US Federal 2023-2024 Regular Session

US Federal Senate Bill SB180

Introduced
1/31/23  

Caption

Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023

Impact

The proposed amendments in SB180 are set to bring significant changes to the current disaster relief framework for agriculture. Emphasizing block grant assistance will create a more flexible and responsive funding mechanism available to state and territorial governments. This change may lead to faster and more tailored responses to specific agricultural crises, as state governments would have greater discretion over how to allocate the funds to meet local needs. By decentralizing the distribution of disaster relief funds, the bill aims to empower local entities in their recovery efforts.

Summary

SB180, known as the Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023, aims to amend the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, to enhance disaster relief funding specifically for agricultural producers. This legislation was introduced to provide more effective support for states and territories in coping with agricultural losses resulting from disasters. By allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to offer assistance in the form of block grants, SB180 seeks to ensure that affected farmers receive timely and sufficient financial backing to rebuild and recover from adversities such as natural disasters.

Contention

Despite the bill’s intentions to streamline and enhance disaster relief funding, there may be points of contention among legislators regarding the efficacy and management of block grants. Critics could express concerns about accountability and the potential for mismanagement of funds at the state level, as well as the risk that some areas may not receive adequate support compared to others. Additionally, there may be debates around the sufficiency of funds allocated under the new grant system and whether this approach truly addresses the diverse challenges faced by agricultural producers in different regions.

Companion Bills

US HB662

Same As Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023

US SB116

Related The Hurricanes of 2022 Disaster Relief Rectification Act

US SB2721

Related Federal Disaster Responsibility Act

US HB5343

Related Federal Disaster Responsibility Act

Previously Filed As

US HB253

Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act This bill sets out a process to enable Puerto Rico to participate as a state in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under current law, a state receives SNAP funding based on the number of participating households in the state whereas Puerto Rico receives a block grant to fund its nutrition assistance program. The bill requires Puerto Rico to submit to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a plan of operation to transition away from the consolidated block grant program to SNAP. USDA must provide appropriate training and technical assistance to enable Puerto Rico to formulate such plan.

US HB3738

HMAG Act of 2025 Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025

US HB204

Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act This bill requires the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and specified public housing programs to subject individuals to substance-abuse screening and to deny benefits for individuals who test positive for a controlled substance.

US SB443

Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act

US HB242

Equal Rights and Access for the Women of South Sudan Act This bill requires that activities carried out by the United States in South Sudan relating to governance, post-conflict reconstruction and development, police and military training, or refugee relief and assistance support the human rights of women and their full political, social, and economic participation.

US HB205

SNAP Theft Protection Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish criteria for state agencies to identify Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen by identity theft or typical skimming practices and provide for the reissuance of stolen SNAP benefits to households that meet such criteria. USDA must periodically review and modify its regulations to take into account evolving technology and the threat landscape to better protect against theft.

US HB44

Effective and Humane Treatment of Youth Act of 2023 or Kalief's Law This bill establishes requirements for the treatment of youth in the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels. A youth is an individual who is 21 years of age or younger. At the federal level, the bill requires federal law enforcement officers to record youth custodial interrogations, limits the use of solitary confinement for youth at federal facilities, and limits the use of restraints on youth during federal court proceedings. At the state and local levels, the bill places conditions on existing grants and establishes a new grant to incentivize the implementation of similar policies with respect to youth. First, the bill reauthorizes the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program for FY2023-FY2027. To be eligible for grant funds, state and local governments must implement policies that, with respect to youth, provide a right to speedy trial, provide a right to timely bail consideration, and restrict the use of solitary confinement. Second, a state or local government that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program or the Community Oriented Policing Services program must implement policies and training on police-youth interaction. Third, the bill directs the Department of Justice to award grants to help state and local governments record youth custodial interrogations.

US HB259

Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act This bill establishes a centralized location to publish information on disaster assistance provided by federal agencies. The Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and any agencies providing disaster assistance must make available to the public on a quarterly basis information regarding (1) the total amount of assistance provided by the agency; (2) the amount provided that was expended or obligated; and (3) all projects or activities for which assistance was expended, obligated, or used.

US HB49

Require Evaluation before Implementing Executive Wishlists Act of 2023 or the REVIEW Act of 2023 This bill prohibits a final agency rule from taking effect until (1) the agency submits the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and (2) OIRA makes a determination as to whether the rule is a high-impact rule that may impose an annual cost on the economy of at least $1 billion. In addition, an agency must postpone the effective date of a high-impact rule until the final disposition of all actions seeking judicial review of the rule.

US HB202

States' Education Reclamation Act of 2023 This bill abolishes the Department of Education (ED) and repeals any program for which it has administrative responsibility. The Department of the Treasury shall provide grants to states, for FY2023-FY2031, for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education purposes permitted by state law. The level of funding is set at the amount provided to states for federal elementary and secondary education programs and the amount provided for federal postsecondary education programs, respectively, for FY2023, minus the funding provided for education programs that the bill transfers to other federal agencies. States must contract for an annual audit of their expenditures or transfers of grant funds. Program administrative responsibility and delegation of authority are transferred as follows: ED's job training programs to the Department of Labor, each special education grant program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ED's Indian education programs to the Department of the Interior, each Impact Aid program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to the Department of Defense, the Federal Pell Grant program and each federal student loan program to Treasury, and programs under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Education Sciences or the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program to HHS.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.