Disaster Relief Act of 1974

Summary

Disaster Relief Act Amendments - Title I: Findings, Declarations, and Definitions - Declares the purposes of this Act and the intents of Congress, including to provide assistance by: (1) revising existing disaster relief programs, (2) encouraging development of State and local disaster relief plans and capabilities, (3) improving coordination and responsiveness of disaster relief programs, and (4) encouraging acquisition of insurance coverage. Defines the terms used in this Act. Title II: Disaster Preparedness Assistance - Empowers the President to establish and conduct disaster preparedness programs, using the services of all appropriate agencies, to accomplish specified disaster operations, coordination, and research. States that technical assistance may be provided the States by the President. Provides that grants to the States not in excess of $250,000 may be made by the President within one year after enactment for the preparation of comprehensive disaster plans and programs, and an annual 50 percent matching grant not in excess of $25,000 may be made for maintaining and updating disaster assistance plans. Empowers the President to use the civil defense or other Federal communications systems for threatened or imminent disasters. Title III: Disaster Assistance Administration - Provides that, based upon a Governor's request, the President is authorized to declare that a major disaster exists or to take other appropriate action including coordination of the activities of all Federal agencies and the prescribing of rules and regulations to carry out any provisions of this Act. Requires that all disaster assistance under this Act must be provided according to a Federal-State agreement unless specifically waived by the President. Directs the President, upon the declaration of a major disaster to appoint a Federal coordinating officer to operate in the disaster areas under the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration. Prescribes the duties of such officer in administering relief assistance. Authorizes the President to: (1) form emergency support teams of Federal personnel to be deployed in disaster areas to assist the Federal coordinating officer; and (2) to provide, upon request of an affected State, emergency services to save lives and protect public health and safety because a disaster either threatens or is imminent. Directs Federal agencies in a disaster, to provide assistance in enumerated ways. States that the Federal government is not liable for any claim based on performance or failure to perform by any Federal agency or employee of any discretionary duty or function under this Act. Provides for: (1) the performance of services by States; (2) the use of local firms and individuals; (3) nondiscrimination; and (4) the use and coordination of relief organizations in rendering disaster assistance. Requires applicants for assistance under this Act to obtain insurance to protect against losses to property which is replaced, restored, repaired or reconstructed with that assistance. Provides that no person, business concern or other entity shall receive financial assistance from more than one source for the same damage or loss from a disaster. Imposes criminal and civil penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the President to impose controls for the duration of the disaster period on maximum allowable wages, rents and prices for goods and services which in his judgment are necessary to assist in promoting economic recovery of the area. Title IV: Federal Disaster Assistance Programs - Empowers the President to authorize immediate repair or replacemnt of any disaster-damaged facility owned by the United States if he determines that such action is so urgent that it cannot be deferred until required legislation, appropriations, or Congressional committee approval is obtained. Enumerates additional Presidential powers, including to: (1) make grants to help repair, restore, reconstruct or replace the facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster; (2) clear debris and wreckage resulting from a disaster from publicly and privately owned lands and water; and (3) provide, for a period not to exceed one year, grants for mortgage or rental payments for individuals or families who, because of financial loss caused by a major disaster, have received an eviction or dispossession notice resulting from foreclosure of any mortgage or lien, cancellation of any contract of sale, or termination of any lease. Provides for the restoration of private homes to habitable conditions. Sets minimum standards for public and private structures financed by such assistance. Provides for unemployment assistance and disaster grants for needy persons. Empowers specified authorities to provide for (1) food commodities; (2) relocation assistance; (3) legal services; (4) crisis counseling assistance; (5) emergency communications; and (6) timber sale contracts. Title V: Economic Recovery for Disaster Areas - Provides that a Governor may designate a Recovery Planning Council to review existing development, land use or other plans, revise those plans, develop new plans, prepare a 5-year Recovery Investment Plan, and make recommendations to the Governor and to local governments for revising and implementing those plans. Authorizes the President to provide funds to Recovery Planning Councils for the implementation of Recovery Investment Plans in major disaster areas. States that loans may be made to help finance projects for the purchase or development of land and facilities for industrial and commercial usage. Provides that not to exceed $200 million is authorized to be appropriated for a disaster recovery revolving fund which is to be established in the Treasury and is to be replenished annually. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Disaster Relief Act of 1970. Sets forth the effective date of this Act. Provides that funds necessary for the purposes of this Act are authorized to be appropriated.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

No timeline events have been ingested for this record yet.

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 23 May 1974

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Public Law

  summary · EN · 22 May 1974

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 February 1974

  Open at official source

Sponsors

No sponsors or actors listed by the source.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.