H.R. 4058: Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act

This bill, titled the Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act, aims to improve the outreach and support provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in relation to grants for emergency preparedness. Specifically, it focuses on two major grant programs: the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program.

DHS Grant Outreach Enhancements

The bill proposes several key amendments to the Homeland Security Act of 2002:

1. Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)

The bill mandates that the DHS Administrator must:

• Conduct ongoing stakeholder outreach, engagement, education, technical assistance, and support related to grant awards.
• Administer annual surveys to gather feedback from state, local, Tribal, and territorial stakeholders about the grant award processes and the effectiveness of outreach efforts.
• Summarize the feedback collected from these surveys and explain how it has been used to improve future grant notices.
• Utilize additional feedback methods deemed appropriate by the Administrator.

2. State Homeland Security Grant Program

Similar to the provisions for UASI, the bill requires the DHS Administrator for the State Homeland Security Grant Program to:

• Provide the same level of ongoing stakeholder outreach and support during all phases of grant award processes.
• Conduct annual surveys to collect feedback on the granting process and the effectiveness of outreach.
• Publish summaries of survey results and stakeholder feedback, including how this information is integrated into future funding notices.
• Implement other feedback collection mechanisms as seen fit by the Administrator.

3. Reporting Requirements

The bill establishes specific reporting obligations to ensure oversight of the outreach and assistance efforts:

• By two years after the bill's enactment, the Comptroller General must submit a report assessing the effectiveness of FEMA's outreach, engagement, and support as dictated by the new provisions.
• Within three years after the bill’s enactment, FEMA’s Administrator is required to report on actions taken in response to the new outreach requirements, including details on surveys and feedback summaries.

Summary of Objectives

Overall, the purpose of this bill is to enhance how the DHS engages with various stakeholders concerning grant programs linked to emergency preparedness. By soliciting feedback, the bill seeks to create a more effective and responsive system for allocating funds to help local and state entities better prepare for emergencies.

Relevant Companies

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