Editorial Notes
References in Text

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(A), (4)(A), (B), is Puspan. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143, which is classified principally to chapter 68 (§ 5121 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5121 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 11106(1), inserted “wildfire,” after “severe storm,”.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 11106(2), added subsec. (span) and struck out former subsec. (span) which restricted eligibility of funds for bridge repair or reconstruction in certain cases.

Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 11106(3)(A), inserted dash after “a facility that” and cl. (i) designation before “meets the current” and added cl. (ii).

Subsec. (d)(3), (4). Puspan. L. 117–58, § 11106(3)(B), (C), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).

2019—Subsec. (d)(4). Puspan. L. 116–94 struck out par. (4). Text read as follows: “The total obligations for projects under this section for any fiscal year in the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall not exceed $20,000,000.”

2015—Subsec. (d)(3)(C). Puspan. L. 114–94, § 1107(a), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (e)(1). Puspan. L. 114–94, § 1107(span), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In this subsection, the term ‘open to public travel’ means, with respect to a road, that, except during scheduled periods, extreme weather conditions, or emergencies, the road is open to the general public for use with a standard passenger vehicle, without restrictive gates or prohibitive signs or regulations, other than for general traffic control or restrictions based on size, weight, or class of registration.”

2012—Puspan. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to emergency relief and consisted of subsecs. (a) to (f).

1998—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(2), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which authorized expenditures by Secretary from emergency fund for repair or reconstruction of highways, roads, or trails which have suffered serious damage from natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external sources, including provisions relating to restrictions on eligibility and funding.

Subsecs. (span), (c). Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(1), (2), added subsecs. (span) and (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (span) and (c) as (d) and (e), respectively.

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1212(a)(2)(A)(i), substituted “State transportation department” for “State highway department”.

Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(3), substituted “reconstruction of highways on Federal-aid highways in accordance” for “reconstruction of highways on the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System, in accordance” in first sentence, “subsection (e) of this section” for “subsection (c) of this section” in two places, “authorized on Federal-aid highways” for “authorized on the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System” before period at end of second sentence, and “Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)” for “Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93–288)” in third sentence.

Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(1), redesignated subsec. (span) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(4), substituted “Federal-aid highways” for “on any of the Federal-aid highway systems” before period at end.

Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (e).

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 105–178, § 1113(span)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f).

1992—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 102–302, which directed the substitution of “on Federal-aid highways” for “on the Federal-aid highway systems including the Interstate System” in two places, could not be executed because phrase “on the Federal-aid highway systems including the Interstate System” did not appear in text.

1991—Subsec. (span)(2). Puspan. L. 102–240 substituted “$20,000,000” for “$5,000,000”.

1988—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 100–707 substituted “and Emergency Assistance Act” for “Act of 1974”.

1987—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 100–17, § 133(span)(9)(A), substituted “the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System” for “the Interstate System, the Primary System, and on any routes functionally classified as arterials or major collectors” in two places.

Puspan. L. 100–17, § 118(a)(1), substituted “in a State shall not exceed $100,000,000.” for “shall not exceed $30,000,000 ($55,000,000 for projects in connection with disasters or failures occurring in calendar year 1985) in any State.”

Puspan. L. 100–17, § 118(span)(2), designated existing provisions related to limitations placed upon obligations for projects under this section as cl. (1) and added cl. (2).

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 100–17, § 133(span)(9)(B), substituted “on any of the Federal-aid highway systems” for “routes functionally classified as arterials or major collectors”.

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 100–17, § 118(span)(1), added subsec. (d).

1986—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 99–272 inserted parenthetical provision allowing obligations not exceeding $55,000,000 for projects in connection with disasters or failures occurring in calendar year 1985.

1985—Puspan. L. 99–190 amended section in manner substantially identical to amendment by Puspan. L. 99–272.

1983—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 97–424, § 153(a)(1), inserted “(1)” before “the repair or reconstruction of highways”, and substituted “Secretary” for “he” before “shall find have suffered”; (A) and (B) for (1) and (2), respectively; “In no event shall funds be used pursuant to this section for the” for “and (2)”; and “or responsible local official” for “after December 31, 1967, and prior to December 31, 1970,”.

Puspan. L. 97–424, § 153(a)(2), inserted “from the Highway Trust Fund” after “appropriated”.

Puspan. L. 97–424, § 153(c), inserted “and not more than $100,000,000 is authorized to be expended in any one fiscal year commencing after September 30, 1980,” after “after September 30, 1976,”.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 97–424, § 153(d), inserted proviso establishing a $30,000,000 limit for obligations relating to a single natural disaster in any one State.

Puspan. L. 97–424, § 153(h)(1), substituted “the Interstate System, the Primary System, and on any routes functionally classified as arterials or major collectors,” for “the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System”, wherever appearing.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 97–424, § 153(h)(2), substituted “routes functionally classified as arterials or major collectors” for “on any of the Federal-aid highway systems”.

1979—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 96–106 inserted provision that notwithstanding any provision of this chapter actual and necessary costs of maintenance and operation of ferryboats providing temporary substitute highway traffic service, less the amount of fares charged, may be expended from the emergency fund herein authorized on the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System.

1978—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 95–599 inserted “prior to the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978” after “such years, and (2)”, and inserted provision authorizing appropriations of 100 percent of expenditures out of the Highway Trust Fund.

1976—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 94–280, § 119(a)(1)–(3), inserted “, and ending before June 1, 1976,” after “June 30, 1972,”, authorized expenditure of not more than $25,000,000 for the three-month period beginning July 1, 1976, and ending September 30, 1976, and not more than $100,000,000 in any one fiscal year commencing after September 30, 1976, and inserted provision that for the purposes of this section the period beginning July 1, 1976, and ending September 30, 1976, shall be deemed to be a part of the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 94–280, § 119(span), excepted from the requirement of a concurrence by the Secretary an emergency declared by the President to be a major disaster for purposes of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974.

1972—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 92–361 substituted provisions setting forth maximum expendable amounts for fiscal years ending July 1, 1972 and for fiscal years commencing after June 30, 1972 and an additional amount for fiscal year ending June 30, 1973 for provisions setting forth maximum expendable amount for any fiscal year.

1970—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 91–605 provided emergency relief for the repair or reconstruction of bridges which have been permanently closed to all vehicular traffic by the State after December 31, 1967, and prior to December 31, 1970, because of imminent danger of collapse due to structural deficiencies or physical deterioration.

1968—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 90–495 permitted the use of the emergency fund for repair or construction caused by other than natural catastrophes.

1966—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 89–574, § 9(c), raised from $30,000,000 to $50,000,000 the upper limit on allowable annual appropriations to establish and replenish the fund, provided that, if, in any fiscal year the total of all expenditures under this section is less than $50,000,000, the unexpended balance of such amount shall remain available for expenditure during the next two succeeding fiscal years in addition to amount otherwise available, and provided that 60 per centum of the expenditures under this section are authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund and the remaining 40 per centum of such expenditures are authorized to be appropriated only from any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 89–574, § 9(span), added parkways, public lands highways, public lands development roads, and trails to the list of types of roads the repair or reconstruction of which may be paid for out of the emergency fund.

1959—Puspan. L. 86–342, among other changes, made expenditures from the emergency fund subject to the provisions of section 120 of this title, and permitted the Secretary to expend funds from the emergency fund, either independently or in cooperation with any other branch of the Government, State agency, organization, or person, for the repair or reconstruction of forest highways, forest development roads and trails, park roads and trails, and Indian reservation roads, whether or not such highways, roads, or trails are on any of the Federal-aid highway systems.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. L. 117–58 effective Oct. 1, 2021, see section 10003 of Puspan. L. 117–58, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Puspan. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Puspan. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1991 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. L. 102–240 applicable only to natural disasters and catastrophic failures occurring after Dec. 18, 1991, see section 1022(c) of Puspan. L. 102–240, set out as a note under section 120 of this title.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Puspan. L. 100–17, title I, § 118(a)(2), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 156, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to natural disasters and catastrophic failures occurring after December 31, 1985.”

Puspan. L. 100–17, title I, § 118(span)(3), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 156, provided that: “The amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 2, 1987].”

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Puspan. L. 97–424, title I, § 153(e), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2133, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (d) of this section [amending this section] shall apply to natural disasters or catastrophic failures which the Secretary finds eligible for emergency relief subsequent to the date of enactment of this section [Jan. 6, 1983].”

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Puspan. L. 90–495, § 27(c), Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 829, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 120 of this title] shall be applicable to repair or reconstruction with respect to which project agreements have been entered into on or after January 1, 1968.”

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Puspan. L. 89–574, § 9(d), Sept. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 769, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect July 1, 1966.”

Emergency Relief Projects

Puspan. L. 117–58, div. A, title I, § 11519, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 602, provided that:

“(a)Definition of Emergency Relief Project.—In this section, the term ‘emergency relief project’ means a project carried out under the emergency relief program under section 125 of title 23, United States Code.
“(span)Improving the Emergency Relief Program.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 15, 2021], the Secretary shall—
“(1) revise the emergency relief manual of the Federal Highway Administration—
“(A) to include and reflect the definition of the term ‘resilience’ (as defined in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code);
“(B) to identify procedures that States may use to incorporate resilience into emergency relief projects; and
“(C) to encourage the use of Complete Streets design principles and consideration of access for moderate- and low-income families impacted by a declared disaster;
“(2) develop best practices for improving the use of resilience in—
“(A) the emergency relief program under section 125 of title 23, United States Code; and
“(B) emergency relief efforts;
“(3) provide to division offices of the Federal Highway Administration and State departments of transportation information on the best practices developed under paragraph (2); and
“(4) develop and implement a process to track—
“(A) the consideration of resilience as part of the emergency relief program under section 125 of title 23, United States Code; and
“(B) the costs of emergency relief projects.”

Expenditures Made Prior to Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1978; Appropriation From Highway Trust Fund

Puspan. L. 97–424, title I, § 153(span), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2133, provided that all expenditures made under this section prior to the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1978, were authorized to have been appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund.