Current status is Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4480

1. Short title
2. Designation of Veterans Advocate

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Improving Disaster Assistance for Veterans Act".

2. Designation of Veterans Advocate

(a) In general - Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (15 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

328. Designation of veteran advocate

(a) In general - The President shall designate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency a Veteran Advocate.

(b) Responsibilities - The Veterans Advocate shall be an advocate for the fair treatment of veterans in the provision of assistance under this Act.

(1) - participate in the disaster declaration process under section 401 and the emergency declaration process under section 501 to ensure that the needs of veterans are being addressed;

(2) - serve as the primary point of contact between veterans service organizations and the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(3) - identify opportunities for expanded veteran recruitment for Federal Emergency Management Agency employment, including Federal Emergency Management Agency reservist positions; and

(4) - conduct such other activities as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency considers appropriate.

(b) Statutory construction - Nothing in this section or the amendment made by this section shall be construed to authorize major disaster or emergency assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) that is not authorized as of the date of enactment of this Act.