II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3683 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 30, 2024 Ms. Cantwell (for herself and Mr. Risch ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To ensure that a declaration for a major disaster or emergency is made on a timely basis, rural areas receive assistance, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now Act or the MALDEN Act . 2. Rural assistance Section 326(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165d(c) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)(D) by striking and at the end; (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) with respect to a rural area impacted by a wildfire, work in coordination with the State or Tribal emergency management agency to provide guidance to the emergency manager of the rural area on developing a recovery team, including— (A) by providing resources to help prevent flooding, mudslides, rockslides or any other natural disaster that could result after a wildfire; and (B) by identifying available resources for both short-term and long-term recovery, including resources to help prevent a future natural disaster within the burned area; (5) in a case in which a request for assistance to an individual or household in a rural area under section 408 is denied, work in coordination with the affected State or Tribal emergency management agency to make case workers available to the residents impacted by the major disaster or emergency; and .