Bill > S861

This bill establishes a unified and streamlined disaster assistance intake process to help disaster survivors more quickly and efficiently access federal aid. The legislation amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to create a centralized application system managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that allows applicants to submit a single consolidated application for multiple disaster assistance programs. Within 360 days of enactment, FEMA must develop a digital platform that enables survivors to apply for various forms of assistance, track their application status, update their information, and receive information about additional recovery resources. The system aims to expedite aid delivery while protecting applicants' privacy and data security, and includes provisions for detecting and preventing fraud. Key features include allowing direct communication between disaster assistance agencies and survivors, facilitating faster distribution of federal aid, and establishing clear data sharing and protection protocols. The bill also requires FEMA to submit annual reports to Congress on the system's implementation and performance, and mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review after three years to assess its impact on disaster survivors. Importantly, the legislation maintains existing program authorization restrictions and does not compel applicants to apply to multiple assistance programs.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/861/all-info