, and future use are discussed.
- United States Fire Administration: An Overview
- This report discusses the U.S. Fire Administration's structure, funding, and functions.
- FEMA's Firefighter Assistance Grants: Reauthorization or Sunset?
- This report discuses FEMA's (Federal Emergency Management Agency's) Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program (SAFER) and the reauthorization process in Congress. Unless legislation is passed by both the House and Senate by January 8, 2018, sunset provisions will come into effect for the programs.
- What Happens if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses
- This report provides a short overview of what would happen if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were not to be reauthorized by December 8, 2017, and was allowed to lapse.
- What Happens if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses?
- This report provides a short overview of what would happen if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were not to be reauthorized by January 19, 2018, and was allowed to lapse.
- 21st Century Flood Reform Act (H.R. 2874): Reforming the National Flood Insurance Program
- This report outlines the provisions of the 21st Century Flood Reform Act which was passed on Nov. 14, 2017. The act reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and revises regulations regarding insurance coverage standards.
- National Flood Insurance Borrowing Authority
- This report evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP's) borrowing authority to receive loans from the U.S. Department of the Treasury -- particularly in the context of major floods -- and discusses the current financial situation of the NFIP as it pays claims from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
- Floodplain Management and Flood Resilience: Current Policy and Considerations for Congress
- This report describes presidential direction for federal floodplain management and presents considerations for Congress.
- Natural Disasters of 2017: Congressional Considerations Related to FEMA Assistance
- This report provides a short overview of issues Congress may consider in its oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) federal assistance during the 2017 hurricane season (e.g., Harvey, Irma, and Maria) and other disasters (e.g., fires in California).
- Supplemental Appropriations and the 2017 Hurricane Season
- This report provides tables listing all the bills, departments, and programs which received supplemental funding related to disaster relief after the 2017 hurricane season and wildfires in California.
- United States Fire Administration: An Overview
- This report discuses the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and their funding for fiscal year 2017 in comparison with recent years. The Administration's FY2017 budget proposed $42.3 million for USFA, a 3.8% decrease from the FY2016 level.
- Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations
- This report provides an overview of the accounts that fund wildfire management activities and historical wildfire management appropriations data, as well as information on FY2018 appropriations. The Administration requested a combined $3.72 billion in FY2018, a 12% decrease from FY2017 enacted levels. On September 14, 2017, the Housed passed H.R. 3354, an omnibus measure covering all 12 appropriations bills, including the FY2018 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. This bill would provide $3.85 billion combined for wildfire purposes, an 8% decrease from FY2017 enacted levels and 3% above the Administration's requested levels.
- Comprehensive Energy Planning for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- This report discusses the electric power grid of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands which were mainly destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria with Puerto Rico being the hardest hit power grid. The report mainly concerns previous and current efforts to create long-term comprehensive energy plans for insular areas such as Puerto Rico and some of the challenges encountered in doing so.
- Volcano and Landslide Provisions in Title X of S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017
- This report discusses a proposed volcano early warning system and a landslide hazards reduction program that would both be administered by the USGS. Provisions of the law that would create the system and volcanoes on the high priority watch-list are described.
- Flood-Risk Reduction and Resilience: Federal Assistance and Programs
- This report provides an overview of flood assistance programs and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) related mitigation incentives; it also raises flood-related policy considerations associated with federal programs and practices.