Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the "HELP Response and Recovery Act," aims to amend the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006. It functions by striking section 695 of that previous law to repeal certain obsolete DHS contracting requirements. To ensure accountability, the Secretary of Homeland Security must submit specific reports to Congressional committees. These reports must review how the repeal helped prevent waste, fraud, and abuse while promoting taxpayer savings. Additionally, the reports must detail contracts entered into by the FEMA Administrator under urgent and compelling circumstances where bids were not solicited.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing unbid contracts entered into during urgent circumstances.
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill aims to improve prompt response and recovery by removing bureaucratic obstacles for FEMA.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill aims to promote taxpayer savings by repealing obsolete DHS contracting requirements.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Prevention of Waste and Fraud: The repeal of specific requirements is intended to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse (Section 3, subsection (b)(1)(A)).
-
Taxpayer Savings: The act seeks to promote savings for the taxpayers (Section 3, subsection (b)(1)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are 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.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill seeks to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in federal contracting through the repeal of obsolete requirements. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill aims to promote taxpayer savings by repealing obsolete DHS contracting requirements.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing unbid contracts entered into during urgent circumstances.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill aims to improve prompt response and recovery by removing bureaucratic obstacles for FEMA.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill promotes taxpayer savings which can indirectly benefit all households through efficient government spending. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increased efficiency in disaster relief can assist urban areas heavily impacted by emergencies.
- 12/17/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/16/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8764-8765; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8764-8765)
- 11/3/2025
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 252.
- 7/30/2025
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana