Senate Committee advances Disaster Survivors Fairness Act

Key Takeaways

On Wednesday, September 25, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a markup to consider 16 bills. Among them was the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act (S. 5067), legislation designed to reform federal disaster assistance programs to better support survivors, which passed out of committee with strong bipartisan backing.

S. 5067, the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act

The Disaster Survivors Fairness Act provides the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with expanded authorities to better support individuals and communities recovering from disasters. Key provisions of the bill include:

• Enhancing FEMA’s ability to fund disaster mitigation projects and expanding support to homeowners.
• Allowing FEMA to reimburse states that implement innovative post-disaster housing solutions.
• Bolstering the development of post-disaster solutions for renters.
• Requiring FEMA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct studies and reports to identify challenges and improve the administration of post-disaster assistance, increasing transparency in the process.

On March 23, 2023, NACo submitted a letter to Congress expressing strong support for the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act, highlighting the need for a universal disaster application that simplifies the application process for survivors. The letter emphasized how the current process can be complex and confusing during critical recovery times, and advocated for direct assistance for home repairs and the establishment of a monitoring dashboard to track individual progress in receiving aid.

View S.5067 View the letter

Impact on Counties

The advancement of the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act represents a significant victory for counties, which are on the front lines of disaster recovery efforts. By enhancing FEMA’s authorities and increasing support for housing solutions, this legislation would allow counties to better address the diverse needs of residents in the aftermath of disasters. Additionally, the requirement for FEMA and GAO to conduct reports on post-disaster assistance will help identify ongoing challenges, providing counties with the information necessary to advocate for further improvements. NACo’s role in supporting the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act ensures that counties' needs are central to future disaster recovery efforts.