Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act

Bill: 119-hr-152
Sponsor: Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
Introduced: 2025-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: 

Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to streamline disaster information collection, convene a working group on preliminary damage assessments, and provide a report to Congress.

FEMA must (1) conduct a study and develop a plan under which the collection of information from disaster assistance applicants and grantees will be made less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; and (2) develop a plan for the regular collection and reporting of information on federal disaster assistance awarded.

Additionally, not later than two years after enactment of the bill, FEMA must convene a working group on a regular basis to (1) identify potential areas of duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments after disaster declarations; (2) determine the applicability of having one federal agency make the assessments for all agencies; and (3) identify potential emerging technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones), to expedite the administration of preliminary damage assessments.

FEMA must submit a comprehensive report on the plans for streamlining and consolidating information collection and the findings and recommendations of the working group to Congress with a briefing. The report must be made available to the public and posted on FEMA's website.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-13
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-01-13
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 5 (Roll no. 9). (text: CR H100-101)
action_date: 2025-01-13
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): 405 - 5 (Roll no. 9). (text: CR H100-101)
action_date: 2025-01-13
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H107-108)
action_date: 2025-01-13
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: 2025-01-13
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 152.
action_date: 2025-01-13
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H100-101)
action_date: 2025-01-13
text: Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2025-01-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Introduced in House