2 loss of life, loss of income, and human suffering result from major disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, floods, high waters, wind-driven waters, tidal waves, earthquakes, droughts, fires, and other catastrophes; and (2) because such disasters disrupt the normal functioning of government and the community, and adversely affect individual persons and families with great severity, special measures, designed to expedite the rendering of aid and assistance and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas, are necessary. (b) It is the intent of the Congress, by this Act, to provide an orderly and continuing means of alleviating the suffering and damage which result from such disasters by (1) revising and broadening the scope of existing major disaster relief programs; (2) encouraging the development of comprehensive disaster relief programs by the States; and (3) achieving greater coordination and responsive ness of Federal major disaster relief programs by consolidating their administration. 22 23 24 25 DEFINITIONS SEC. 102. As used in this Act— (1) "major disaster" means any flood, high waters, wind-driven waters, tidal wave, drought, fire, hurricane, 3 tornado, earthquake, storm, or other catastrophe in any part of the United States which in the determination of the President, is or threatens to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant disaster assistance by the Federal Government to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and private relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby, and respecting which the Governor of any State in which such catastrophe occurs or threatens to occur certifies the need for disaster assistance under this Act, and shall give assurance of expenditure of a reasonable amount of the funds of such State, its local governments, or other agencies for the same or similar purposes with respect to such catastrophe; (2) "United States" means the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; (3) "State" means any State in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is lands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; (4) "Governor" means the chief executive of any State; 1 -2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 121 4 (5) "local government" means any county, city, village, town, district, or other political subdivision of any State, and includes any rural community or unincorporated town or village for which an application for assistance is made by a State or political subdivision thereof; (6) "Federal agency" means any department, independent establishment, Federal corporation, or other agency of the executive branch of the Federal Government, excepting the American National Red Cross; (7) "Director" means the Director of the Office of Disaster Assistance except where a different meaning is 13 indicated by the context within which it is used; and 14 15 16 17 18 ance. (8) "Office" means the Office of Disaster Assist TITLE II-OFFICE OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE ESTABLISHMENT SEC. 201. (a) There is hereby established, within the 19 Office of the President, an Office of Disaster Assistance, for 20 the purpose of administering Federal disaster relief pro grams, coordinating relief activities of private relief organiza 22 tions in major disasters, and for other purposes. 23 (b) There shall be in the Office a Director of Disaster 24 Assistance and an Assistant Director of Disaster Assistance 25 (hereafter referred to as the "Assistant Director"), each of 5 1 whom shall be appointed by the President, and shall serve at his pleasure. The Office shall be under the control and 3 supervision of the Director. The Assistant Director shall per4 form such duties as may be assigned to him by the Director, 5 and, during the absence or incapacity of the Director, or 6 during a vacancy in that office, shall act as the Director. The 7 Director shall designate an employee of the Office to act as 8 Director during the absence or incapacity of both the Direc9 tor and the Assistant Director, or during a vacancy in both 10 of such offices. 11 (c) Subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United 12 States Code (relating to Executive Schedule pay rates), is 13 amended as follows: 14 (1) Section 5313 is amended by adding at the end 15 thereof the following: 16 17 "(20) Director, Office of Disaster Assistance." (2) Section 5314 is amended by adding at the end 18 thereof the following: 19 20 21 222 "(54) Assistant Director, Office of Disaster Assistance." (d) There are hereby transferred to the Director all the 22 functions of the Secretary of Defense carried out through the 23 Office of Civil Defense, and the functions, insofar as such 24 functions relate to major disaster relief, of the Director of 25 the Office of Emergency Preparedness. 6 1 2 3 4 (e) Within one hundred and eighty days after the effective date of this Act, the President may transfer to the Director any function of any other agency or office, or part of any agency or office, in the executive branch of the United 5 States Government if the President determines that such 6 function relates primarily to functions transferred to the Director by the preceding subsection of this section. 7 9 SEC. 202 (a) All personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, 10 property, and records as are determined by the Director of 11 the Bureau of the Budget to be employed, held, or used 12 primarily in connection with any function transferred under 13 the provisions of section 201 (d), are transferred to the 14 Director. Except as provided in subsection (b), personnel 15 engaged in functions transferred under this title shall be 16 transferred in accordance with applicable laws and regula17 tions relating to transfer of functions. 18 (b) Personnel not under section 5337 of title 5, United 19 States Code, shall be transferred without reduction in classi20 fication or compensation for one year after such transfer. 21 (c) In any case where all of the functions carried out 22 through any agency or office are transferred pursuant to 23 this Act, such agency or office shall lapse. 24 AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR 25 SEC. 203. (a) The Director of the Office of Disaster 26 Assistance may, in addition to the authority to delegate and |