I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3251 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act to provide for an alternative block grant program for funding public 
assistance for response to a major disaster, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 7, 2025 
Mr. MOSKOWITZ (for himself and Mr. BURCHETT) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
A BILL 
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act to provide for an alternative block 
grant program for funding public assistance for response 
to a major disaster, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Disaster Response 
Flexibility Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. 
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 431. ALTERNATIVE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
President, 
acting 
through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, shall establish an alternative block 
grant program for providing funds for public assistance 
in the event of a major disaster declared by the President 
under this title. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT
OF COST
OF PUBLIC ASSIST-
ANCE.— 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT REQUIRED.—In the event of 
a major disaster described in subsection (a), the Ad-
ministrator shall— 
‘‘(A) assess the cost of public assistance of 
each impacted State that would otherwise eligi-
ble for such assistance under this Act, including 
reasonable administrative expenses incurred by 
the State necessary to manage and distribute a 
block grant under this section; and 
‘‘(B) reduced the total amount of such cost 
by the non-Federal shares that would otherwise 
have been applied for each activity carried out 
with such public assistance. 
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‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—In making an assess-
ment under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall 
consult with each applicable State to validate eligible 
costs and ensure that the amount of the assessment 
reflects the scope of necessary recovery efforts. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the 
program under this section, the President shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a process for a State to elect to 
apply for a block under this section grant in lieu of 
application for direct public assistance under this 
title; and 
‘‘(2) ensure that a State may request a single 
adjustment to the amount provided in such block 
grant if the initial amount is insufficient to complete 
the activities that would otherwise be carried out 
under this title. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for a block grant 
under this section, a State shall submit to the President 
an application in such manner and containing such infor-
mation as the President may require. 
‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY.—A State that receives a block 
grant under this program shall not be eligible for direct 
public assistance under any other provision of this Act 
with respect to the major disaster for which the block 
grant is provided, including financial assistance and oper-
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ational support (such as personnel, equipment, and con-
tracted services). 
‘‘(f) REMAINING FUNDS.—Any funds provided under 
this section that remain after the completion of recovery 
activities for which such funds are provided may be used 
for preparedness or mitigation activities in the State that 
are eligible for assistance under this Act. 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) STATE REPORTS.—A State that receives a 
block grant under this section shall submit to the 
Administrator— 
‘‘(A) not later than 120 days after the date 
on which such grant was received, an initial re-
covery plan outlining anticipated uses of funds; 
‘‘(B) not later than 1 year after the sub-
mission of the report under subparagraph (A), 
and annually thereafter until all funds provided 
under the grant are expended, a report con-
taining— 
‘‘(i) a description of each activity for 
which funds were spent; 
‘‘(ii) in any case in which the State 
has remaining funds described under sub-
section (f), the proposed use of such funds; 
and 
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‘‘(iii) an assessment of the impact and 
effectiveness of any expenditures of such 
funds; and 
‘‘(C) not later than 180 days after all 
funds provided under the grant have been ex-
pended, a final report containing— 
‘‘(i) a description of all projects car-
ried out with such funds; and 
‘‘(ii) an analysis of the overall effec-
tiveness of the activities carried out with 
such funds. 
‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
12 months after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, and annually thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to Congress a report on the implemen-
tation and activities of the program established 
under this section that includes— 
‘‘(A) a list of States that have elected to 
participate in such program; 
‘‘(B) a description of how the Adminis-
trator has implemented the program, including 
administrative procedures and timelines; 
‘‘(C) an assessment of any challenges and 
barriers to State participation and program im-
plementation; 
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‘‘(D) an evaluation of the accuracy and 
timeliness of cost estimates used to determine 
grant amounts; 
‘‘(E) the average length of time required to 
make cost estimates and disburse grant funds 
following a declaration of a major disaster; 
‘‘(F) a review of the administrative impact 
on the Administration and participating States, 
including staffing and oversight capacity; and 
‘‘(G) recommendations for statutory, regu-
latory, or administrative changes needed to— 
‘‘(i) improve delivery under such pro-
gram; 
‘‘(ii) support administration of the 
program; or 
‘‘(iii) enhance effectiveness of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(h) PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE
DEFINED.—The term 
‘public assistance’— 
‘‘(1) means any activities eligible for assistance 
under sections 403, 406, and 407; and 
‘‘(2) does not include any assistance provided to 
individuals and households.’’. 
Æ 
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