Disaster Resiliency Planning Act (S. 3510)

Summary

Makes federal agencies include plans for natural disasters when they make choices about the buildings and land they own or invest in.

What problem does this solve?

Federal government buildings and land could be at risk from natural disasters because there were no set rules for planning ahead. This law makes the Office of Management and Budget create rules for all government agencies to follow to make their property safer from disasters.

What does this law do?

New guidance for disaster resilience

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create rules for all federal agencies on how to include natural disaster resilience in their property management and investment choices.

Requires use of risk assessments

Directs agencies to use information from natural disaster risk and vulnerability assessments when making decisions about their buildings and land.

Reporting to Congress

The OMB Director must send a report to Congress describing the new guidance within one year and provide a briefing on its implementation within two years.

Consultation with experts

Allows the OMB Director to talk with other experts when creating the guidance, including the head of FEMA and the Comptroller General.

Who does this affect?

Federal government agencies

What is the real world impact?

•

Protects federal property from damage

Aims to reduce the cost of repairing or replacing government buildings and land after natural disasters by making agencies plan for these events ahead of time. This saves taxpayer money.

When does this start?

This law sets several deadlines for creating and reporting on new disaster resilience rules.

Establishment of guidance

Within 180 days of the law being passed, the OMB Director must create the new guidance for natural disaster resilience.

Report to Congress

Within 1 year of the law being passed, the OMB Director must send a report to Congress explaining the new guidance.

Briefing for Congress

Within 2 years of the law being passed, the OMB Director must brief Congress on how agencies are using the new guidance.