HouseH.R. 10281119th Congress
FEMA for Safe Recovery Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10281 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10281
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to issue guidance and regulations relating to preventing gender-based
violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 3, 2026
Mrs. McBath (for herself and Ms. Lee of Florida) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to issue guidance and regulations relating to preventing gender-based
violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``FEMA for Safe Recovery Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Gender-based violence.--The term ``gender-based
violence'' means a crime of violence motivated by gender, as
defined in section 40302(d)(1) of the Violence Against Women
Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12361(d)(1)), or exploitation or abuse
committed on the basis of gender and due, at least in part, to
an animus based on the victim's gender, and includes domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (as
such terms are defined in section 40002(a) of such Act (34
U.S.C. 12291(a))), and trafficking in persons (as defined in
section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
(22 U.S.C. 7102)).
(2) Trauma-informed.--The term ``trauma-informed'' means,
with respect to services or training, services or training
that--
(A) use a patient-centered approach to providing
services or care;
(B) promote the dignity, strength, and empowerment
of patients who have experienced trauma; and
(C) incorporate evidence-based practices based on
knowledge about the impact of trauma on patients'
lives.
SEC. 3. REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE TO PREVENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE,
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency shall issue such regulations and guidance as are necessary to
prevent gender-based violence, human trafficking, and sexual
exploitation after a disaster.
(b) Contents.--In issuing the regulations and guidance under
subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
(1) provide for the establishment of a joint Federal and
local violence-fighting headquarters immediately after a
natural disaster to ensure coordination between the Agency, Red
Cross, State, city, and county entities, and local anti-
violence specialists, including the area's service providers
and trusted community leaders;
(2) provide for plans to provide a more stable staff with
longer-term assignments (to improve care, build trust, and
reduce stress and traumatization) after a disaster;
(3) revise check-in practices of the Administration to
include check-ins with all adult household members (to ensure
men and women have equal opportunities to disclose violence and
seek help, not just male heads of households);
(4) provide for strategies to reduce frequent relocations
of hotel-dwelling survivors;
(5) establish protocols for non-adjudicatory reporting
mechanism through which an individual may report allegations of
criminal conduct, abuse, or exploitation by a landlord or
temporary housing provider, which shall prioritize--
(A) facilitating the individual's prompt relocation
to safe alternative temporary housing, where
appropriate; and
(B) the prompt referral of such allegations to
appropriate State, local, Tribal, or territorial law
enforcement agencies, or specialized victim service
providers, with the informed consent of the individual;
(6) develop guidance and best practices regarding the
availability of trained victim service personnel, equipped to
work with victims of gender-based violence, at disaster
shelters, where practicable and consistent with available
resources;
(7) develop model information materials and signage for
disaster shelters and resource sites regarding available victim
assistance resources for individuals experiencing gender-based
violence, including relevant hotlines and contact information,
to be made available in all appropriate languages;
(8) evaluate post-disaster processes to ensure such
processes take into account the emotional well-being of recent
disaster survivors, particularly such survivors with known
mental health issues or who are vulnerable to additional harm,
such as gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, or human
trafficking, and consider the needs of survivors from different
linguistic, religious, or cultural backgrounds;
(9) establish guidance for State, local, Tribal, and
territorial emergency managers on how to plan for the
specialized contextual needs of individuals at high risk of
experiencing gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, or
human trafficking during and after a disaster, including for
providing feminine hygiene products, baby formula, and over-
the-counter medicine and supplies; and
(10) determine which expenses related to individuals
experiencing gender-based violence are currently eligible for
reimbursement under the Public Assistance and Individual
Assistance programs of the Agency and develop specific guidance
and training for Agency field staff on which costs are
eligible;
(c) Consultation.--In issuing regulations and guidance under
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with emergency
management stakeholders, sexual assault centers, domestic violence
shelters, and anti-trafficking organizations.
(d) Limitation.--Activities carried out pursuant to this section
shall be limited to activities directly related to disaster response,
temporary sheltering, emergency protective measures, and short-term
disaster recovery operations under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
SEC. 4. CRISIS COUNSELING ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.
Section 416 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5183) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``and to address gender-based violence,
sexual exploitation, and human trafficking'' after
``backgrounds''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Gender-Based Violence Training.--The President shall ensure
that all employees of the Agency shall be trained on how to identify,
care for, and refer victims and survivors of gender-based violence,
sexual exploitation, or human trafficking to related services.''.
SEC. 5. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
Section 426(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189d(a)) is amended by inserting
``and assistance to address gender-based violence, sexual exploitation,
or human trafficking'' after ``financial assistance''.
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION; STATE FLEXIBILITY.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act, or the regulations and
guidance issued pursuant to this Act, shall be construed to--
(1) require the hiring of additional permanent full-time
employees or the establishment of new offices within the
Agency;
(2) preempt or supersede the authority of any State, local,
Tribal, or territorial government to conduct its own emergency
management systems, response operations, trainings, or resource
allocation; or
(3) limit or restrict the authority of a State, local,
Tribal, or territorial government to establish or enforce
standards, regulations, or laws that provide greater
protection, assistance, or resources for victims of gender-
based violence during a disaster or emergency response than
those provided under this Act.
(b) Availability of Appropriations.--This Act shall be carried out
subject to the availability of appropriations.
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