FEMA for Safe Recovery Act
Sponsored By: Representative McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would require FEMA and its partners to prioritize and prevent gender-based violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation in disaster response. It would fold trauma-informed care into crisis counseling, case management, sheltering, and temporary housing operations.
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- Survivors: Would get trauma-informed crisis counseling and case management that specifically addresses gender-based violence, trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Shelters and temporary housing would need trained victim-service staff, multilingual information, and protocols that prioritize safe relocation.
- Emergency managers and FEMA: Would have to issue regulations and guidance within 1 year that create operational rules like a joint federal-local violence-response headquarters, longer-term staff assignments, revised check-in practices, and non-adjudicatory reporting processes for housing complaints.
- States, tribes, and service providers: Would be required participants in consultation and training while keeping flexibility. FEMA would define which GBV-related expenses can be reimbursed under disaster assistance and train field staff on eligible costs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More case management and reimbursements
If enacted, the Stafford Act case management program would explicitly include help for gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. FEMA would also have to decide which GBV-related costs are eligible under its Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs and train field staff on eligible costs within one year. These changes would apply only to disaster response and short-term recovery and would depend on Congress providing funds.
Limits and funding conditions preserved
If enacted, the Act would be carried out only if Congress provides funding. The bill would also say it does not require FEMA to hire new permanent staff or open new offices. It would not override state, local, Tribal, or territorial emergency authorities and would allow local governments to set stronger protections than the Act.
New FEMA rules to prevent violence
If enacted, FEMA would have to issue rules within one year to prevent gender-based violence, trafficking, and sexual exploitation in disaster response and temporary shelters. The rules would include a joint federal-local violence-response headquarters, shelter signage and multilingual materials, guidance on victim-service staffing, trauma-informed care standards, and check-in practices that include all adult household members. The rules would be limited to disaster response and short-term recovery and would depend on Congress providing funds.
FEMA staff training on survivors
If enacted, the bill would require all FEMA employees to get training on how to identify, care for, and refer victims of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. The text does not set aside funding amounts for the training. The training would apply across the Agency.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]
FL • R
Sponsored 9/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov