HMAG Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3738
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-11T08:06:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025 (H.R. 3738) aims to expand federal disaster relief to address extreme heat events by amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (commonly called the Stafford Act). It provides tools for states and local governments to mitigate and manage these events, recognizing extreme heat as a growing public safety and economic threat.
Key Provisions
- Assistance for Extreme Heat Events: Adds a new Section 431 to Title IV of the Stafford Act, authorizing the President (through FEMA's Regional Administrator) to offer grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel to states and local governments for mitigating and managing extreme heat events.
- Coordination Requirements: Assistance must be coordinated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to ensure effective response.
- Eligibility Criteria: States or local governments must submit:
- An assessment of potential loss of life based on past events.
- An assessment of potential revenue losses from the event.
- Details on other available assistance sources (not limited to heat-specific aid).
- Descriptions of long-term impacts, such as damage to infrastructure.
- Additional Authorities:
- Allows use of emergency assistance powers under Section 403 of the Stafford Act (which covers essential aid like debris removal and emergency protective measures).
- Permits hazard mitigation grants under Section 404 (focused on reducing future risks) in affected areas, even without a formal major disaster declaration.
- Rulemaking: The President must issue rules, including agreements for aid recipients, an appeals process for denied requests, and definitions of eligible costs.
- Threshold Development: Within 90 days of enactment, FEMA's Administrator, in collaboration with NOAA's Administrator and consulting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, must define an "extreme heat event" based on temperature levels and duration.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the Stafford Act's scope by explicitly including extreme heat events as eligible for federal assistance, which were not previously covered as a standalone category (heat events might have qualified indirectly under broader disaster declarations).
- Introduces proactive mitigation and management options without requiring a major disaster declaration, broadening access to hazard mitigation funds.
- Mandates inter-agency collaboration (FEMA, NOAA, CDC) and specific eligibility assessments, adding structured requirements to heat-related aid requests.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases FEMA's workload in processing heat-related aid and developing thresholds; enhances coordination with NOAA (for weather data) and CDC (for health impacts), potentially straining resources but improving response efficiency.
- On Citizens: Could reduce heat-related deaths, injuries, and economic losses (e.g., from lost productivity or infrastructure damage) by enabling faster local responses, especially benefiting vulnerable groups like the elderly, low-income communities, and outdoor workers in heat-prone regions.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; the bill focuses on domestic U.S. disaster relief.
- Overall, it may lead to better preparedness for climate-driven events, potentially lowering long-term recovery costs for affected areas.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Governments: Primary recipients of aid, responsible for assessments and implementation.
- Federal Agencies: FEMA (lead for assistance and rules), NOAA (weather expertise), and CDC (health guidance).
- Citizens and Communities: Particularly those in urban or southern U.S. areas prone to heat waves, including public health and emergency responders.
- Other Entities: Private infrastructure owners (e.g., utilities) indirectly affected through mitigation efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the Stafford Act's framework for non-traditional disasters, potentially serving as a model for addressing other climate hazards (e.g., droughts or wildfires). The appeals process ensures due process for denied aid, aligning with administrative law standards.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to allocate federal funds, with no apparent conflicts; it maintains executive discretion in aid distribution while requiring congressional oversight through rulemaking.
- Political: Highlights growing recognition of extreme heat as a disaster risk amid climate change discussions, without partisan framing. It could influence future appropriations for FEMA and encourage state-level heat preparedness plans, though funding details (e.g., authorization levels) are not specified in the bill.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-04 — PDF (4 pages)