FEMA Act

Foundations for Emergency Management Act or the FEMA Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for the establishment within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of a Directorate of Emergency Management (DEM) (replacing the Directorate of Emergency Preparedness and Response). Requires DEM to be headed by an Under Secretary for Emergency Management and to include Deputy Under Secretaries for: (1) Emergency Preparedness and Mitigation; and (2) Emergency Response and Recovery. Directs the Under Secretary to serve as a Cabinet Officer during an Incident of National Significance.

Requires the Secretary of DHS to: (1) ensure and annual certify that all programs within DEM administering federal assistance maintain proper internal management controls to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse; and (2) develop and implement a fraud prevention training program. Provides for the establishment within DHS of a Deputy Inspector General for Response and Recovery.

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize grants for state disaster preparedness programs and plans for catastrophic incidents. Requires the President to conduct annual reviews of federal agencies, states, and local governments in preparing for catastrophic incidents.

Good Samaritan Liability Improvement and Volunteer Encouragement Act of 2006 or the GIVE Act of 2006 - Exempts from liability for acts or omissions in providing services in connection with a declared disaster: (1) disaster relief volunteers; (2) employers or business partners of disaster relief volunteers; (3) hosts or enabling persons, entities, or organizations; and (4) governmental and intergovernmental entities for donations of disaster relief goods. Provides for punitive and non-economic damages only for willful, knowing, or reckless misconduct.

Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 - Prohibits U.S. officers or employees, while acting in support of relief in a major disaster or emergency, from taking specified actions to restrict the possession, registration, or carrying of firearms, such as seizing any firearm the possession of which is not prohibited under federal or state law (with exceptions). Authorizes civil actions in U.S. district court for the return of confiscated firearms.

Hurricane Election Relief Act of 2006 - Directs the Election Assistance Commission to make grants to each state for the purpose of: (1) restoring and replacing supplies, materials, records, equipment, and technology used in the administration of federal elections that were damaged, destroyed, or dislocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita; and (2) ensuring the full participation in such elections by individuals displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov