Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act
Introduced Jan 3, 2025 by Rep. Mike Ezell
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
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.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
- Jan 14, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Jan 13, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jan 13, 2025On 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)
- Jan 13, 2025Passed/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)
- Jan 13, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H107-108)
- Jan 13, 2025At 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.
- Jan 13, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 152.
- Jan 13, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H100-101)
- Jan 13, 2025Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Jan 4, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House