Disaster Assistance Recoupment Fairness Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2216
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-12-11
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Debt collection

Disaster relief and insurance
Latest action: action_date: 2017-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-12-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Disaster Assistance Recoupment Fairness Act of 2017</b></p> <p> This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) waive a debt owed to the United States related to federal assistance provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to an individual or household in relation to a major disaster declared by the President between January 1, 2012, and the date of enactment of this bill, unless the debt involves fraud, the intentional presentation of a false claim, or intentional misrepresentation by the debtor or any party having an interest in the claim; and (2) reimburse a debtor for any payments already made on such a debt.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2216 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 11, 2017 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Schumer , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Booker , Mr. Cassidy , and Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To waive and repay certain debts relating to assistance provided to individuals and households.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disaster Assistance Recoupment Fairness Act of 2017 . 2. Debts arising since 2012 (a) Definition In this section, the term covered assistance means assistance provided— (1) under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5174 ); and (2) in relation to a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 ) during the period beginning on January 1, 2012, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Waiver authority The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall waive a debt owed to the United States related to covered assistance provided to an individual or household, unless the debt involves fraud, the intentional presentation of a false claim, or intentional misrepresentation by the debtor or any party having an interest in the claim. (c) Repayment authority The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall reimburse a debtor for any payments made by the debtor on a debt owed to the United States related to covered assistance, if the Administrator would have otherwise been required to waive the debt under subsection (b).