H.R. 7969: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relating to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other purposes.

H.R. 7969: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relating to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other purposes.

117th Congress · introduced 2022-06-07 · Emergency Management · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2022-06-07 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
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.
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 direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relating to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

This bill establishes reporting and other requirements related to disaster preparedness and response and hazard mitigation. The Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) must conduct a study and report on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending. Specifically, the GAO must identify for the 5-year period ending on the date of this bill's enactment, the total amount of federal, state, and tribal funds spent in response to major disasters and emergencies; 10 proposed federal actions, including reinsurance, that, if implemented, would most effectively reduce the need for spending related to such major disasters or emergencies; the effect that using blockchain may have on delivering disaster assistance to state and Indian tribal governments; and whether insurance protection against wildfires will remain available and affordable to homeowners. The President must coordinate with each state to update state plans to incorporate strategies that decrease the time required to prepare for disasters, including the time to evacuate individuals. An entity that receives grants for hazard mitigation revolving loan funds must ensure that at least 10% of the total dollar amount of the loans it makes each fiscal year assist projects or activities that reduce risks for residential structures related to specified natural hazards.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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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.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disaster spending and strategies for reducing the need for such spending, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance for certain activities relating to disasters and hazard mitigation, and for other purposes.

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. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Mark Takano (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC)

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)

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).
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

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-117hr7969.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr7969 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117