PRIA Logo™
119-s-2281119th CongressWALLET

Rural Recovery Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Welch, Peter [D-VT]

Introduced

Summary

A federal technical-assistance program for rural disaster recovery. This bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Rural Development Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Program to help eligible rural communities plan, apply for, and implement recovery projects after presidentially declared disasters.

Show full summary
  • Families and households in affected small towns would get local help rebuilding water, housing, energy, telecom, and community facilities through planning and grant-application support.
  • State rural development offices and qualified nonprofit or local contractors would be eligible to provide assistance and must coordinate with State and local stakeholders to reach communities equitably.
  • Small businesses and local governments would receive help preparing and appealing applications to Federal and State recovery programs, including FEMA and the Economic Development Administration.
  • Assistance would be available for 3 years after a disaster declaration, with the option for a case-by-case 3-year extension. Funds would be allocated to States based on the disaster-affected population using the most recent decennial census.

*Authorizes $50 million in annual appropriations to carry out the program.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Rural disaster recovery technical help

If enacted, the bill would set up a Rural Development Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Program at USDA Rural Development. The program would give planning and application help to eligible rural communities after a President-declared disaster. Help could cover phones, water, housing, energy, community buildings, business projects, and local government infrastructure. State rural development offices, public bodies, and nonprofit contractors could provide help, with priority to certain entities and coordination with state and local leaders. A "rural community" would usually mean a census place with under 20,000 people, but the Agriculture Secretary could change or waive that rule. Communities could get help for three years after the disaster declaration, with a possible extra three-year extension in some cases.

Annual $50 million for rural recovery

If enacted, the bill would authorize $50 million each year for the technical assistance program. The Agriculture Secretary would split the money among eligible rural communities using a formula based on the population affected by the disaster from the most recent decennial census. After a disaster is declared, the Secretary must make funds available to the State rural development office as soon as practicable, without requiring a State application.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Welch, Peter [D-VT]

VT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation