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H.R. 4438: To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to waive a prohibition, and for other purposes.

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H.R. 4438: To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to waive a prohibition, and for other purposes.

115th Congress · introduced 2017-11-16 · Emergency Management · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-11-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to waive a prohibition, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) to authorize the President to waive the general prohibition against duplication of benefits for losses as a result of a major disaster or emergency if the President finds such waiver is in the public interest. A request for a waiver must be granted or denied not later than 45 days after its submission. In making a waiver decision the President may consider the recommendations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and cost benefits. The President may not determine that a loan is a duplication of assistance. The general prohibition against duplication of benefits under the Stafford Act does not preclude funding of activities associated with the construction of a federally authorized water resources development project.

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

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to waive a prohibition, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI), John R. Carter (R-TX), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX)

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 (2)
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.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4438 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115