Open Eye

A plain-language record of the U.S. government

119th Congress · House

Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act

Subjects: Congressional oversight · Disaster relief and insurance · Government information and archives · Government studies and investigations · Emergency Management

In plain language

  • House bill in the 119th Congress.
  • Requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to streamline disaster information collection.
  • House passed it on Jan 14, 2025 (substantive).
Official summary (Congressional Research Service)

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.

View this measure on congress.gov

Roll-call votes on this measure