H.R. 1471: FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-03-19 · Emergency Management · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2015-03-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11] · 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 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 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

FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

Plain summary

FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 Authorizes appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for FY2016-FY2018 for management and administration. Directs FEMA, through the National Advisory Council, to undertake and report on a comprehensive study of disaster costs and losses. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to: authorize through FY2018 the NationalUrban Search and Rescue Response System and grants to implement the Emergency Management Assistance Compact; include public broadcasting facilities within the definition of "private nonprofit facility" for purposes of disaster assistance eligibility; establish a three-year statute of limitation for reclaiming disaster relief funds and for collecting debts related to disaster assistance; allow a waiver for the collection of certain disaster-related debts; increase the threshold for determining the eligibility of certain small projects for expedited disaster assistance payments; establish rates for reimbursing states and local governments for direct and indirect administrative costs incurred to implement disaster recovery projects; authorize the President, whether or not a major disaster is declared, to provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area affected by a fire; and allow recipients of hazard mitigation assistance to use such assistance for activities to reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a wildfire or earthquake hazards. Directs FEMA to: (1) study and report on physical testing standards for electric utility facilities, (2) report to specified congressional committees on agency plans to provide guidance to applicants for disaster assistance on FEMA disaster funding procedures and to maintain appropriate records during the lifecycle of a disaster, and (3) identify in its report new technologies to assist the disaster workforce during a disaster or emergency.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1471, FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 (2015-07-13)

Cosponsors on this site

André Carson (D-IN)

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 (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
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.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr1471.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr1471 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114