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S. 861 Senate Emergency Management

Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

Introduced
Mar 5, 2025
Sponsor
Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
View on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab)

STAGE 5 OF 8 — SENATE FLOOR

Currently in the Senate. Last action: held at the desk on Dec 17, 2025.

  1. Senate Introduced in Senate Mar 5, 2025
  2. Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Mar 5, 2025
  3. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. Jul 30, 2025
  4. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report. Nov 7, 2025
  5. Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264. Nov 7, 2025
  6. Senate Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. Dec 16, 2025
  7. Senate Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8763-8764; text: CR S8763-8764) Dec 16, 2025
  8. Senate Message on Senate action sent to the House. Dec 17, 2025
  9. House Received in the House. Dec 17, 2025
  10. House Held at the desk. Dec 17, 2025

Cosponsors

5

Subjects

Computer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightCrime preventionDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationFirst responders and emergency personnelFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIntergovernmental relationsInternet, web applications, social mediaState and local government operations

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
    • [Reported By, Nov 7, 2025]
    • [Markup By, Jul 30, 2025]
    • [Referred To, Mar 5, 2025]

Summary

Disaster Assistance Simplification ActThis bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and establish a unified intake process and system for applicants for assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency.The system mustfacilitate a consolidated application for any form of disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the assistance;carry out the purposes of disaster assistance programs swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance with specified laws and privacy and data protections; andsupport the detection, prevention, and investigation of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination in the administration of disaster assistance programs.Further, the system must, among other thingsaccept applications for disaster assistance programs;permit applicants to receive status updates on such applications;allow applicants to update disaster assistance information throughout their recovery journeys;permit the distribution of information on additional recovery resources to disaster survivors that may be available in a disaster-stricken jurisdiction in coordination with appropriate federal, state, local, and tribal partners; andpermit disaster assistance agencies to communicate directly with disaster survivors.Not later than 30 days after receiving a request from a disaster assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated application needed to administer the disaster assistance programs of the agency, FEMA must make those updates.The bill requires reports and congressional briefings from FEMA, and a report from the Government Accountability Office, relating to the bill's implementation.

[Summary as of: Passed Senate]

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