H.R. 4356: Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005

109th Congress · introduced 2005-11-17 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2005-11-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 19, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit fraud in any matter involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with a major disaster or emergency declaration under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 or in connection with the procurement of property or services related to a disaster by a contractor or supplier. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 30 years for violations. Imposes a fine of $1 million and/or prison term of up to 30 years for wire, radio, television, or mail fraud in connection with a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to: (1) promulgate or amend sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons convicted of fraud or theft offenses in connection with a major disaster or emergency declaration; and (2) submit to the Judiciary Committees of Congress an explanation of actions taken to combat such offenses.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4356, Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005 (2006-03-14); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4356, Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005 (2006-03-14)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-109hr4356.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/109/hr>

Record fed-us-cong109-hr4356 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109