HR6462-119

What This Bill Does

The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a technical-assistance program inside the Rural Development mission area for rural communities affected by a Stafford Act major disaster. Eligible rural communities are generally census-designated places under 20000 people in disaster-covered areas, though USDA may modify or waive the definition. Assistance may be provided by Rural Development state offices, contracted public bodies, or contracted private nonprofit corporations, with priority for certain experienced entities under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Providers must coordinate with state governments and local stakeholders and help communities plan disaster recovery, identify problems and funding sources, prepare federal and state assistance applications, address denials, and implement funds for telecommunications, water, housing, energy, community facilities, business infrastructure, and local government infrastructure. Communities can receive help for three years after a disaster, extendable for another three years. USDA must make available program funds to state Rural Development offices after a disaster without requiring those offices to apply, and allocate funds by formula based on disaster-affected population using the latest census. The bill authorizes 50 million dollars per fiscal year.

Who Benefits and How

Disaster-affected rural communities receive planning and application help that can improve access to FEMA, Economic Development Administration, USDA Rural Development, and state disaster recovery funds. Rural residents benefit if technical assistance helps restore water systems, housing, telecommunications, energy, community facilities, business infrastructure, or local government infrastructure. Public bodies and nonprofit technical-assistance providers can receive contracts to deliver the work.

Who Bears the Burden and How

USDA Rural Development state offices must stand up the program, coordinate providers, make funds available after disasters, create an allocation formula, and oversee technical assistance. Contracted public bodies and nonprofit corporations must coordinate outreach, prepare applications, address denials, and help implement recovery grants. Federal appropriations bear the 50 million dollar annual authorization, while state and local stakeholders must coordinate recovery planning.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a USDA Rural Development technical-assistance program for rural communities in Stafford Act disaster areas.
• Authorizes Rural Development state offices, contracted public bodies, and contracted nonprofit corporations to provide the assistance.
• Requires assistance for recovery planning, funding-source identification, federal and state aid applications, denial responses, and implementation of disaster recovery funds.
• Covers infrastructure areas including telecommunications, water, housing, energy, community facilities, business infrastructure, and local government infrastructure.
• Authorizes 50 million dollars per fiscal year and directs USDA to allocate funds by disaster-affected population.