Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022 2022-11-17 Passed House Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022

This bill makes changes in the process for seeking assistance following a major disaster.

Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and maintain a web-based interagency electronic information sharing system, to be known as DisasterAssistance.gov, to facilitate the administration of a universal application for direct federal disaster assistance and for other specified purposes.

The President may provide (1) assistance to respond to the disaster-related housing needs of individuals and households who are displaced from their predisaster primary residence that is damaged by a major disaster (currently, such residences must be rendered uninhabitable); and (2) direct assistance for repairs and for cost-effective hazard mitigation measures that reduce threats to life and property or future damage.

FEMA may (1) enter into a cooperative agreement to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postdisaster recovery funding and resources; and (2) reimburse a state, tribal, or local government for certain costs relating to sheltering emergency response personnel. The bill extends FEMA's authority to implement state-managed housing assistance as a pilot program until the issuance of final regulations. FEMA must conduct a study and develop a plan to address the challenges associated with providing housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or emergencies.

The Government Accountability Office must report on assistance issues, including improper and potentially fraudulent federal disaster assistance.

]]> 2022-11-15 Reported to House, Part I Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022

This bill makes changes in the process for seeking assistance following a major disaster.

Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and maintain a web-based interagency electronic information sharing system, to be known as DisasterAssistance.gov, to facilitate the administration of a universal application for federal disaster assistance and for other specified purposes.

The President may provide (1) assistance to respond to the disaster-related housing needs of individuals and households who are displaced from their predisaster primary residence that is damaged by a major disaster (currently, such residences must be rendered uninhabitable); and (2) direct assistance for repairs and for cost-effective hazard mitigation measures that reduce threats to life and property or future damage.

FEMA may (1) enter into a cooperative agreement to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postdisaster recovery funding and resources; and (2) reimburse a state, tribal, or local government for certain costs relating to sheltering emergency response personnel. The bill extends FEMA's authority to implement state-managed housing assistance as a pilot program until the issuance of final regulations. FEMA must conduct a study and develop a plan to address the challenges associated with providing housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or emergencies.

The Government Accountability Office must report on assistance issues, including improper and potentially fraudulent federal disaster assistance.

]]> 2022-07-19 Introduced in House Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022

This bill makes changes in the process for seeking assistance following a major disaster.

Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and maintain a web-based interagency electronic information sharing system, to be known as DisasterAssistance.gov, to facilitate the administration of a universal application for federal disaster assistance and for other specified purposes.

The President may provide financial or other assistance to respond to the disaster-related housing needs of individuals and households who are displaced from their predisaster primary residence that is damaged by a major disaster (currently, such residences must be rendered uninhabitable).

The President may provide direct assistance for repairs and for cost-effective hazard mitigation measures that reduce threats to life and property or future damage.

FEMA may enter into a cooperative agreement to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postdisaster recovery funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted by a major disaster or emergency.

FEMA may reimburse a state, tribal, or local government for certain costs relating to sheltering emergency response personnel for a major disaster for which the President has authorized emergency protective measures.

The bill extends FEMA's authority to implement state-managed housing assistance as a pilot program until the issuance of final regulations.

FEMA must conduct a study and develop a plan to address the challenges associated with providing housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or emergencies.

]]> text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.