# 119-hr-6249: Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act

119-hr-6249, Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6249
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-6249
- Congress: 119
- Title: Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-11-21
- Sponsor: Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Emergency Management
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Explicitly covers substance use and alcohol use disorders in federal disaster counseling.** The bill would expand the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training program under the Stafford Act so crisis counseling after a major disaster can include services for substance use and alcohol use problems tied to the event or its aftermath. - Disaster survivors and families: People affected by a major disaster would be eligible for crisis counseling that addresses substance use and alcohol use problems caused or worsened by the disaster. This adds these issues to the program’s listed scope. - FEMA and program applicants: The bill would require FEMA’s Administrator to review and update the Section 416 application process and related guidance within 180 days in consultation with federal and state substance use experts. - State agencies and providers: State alcohol and drug agencies and the federal substance use offices must be consulted, which could change how local providers deliver and apply for disaster-related substance use services. - Oversight and accountability: The Government Accountability Office would be asked to review the program and report to Congress on how long assistance lasts and whether services comply with the rule that they address problems caused or aggravated by a disaster.

## Cosponsors (13)

- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2025-11-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23] (D-FL), 2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Addiction and alcohol help after disasters: benefit, low. This bill would add "substance use" and "alcohol use" to the Stafford Act crisis counseling program. If enacted, you would be able to get crisis counseling for substance or alcohol problems. The help would only cover problems caused or made worse by a major disaster or its aftermath. The change wou…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-6249 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6249)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6249 (as of 2026-04-21).