Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

Bill: 117-s-1617
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2021-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Rural conditions and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: 

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

 
This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a disaster in rural areas where significant damage has been incurred for the purpose of providing certain assistance.
 
A 
rural area
 is a geographic area with a population of less than 200,000 outside an urbanized area. 
Significant damage
 means uninsured losses of not less than 40% of the fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property (whichever is less).
 
For a rural area where the President has declared a major disaster, the SBA may declare a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans if (1) the state wherein the rural area is located requests the declaration; and (2) any home, small business, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) any unique challenges to communities in rural areas compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking economic injury disaster assistance, and (2) any legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.

action_date: 2022-02-17
text: 

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

 
This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a disaster in rural areas where significant damage has been incurred for the purpose of providing certain assistance.
 
A 
rural area
 is a county or political subdivision designated as such by the Census Bureau. 
Significant damage
 means uninsured losses of not less than 40% of the fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property (whichever is less).
 
For a rural area where the President has declared a major disaster, the SBA may declare a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans if (1) the state or tribal government wherein the rural area is located requests the declaration; and (2) any home, small business, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) any unique challenges to communities in rural areas compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking economic injury disaster assistance, and (2) any legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.

action_date: 2022-09-28
text: 

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

 
This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a disaster in rural areas where significant damage has been incurred for the purpose of providing certain assistance.
 
A 
rural area
 is a county or political subdivision designated as such by the Census Bureau. 
Significant damage
 means uninsured losses of not less than 40% of the fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property (whichever is less).
 
For a rural area where the President has declared a major disaster, the SBA may declare a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans if (1) the state or tribal government wherein the rural area is located requests the declaration; and (2) any home, small business, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) any unique challenges to communities in rural areas compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking economic injury disaster assistance, and (2) any legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.

action_date: 2022-12-08
text: 

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

 
This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a disaster in rural areas where significant damage has been incurred for the purpose of providing certain assistance.
 
A 
rural area
 is a county or political subdivision designated as such by the Census Bureau. 
Significant damage
 means uninsured losses of not less than 40% of the fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property (whichever is less).
 
For a rural area where the President has declared a major disaster, the SBA may declare a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans if (1) the state or tribal government wherein the rural area is located requests the declaration; and (2) any home, small business, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) any unique challenges to communities in rural areas compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking economic injury disaster assistance, and (2) any legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.

action_date: 2022-12-20
text: 

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

 
This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a disaster in rural areas where significant damage has been incurred for the purpose of providing certain assistance.
 
A 
rural area
 is a county or political subdivision designated as such by the Census Bureau. 
Significant damage
 means uninsured losses of not less than 40% of the fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property (whichever is less).
 
For a rural area where the President has declared a major disaster, the SBA may declare a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans if (1) the state or tribal government wherein the rural area is located requests the declaration; and (2) any home, small business, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) any unique challenges to communities in rural areas compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking economic injury disaster assistance, and (2) any legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Became Public Law No: 117-249.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Became Public Law No: 117-249.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-12-16
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-12-16
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-12-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-12-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 8 (Roll no. 517). (text: 12/05/2022 CR H8741)
action_date: 2022-12-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 8 (Roll no. 517).(text: 12/05/2022 CR H8741)
action_date: 2022-12-08
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8853-8854)
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: DEBATE - The House resumed debate on S. 1617.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1617.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8741-8742)
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Ms. Velazquez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-09-28
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5165; text: CR S5165)
action_date: 2022-09-28
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S5165; text: CR S5165)
action_date: 2022-05-03
text: By Senator Cardin from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report. Report No. 117-103.
action_date: 2022-05-03
text: By Senator Cardin from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report. Report No. 117-103.
action_date: 2022-02-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 278.
action_date: 2022-02-17
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Cardin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-02-17
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Cardin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-02-15
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 117-249