Mike Ezell (R-MS)
Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House 405–5
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act aims to amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018. The bill directs the Administrator to conduct a study to improve how information is collected from disaster assistance applicants and grantees. It seeks to make these processes more efficient, simplified, and less burdensome. Additionally, the bill calls for a plan regarding the regular collection and reporting of information on Federal disaster assistance awarded. A working group will also be convened to examine preliminary damage assessments to identify duplication or fragmentation. Finally, the Administrator must submit a comprehensive report of these findings to specific congressional committees and make it available to the public.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +5
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill mandates a study to make disaster assistance information collection more efficient, flexible, and less duplicative.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires a plan for regular reporting of disaster assistance and the creation of a public website for this information.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Streamlining disaster assistance processes can provide quicker relief to those in need following a disaster.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
- The House: a fast-track vote, needing two-thirds to pass The House sets aside its normal procedure to move quickly: no amendments, little debate, and a two-thirds bar instead of a simple majority. It is used for measures expected to be uncontroversial, so a bill that fails here failed despite broad expectations that it would not. Passed 405 yes · 5 no
01/13/2025 · Roll call 9 · recorded as “On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Streamlined Assistance Processes: The bill directs the development of a plan to modify information collection so that it is "streamled, expedited, efficient, flexible, consolidated, and simplified" (Section 2(a)(1)). This is intended to make the process "less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming for applicants and grantees" (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Increased Transparency: The bill requires the development of a plan for the "regular collection and reporting of information on Federal disaster assistance awarded," which includes "the establishment and maintenance of a website for presenting the information to the public" (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Improved Damage Assessments: The bill seeks to identify "potential areas of duplication or fragmentation in preliminary damage assessments" (Section 2(b)(1)) and look into "potential emerging technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems" to "expedite the administration of preliminary damage assessments" (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Streamlining disaster assistance processes can provide quicker relief to those in need following a disaster. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — A more efficient disaster assistance process reduces the administrative burden on applicants during recovery. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill improves the efficiency and transparency of the federal assistance response to disasters. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill improves the efficiency and transparency of the federal assistance response to disasters.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill aims to reduce duplication and fragmentation in damage assessments and information collection. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill seeks to make the disaster assistance process less burdensome and time consuming for grantees and applicants.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill mandates a study to make disaster assistance information collection more efficient, flexible, and less duplicative.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires a plan for regular reporting of disaster assistance and the creation of a public website for this information.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill encourages the use of emerging technologies like unmanned aircraft systems for damage assessments.
- 1/14/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1/13/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 5 (Roll no. 9). (text: CR H100-101)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 5 (Roll no. 9). (text: CR H100-101)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H107-108)
- At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 152.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H100-101)
- Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 1/3/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Pablo HernándezDemocrat · Puerto Rico
Stacey PlaskettDemocrat · Virgin Islands