This bill amends federal disaster relief law to let states and tribal governments choose a simpler, faster way to receive federal help after smaller disasters. Instead of going through the standard Public Assistance Program, which reimburses actual recovery costs over time, a governor or tribal government can request a one-time lump sum payment equal to 80 percent of the estimated damage costs for disasters whose damage falls below a set threshold tied to the state's per capita disaster indicator. Once accepted, this payment is final and cannot be adjusted later based on actual costs, except in cases of unforeseen circumstances beyond the applicant's control, and the government cannot also seek regular Public Assistance Program funds for that same disaster. States and tribes must have an approved administrative plan in place, agree to the payment amount with FEMA within 90 days of the disaster, and use the funds in compliance with environmental, historic preservation, and civil rights laws, while reporting expenses annually to FEMA. The goal is to speed up recovery funding and reduce administrative burdens for smaller-scale disasters, giving local governments more flexibility in how they use the money for recovery efforts.
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