Ounce of Prevention Act

Bill Number

H.R. 9557

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Last Updated

2026-07-06T13:38:29Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 9557: Ounce of Prevention Act

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to expand the allowable uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, enabling certain grantees in high-risk areas to apply these amounts toward natural disaster mitigation activities aimed at reducing long-term risks from weather-related events.

Key Provisions Outlined

• Amendments to Existing Sections:
• Updates section 101(c) to include mitigation of threats to community health and welfare from weather-related disasters as a core purpose.
• Adds a definition in section 102(a) for "mitigation activities" as efforts that increase resilience and reduce risks of loss from future disasters.
• Modifies section 104(b)(3) to explicitly support mitigation alongside existing community development goals.
• Expands section 105(a) to permit natural disaster mitigation (including new construction and rehabilitation) as an eligible activity, provided the grantee is in a high-risk area certified by the Secretary using the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index or a state-maintained hazard index, and details the activities in its consolidated plan.
• New Subsection on Grant Use:
• Allows grantees to treat assisted housing units as a single structure for meeting national objectives and exempts them from certain aggregate public benefit standards.
• Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide technical assistance to grantees using funds for these activities.
• Rulemaking Requirement:
• Mandates HUD to issue rules within one year to incorporate mitigation efforts into criteria for urgent community needs and national objectives, and to recognize documented weather-related risks as immediate threats to community welfare.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

The legislation broadens CDBG eligibility under the 1974 Act by adding disaster mitigation as a distinct category, with specific eligibility tied to risk assessments and planning requirements. It introduces flexibilities in how assisted units are counted for compliance and mandates new regulatory updates to integrate these activities into existing HUD frameworks.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for HUD, including certification of risk areas, technical assistance, and rulemaking; may require coordination with FEMA for risk index usage.
• On Citizens: Enables communities in designated high-risk zones to access CDBG funds for proactive measures like structural improvements, potentially lowering future disaster-related losses or hardships.
• On International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• CDBG grantees, such as states and local governments in high-risk areas.
• HUD, as the administering agency responsible for oversight and technical support.
• Communities and residents in weather-vulnerable regions, who may benefit from funded mitigation projects.
• FEMA, through reference to its National Risk Index in eligibility determinations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The bill operates within existing federal grant authorities without apparent constitutional conflicts, focusing on regulatory expansions rather than new mandates. It emphasizes local planning integration and risk-based eligibility, which could influence how federal disaster preparedness funding is allocated at the state and local levels.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2026-06-30: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Ounce of Prevention Act — issued 2026-06-30 — PDF (5 pages)