A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
H.R. 5794, known as the FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025, allows the FEMA Administrator to keep disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations going if there is a lapse in appropriations. Under this bill, the Administrator can spend and hand out Disaster Relief Fund balances for both current and future disaster declarations. It lets FEMA keep the staff and contract support needed to process claims and payments without interruption. All unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund stay available for spending during an appropriations lapse. The bill also bans withholding, sequestering, or reprogramming Disaster Relief Fund money during a lapse, except to comply with the Anti-Deficiency Act. Finally, FEMA operations authorized by this bill are deemed essential to protect human life and property, making them exempt from government shutdown restrictions.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +8
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill ensures continuous FEMA disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations during a lapse in appropriations.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households often rely heavily on disaster assistance and public assistance programs during crises.
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
Ensures disaster relief operations continue uninterrupted, protecting children and families during emergencies.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 authorizes the FEMA Administrator to continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund during a lapse in appropriations, which is positive because it ensures that disaster support does not stop when the government faces a funding gap.
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Section 2 allows the Administrator to obligate and disburse Disaster Relief Fund balances for all existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under specific sections of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which benefits individuals and groups by keeping financial help flowing.
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Section 2 allows FEMA to maintain the personnel and contract support necessary to ensure the uninterrupted processing of claims and payments, which is a positive outcome for people waiting on relief funds.
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Section 3 makes all unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund available to the Administrator for spending during a lapse in appropriations and prohibits the diversion, withholding, or sequestration of these funds except for the Anti-Deficiency Act, ensuring that money intended for disasters stays where it is needed.
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Section 4 states that FEMA operations authorized under the bill are essential to protect human life and property and are exempt from government shutdown restrictions, which helps protect everyday people during political funding standoffs.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not explicitly identify any negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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? — Low-income households often rely heavily on disaster assistance and public assistance programs during crises. Would children be better off under this? — Ensures disaster relief operations continue uninterrupted, protecting children and families during emergencies. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Protects homes and property by ensuring uninterrupted FEMA claims processing and disaster recovery support. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Ensures continuous access to individual and public disaster assistance regardless of federal budget impasses. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Provides vital security by keeping disaster relief and mitigation funds accessible during appropriations lapses. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Maintains financial assistance and recovery support programs during government shutdowns. Would business owners be better off under this? — Helps businesses recover faster by preventing disruptions to disaster relief and contract support. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Guarantees continuous disaster recovery and mitigation support for rural communities during funding lapses. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Ensures uninterrupted public assistance and disaster recovery funding for urban populations during crises. Would farmers be better off under this? — Supports agricultural areas by maintaining disaster relief and mitigation operations during funding gaps.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill ensures continuous FEMA disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations during a lapse in appropriations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation grants specific continuous operating authorities to FEMA during federal funding lapses.
- 7/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/1/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 10/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 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.
Sarah ElfrethDemocrat · Maryland
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts