H.R. 539: Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-01-28 · Emergency Management · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 359.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-01-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 359. 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

Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act

Plain summary

Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive certain debts owed to the United States related to disaster assistance provided to an individual or household. Specifically, FEMA must waive a debt owed to the United States related to disaster assistance provided to an individual or household if such assistance (1) was distributed based on an error by FEMA and such debt is construed as a hardship, and (2) is subject to a claim or legal action. FEMA must report to Congress on (1) actions that it will take to reduce the assistance payment error rate, and (2) the internal processes used to make decisions regarding the distribution of federal disaster assistance to individuals and households and any changes made to such processes.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), 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

Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 539, Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act (2021-06-14); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 539, Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act (2021-08-09)

Cosponsors on this site

John Garamendi (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] reported raising $1.8 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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)

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

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr539.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr539 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117