(a) In General.--There is in the Department the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, headed by an Administrator.
(b) Mission.--
(1) Primary mission.--The primary mission of the
Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and
protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made
disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a
risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system
of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and
mitigation.
(2) Specific activities.--In support of the primary
mission of the Agency, the Administrator shall--
(A) lead the Nation's efforts to prepare
for, protect against, respond to, recover from,
and mitigate against the risk of natural
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
made disasters, including catastrophic
incidents;
(B) partner with State, local, and tribal
governments and emergency response providers,
with other Federal agencies, with the private
sector, and with nongovernmental organizations
to build a national system of emergency
management that can effectively and efficiently
utilize the full measure of the Nation's
resources to respond to natural disasters, acts
of terrorism, and other man-made disasters,
including catastrophic incidents;
(C) develop a Federal response capability
that, when necessary and appropriate, can act
effectively and rapidly to deliver assistance
essential to saving lives or protecting or
preserving property or public health and safety
in a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or
other man-made disaster;
(D) integrate the Agency's emergency
preparedness, protection, response, recovery,
and mitigation responsibilities to confront
effectively the challenges of a natural
disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made
disaster;
(E) develop and maintain robust Regional
Offices that will work with State, local, and
tribal governments, emergency response
providers, and other appropriate entities to
identify and address regional priorities;
(F) under the leadership of the Secretary,
coordinate with the Commandant of the Coast
Guard, the Director of Customs and Border
Protection, the Director of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, the National Operations
Center, and other agencies and offices in the
Department to take full advantage of the
substantial range of resources in the
Department;
(G) provide funding, training, exercises,
technical assistance, planning, and other
assistance to build tribal, local, State,
regional, and national capabilities (including
communications capabilities), necessary to
respond to a natural disaster, act of
terrorism, or other man-made disaster; and
(H) develop and coordinate the
implementation of a risk-based, all-hazards
strategy for preparedness that builds those
common capabilities necessary to respond to
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other
man-made disasters while also building the
unique capabilities necessary to respond to
specific types of incidents that pose the
greatest risk to our Nation.
(c) Administrator.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall be
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
(2) Qualifications.--The Administrator shall be
appointed from among individuals who have--
(A) a demonstrated ability in and knowledge
of emergency management and homeland security;
and
(B) not less than 5 years of executive
leadership and management experience in the
public or private sector.
(3) Reporting.--The Administrator shall report to
the Secretary, without being required to report through
any other official of the Department.
(4) Principal advisor on emergency management.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator is the
principal advisor to the President, the
Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary
for all matters relating to emergency
management in the United States.
(B) Advice and recommendations.--
(i) In general.--In presenting
advice with respect to any matter to
the President, the Homeland Security
Council, or the Secretary, the
Administrator shall, as the
Administrator considers appropriate,
inform the President, the Homeland
Security Council, or the Secretary, as
the case may be, of the range of
emergency preparedness, protection,
response, recovery, and mitigation
options with respect to that matter.
(ii) Advice on request.--The
Administrator, as the principal advisor
on emergency management, shall provide
advice to the President, the Homeland
Security Council, or the Secretary on a
particular matter when the President,
the Homeland Security Council, or the
Secretary requests such advice.
(iii) Recommendations to
congress.--After informing the
Secretary, the Administrator may make
such recommendations to Congress
relating to emergency management as the
Administrator considers appropriate.
(5) Cabinet status.--
(A) In general.--The President may
designate the Administrator to serve as a
member of the Cabinet in the event of natural
disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made
disasters.
(B) Retention of authority.--Nothing in
this paragraph shall be construed as affecting
the authority of the Secretary under this Act.