H.R.760 - Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.760, the Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act, aims to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It seeks to make repairs, replacements, and restorations of private roads and bridges impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina eligible for FEMA reimbursement. The bill specifically targets roads and bridges that serve as the sole access to primary residences or essential community services.
Expected Effects
If enacted, H.R.760 would provide financial relief to individuals and communities in North Carolina affected by Tropical Storm Helene. It would allow FEMA to reimburse costs associated with repairing or restoring private roads and bridges, even if they were in poor condition before the storm. This could improve access to homes and essential services in affected areas.
Potential Benefits
- Improved Access: Ensures residents have access to their homes and essential services.
- Financial Relief: Provides financial assistance to homeowners and communities for repair costs.
- Economic Boost: Stimulates local economies through repair and restoration projects.
- Community Resilience: Enhances the ability of communities to recover from natural disasters.
- Addresses Specific Need: Targets a specific disaster (Tropical Storm Helene) and affected region (North Carolina).
Potential Disadvantages
- Limited Scope: The bill focuses solely on one specific disaster and region, potentially neglecting other areas in need.
- Potential for Abuse: The reimbursement process could be susceptible to fraud or misuse of funds.
- Federal Overreach: Some may argue that this represents an overreach of federal authority into local infrastructure matters.
- Cost to Taxpayers: Increased federal spending on disaster relief could burden taxpayers.
- Precedent Setting: Could set a precedent for federal funding of private infrastructure in other disaster situations.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the Constitution is based on the interpretation of the General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8), which allows Congress to provide for the general welfare of the United States. Disaster relief can be argued as falling under this clause. However, some may argue that focusing on private infrastructure stretches the interpretation of 'general welfare'. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific individual rights outlined in the Bill of Rights.
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).