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119-s-861119th CongressWALLET

Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

Sponsored By: Senator Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

Passed Senate

Summary

Creates a single, standardized federal intake and data-sharing framework for disaster aid to streamline applications and coordinate how agencies collect and use applicant data. It also builds in privacy, notification, and accountability rules to protect survivors and guide agency cooperation.

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  • Families and disaster survivors would face less paperwork because applicants would not be required to apply to multiple programs and the framework covers individual, business, and organizational applications.
  • Federal disaster agencies, led by the FEMA Administrator, would follow new agency-certification and data-governance rules that let certified agencies share disaster assistance information across programs and with state, local, and Tribal partners as authorized by law.
  • Privacy and accountability would be reinforced by required notifications after unauthorized disclosures, agency liability for improper disclosures, remediation steps such as credit monitoring when appropriate, and cooperation with enforcement authorities.
  • Oversight would include FEMA reports to Congress within 1 year and then annually for 2 years, a Government Accountability Office report within 3 years, and congressional briefings at 90 and 180 days.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

One application for federal disaster aid

If enacted, FEMA would set up a one-stop intake within 360 days. You would submit one application, track status, update your info, and get proof of your filing. Agencies would be able to message you directly. FEMA would update application questions within 30 days when another disaster agency asks. FEMA would start collecting data only after required security checks, a published privacy impact assessment, and posted rules of behavior.

New rules for sharing disaster data

If enacted, FEMA would share your disaster application data with other disaster agencies to speed help. FEMA would post a public notice that lists what data is shared, why it is needed, and which agencies get access. Using the unified application would count as your written consent for this sharing. Certified agencies would train staff, report any breach within 24 hours, and cover remediation like credit monitoring for improper disclosures. Sharing for disaster help would not be treated as a Privacy Act matching program, and you would not have to apply to more than one program.

Reports to Congress on disaster aid

If enacted, FEMA would brief Congress on rollout within 90 days and again within 180 days. FEMA would report on implementation within 1 year and then yearly for 2 years, covering survivor burden and delivery speed. The Government Accountability Office would report within 3 years with recommendations to improve the survivor experience.

Faster information collection after disasters

If enacted, during a presidentially declared disaster, FEMA would be able to waive normal Paperwork Reduction Act steps for voluntary, disaster‑specific questions. The waiver would last for the entire assistance period of performance. FEMA would post a short justification and the affected agencies online, and the waiver would take effect on that posting date. If the same information is used in future disasters, FEMA would follow Paperwork Reduction Act steps after the period ends.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 3/5/2025

  • Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 3/5/2025

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/5/2025

  • Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 4/30/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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