H.R.437 - Support Neighborhoods Offset Winter Damage Act of 2025; SNOW Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 437, the Support Neighborhoods Offset Winter Damage Act of 2025 (SNOW Act of 2025), amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to expand assistance related to winter storms. It allows recipients of hazard mitigation assistance to use funds for activities reducing the risk of future winter storm damage, including acquiring snow removal equipment. The bill also directs FEMA to establish a process to waive certain requirements for major disaster declarations related to winter storms under specific conditions.
Expected Effects
The bill aims to provide more flexible and accessible federal assistance to communities affected by winter storms. This includes easing the requirements for disaster declarations and increasing the federal cost share for assistance in rural or disadvantaged areas. Ultimately, this could lead to quicker and more effective responses to winter storm emergencies.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to federal disaster relief funds for communities affected by winter storms.
- Greater flexibility in using hazard mitigation assistance to prepare for and respond to winter storms.
- Prioritization of assistance for rural and disadvantaged areas.
- Faster disaster declarations due to waived requirements under certain conditions.
- Enhanced ability for state and local governments to respond to and recover from severe winter weather events.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased federal spending on disaster relief.
- Possible challenges in defining and implementing the criteria for waiving disaster declaration requirements.
- Risk of inconsistent application of assistance based on the discretion of the FEMA Administrator.
- Could create a dependency on federal aid, reducing local incentives for self-reliance.
- The definition of 'rural or disadvantaged area' relies on Census data, which may not perfectly reflect current economic conditions.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8) of the Constitution, as it aims to provide assistance to states and communities affected by winter storms. It also aligns with Congress's power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8) by facilitating the movement of goods and services during and after winter storms. The bill delegates authority to the FEMA Administrator, which is a common practice, but Congress retains oversight through its legislative powers.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).