Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
The bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to (1) change a recoupment timing provision from three years to two years, (2) authorize the President to waive a general prohibition on duplicative assistance on a governor's request with conditions, (3) allow FEMA to waive recoupment for project costs that exceed total cost by up to 5 percent, and (4) require FEMA to establish an "acceptable error ratio" for allocations during eligibility negotiations and permit use of funds within that ratio for eligible purposes.
Liberals emphasize recipient protections; conservatives emphasize fiscal accountability
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward set of statutory amendments that materially change FEMA recoupment and waiver authorities and introduce a tolerance for small cost overages.
The bill amends the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to (1) change a recoupment timing provision from three years to two years, (2) authorize the President to waive a general prohibition on duplicative assistance on a governor's request with conditions, (3) allow FEMA to waive recoupment for project costs that exceed total cost by up to 5 percent, and (4) require FEMA to establish an "acceptable error ratio" for allocations during eligibility negotiations and permit use of funds within that ratio for eligible purposes.
The waiver authority excludes certain statutory sections and requires a 45-day decision deadline.
Technocratic, narrow changes improve administrative flexibility and have bipartisan potential but raise oversight concerns and would more likely pass as part of a larger package.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward set of statutory amendments that materially change FEMA recoupment and waiver authorities and introduce a tolerance for small cost overages. It is explicit in where statutory text is altered and identifies responsible actors and some timelines, but it omits fiscal analysis, detailed procedural rules, precise definitions for key terms, and robust oversight measures.
Liberals emphasize recipient protections; conservatives emphasize fiscal accountability
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize recipient protections; conservatives emphasize fiscal accountability
Likely cautiously supportive of measures that reduce administrative barriers and allow small overpayments to remain with recipients.
Concerned about reducing the statutory recoupment protection period and any expansion that could favor corporations or lenders over disaster-affected individuals.
Views some impacts as uncertain without implementing guidance and accountability safeguards.
Appreciates streamlining administrative processes and tolerances that reduce petty disputes and speed recovery.
Wants clear guardrails, reporting, cost controls, and clarification about exclusions and operational details.
Views many practical effects as implementation-dependent.
Mix of support and concern: supports greater accountability and tolerance for minor errors, and likely favors shorter recoupment-protection windows.
Wary of new waiver powers and any provisions that could expand duplicative federal assistance or increase federal spending without strict oversight.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Technocratic, narrow changes improve administrative flexibility and have bipartisan potential but raise oversight concerns and would more likely pass as part of a larger package.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize recipient protections; conservatives emphasize fiscal accountability
Technocratic, narrow changes improve administrative flexibility and have bipartisan potential but raise oversight concerns and would more l…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a straightforward set of statutory amendments that materially change FEMA recoupment and waiver authorities and introduce a tolerance for small cost overages. It i…
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