Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8416, the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022.

“It is no surprise that climate change is modifying the emergency management landscape because today’s disasters cause more damage, have greater impacts on communities, and require longer time to recover,” said Rep. Titus. “These new challenges to the recovery process make it essential that FEMA cut red tape in its assistance programs, efficiently deliver resources to individuals and families in need, and ensure we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. My bill is common-sense legislation that will do just that while also providing states with more flexibility to pursue post-disaster housing solutions that best accommodate their needs.”

“I am pleased to have passed legislation that will better support disaster survivors by cutting red tape and improving access to federal assistance,” said Chair DeFazio. “The last thing families recovering from a disaster need is a bureaucratic headache—today’s vote streamlines the process and makes sure everyone gets the help they need to get back on their feet. I applaud Chair Dina Titus who championed the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act, and I look forward to the Senate approving the bill without delay.”

Background

The Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2022 would:

• Develop a universal application for federal disaster assistance for individuals in areas impacted by emergencies or major disasters.
• This application would simplify the process for individuals seeking assistance following a disaster and is a priority that was identified by stakeholders during Rep. Titus’ June 23rd roundtable.

• Remove the requirement that households must be rendered uninhabitable by a major disaster to be eligible for hazard mitigation assistance.
• This will ensure that communities impacted by major disasters can build resiliency to future ones, no matter how much damage is inflicted on an individual’s home.

• Authorize the President to provide direct assistance to individuals and households if applicants are unable to make use of financial assistance for repairs and when there is a lack of available resources for the repair of owner-occupied residences.
• This will save taxpayer dollars because it reduces the need for long-term sheltering, such as FEMA trailers, that can run as high as $300,000 per unit.

• Give the Administrator of FEMA the authority to implement the State-Managed Housing Pilot Authority until the issuance of final regulations.
• This gives States more flexibility to pursue housing solutions that work best for their residents and cut unnecessary red tape.

Full text of the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act can be found here.

A Section-By-Section summary of the bill can be found here.