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Adds "algal blooms" to the list of natural hazards in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act so algal blooms are explicitly recognized as a type of natural incident under federal disaster law. The change is purely definitional and does not itself create new funding, deadlines, or program requirements. Because it changes the statutory definition of covered natural hazards, this amendment could make it clearer that federal disaster assistance and related Stafford Act authorities can apply to harmful algal bloom events, but actual disaster declarations and funding decisions would still follow existing procedures.
This bill extends Stafford Act disaster assistance to harmful algal blooms—giving local governments, communities, and health systems better access to cleanup and public-health support—at the cost of higher federal spending and added administrative burdens.
Local governments and affected communities (rural and urban) can request and receive Stafford Act disaster assistance for harmful algal bloom events, enabling federal support for cleanup, public-safety actions, and temporary relocation.
Hospitals, health systems, and residents in areas with water contamination from algal blooms can gain stronger FEMA-authorized support, improving public-health protections and continuity of critical care.
Taxpayers could face higher federal disaster spending or reallocation of FEMA resources as coverage expands to include more algal-bloom incidents.
Local governments and federal emergency management staff may face greater administrative and operational burdens to evaluate, document, and respond to a larger set of incidents eligible for Stafford Act assistance.
Introduced March 3, 2025 by Byron Donalds · Last progress March 3, 2025