Criteria for mitigation activities

Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) is further amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following: (f) Criteria for mitigation activities In determining whether to carry out a project with funds provided under this section, the recipient of funds shall take into account— (1) project need and risk reduction potential; (2) short- and long-term community benefits and sustainability; (3) cost-effectiveness and budget clarity; (4) collaboration with State, Tribal, regional, or watershed authorities; (5) environmental and landscape impacts, including the use of nature based or green infrastructure approaches where feasible; (6) long-term operational feasibility; (7) applicant capacity and the degree to which the project design reflects local knowledge and community-identified priorities, with allowance for limited technical sophistication in application materials from first-time applicants, low-capacity applicants, and small and rural applicants; and (8) whether a project is located in— (A) an area with high or very high hazard potential, elevated risk, or meeting vulnerability criteria; (B) a low-income community; or (C) a community affected by a major disaster within the preceding 10 years..