Bill > HR1786

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by expanding the definition of a "major disaster" to explicitly include algal blooms. Currently, the law recognizes certain natural events like droughts as qualifying for disaster relief, and this bill would add algal blooms to that list. Algal blooms are rapid increases in the population of algae in water systems, which can be harmful to human health, marine life, and local economies by creating toxins and depleting oxygen in water. By adding algal blooms to the definition, the bill would make communities affected by these events potentially eligible for federal disaster relief and emergency assistance, which could include financial support, resources, and aid for recovery efforts. The bill is short and straightforward, simply modifying the existing language in the Stafford Act to broaden the scope of what is considered a major disaster.

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1786/all-info