Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
This bill amends Section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to add "algal blooms" to the statutory list of events that may constitute a "major disaster." The change is a textual addition to the existing disaster definition and does not itself appropriate funds or specify implementation details.
Liberals emphasize public-health and environmental justice benefits
Simple, narrow change with bipartisan appeal; some members may object to open-ended spending exposure.
This bill amends Section 102(2) of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to add "algal blooms" to the statutory list of events that may constitute a "major disaster." The change is a textual addition to the existing disaster definition and does not itself appropriate funds or specify implementation details.
Narrow, low-controversy amendment that could be enacted alone or in a package, but it creates potential federal costs and lacks definitions.
How solid the drafting looks.
Liberals emphasize public-health and environmental justice benefits
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize public-health and environmental justice benefits
Likely supportive because it recognizes harmful algal blooms (HABs) as disasters affecting public health, environment, and livelihoods.
Sees it as a step toward federal assistance for impacted communities and ecosystems, though additional funding and preventive measures would be needed.
Generally favorable as a narrowly targeted technical fix that clarifies FEMA authority for an increasingly common hazard.
Wants clear thresholds, cost-sharing rules, and guardrails to avoid expanding open-ended federal liabilities.
Skeptical of expanding the Stafford Act definition, viewing it as potential federal overreach and a pathway to new federal spending.
Might accept a narrowly framed change if it preserves state control and limits federal fiscal exposure.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow, low-controversy amendment that could be enacted alone or in a package, but it creates potential federal costs and lacks definitions.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize public-health and environmental justice benefits
Narrow, low-controversy amendment that could be enacted alone or in a package, but it creates potential federal costs and lacks definitions.
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