Bill > HR1245

This bill aims to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster assistance programs by establishing a unified, more efficient, and transparent system for helping disaster survivors. The bill creates a web-based "unified disaster application system" that will allow applicants to easily apply for and track disaster assistance across multiple federal agencies, with robust data security and privacy protections. It expands the types of assistance available to disaster survivors, including more flexible support for home repairs, hazard mitigation, and housing needs. The bill also introduces new requirements for FEMA to provide more transparent reporting on assistance, including an online dashboard showing application approval and denial rates, and mandates studies to examine challenges faced by renters and disparities in assistance. Key provisions include allowing financial assistance for hazard mitigation, providing direct assistance for home repairs, creating state-managed housing pilot programs, and reimbursing emergency response personnel for sheltering costs. The bill seeks to make the disaster recovery process more streamlined, accessible, and responsive to the diverse needs of survivors, with particular attention to lower-income individuals and those with disabilities.

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1245/all-info