Peters Bipartisan Bill to Reform FEMA Individual Assistance Programs Heads to Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance program has advanced in the Senate. This bill would improve how FEMA provides assistance to individuals to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there were 28 weather and climate disasters in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 22 in 2020, and with a price tag of at least $92.9 billion in recovery costs. The bill was advanced by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as Chair. It now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
“Americans across the nation are experiencing the devastation caused by more frequent and catastrophic natural disasters. These individuals must have swift access to federal resources in order to piece their lives back together,” said Senator Peters. “My commonsense bipartisan legislation would reform the FEMA individual disaster assistance process and improve how the agency provides assistance to survivors for home repairs, disaster housing, and mitigation activities.”
The bipartisan Disaster Survivors Fairness Act would reform individual federal disaster assistance programs to best support survivors. The bill would provide FEMA with new authorities to increase its ability to fund disaster mitigation projects and expand support to homeowners. The bill would also enable FEMA to reimburse states that implement their own innovative post-disaster housing solutions and bolster development of post-disaster solutions for renters. The bill requires FEMA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a series of reports and studies that would identify additional challenges regarding the administration of post-disaster assistance for survivors and boost transparency.
As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to strengthen our federal disaster preparedness and response. Earlier this year, Peters’ bipartisan bill to create one deadline to apply for two FEMA disaster assistance programs was signed into law. Peters' bipartisan bill to simplify the federal application process by creating a universal FEMA application across federal agencies passed in the Senate. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of shoreline erosion, extreme flooding, and other natural disasters. Peters’ bipartisan legislation to protect FEMA Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response was also signed into law. Finally, Peters’ bill to help protect pets and other animals during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies was also signed into law.
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