Sponsors (14)
The bill seeks to improve access, targeting, and oversight of disaster-related behavioral-health services by clarifying roles, involving private providers, updating FEMA guidance, and requiring reviews, but it increases administrative burden and costs and risks rushed or unclear implementation that could cause confusion or delays in services.
People with disaster-related mental health or substance-use needs will have better access to timely, tailored services because the bill clarifies state/local roles, explicitly allows private/nonprofit behavioral-health providers to participate, and requires FEMA to update application forms and guidance to reflect behavioral-health and substance-use considerations.
FEMA coordination with SAMHSA and State alcohol and drug agencies and updated guidance will improve the targeting and appropriateness of disaster assistance for people with behavioral-health needs.
Increased oversight and transparency — via a required report to Congress and a GAO review — will improve program fidelity, help align crisis-counseling practice with statutory intent, and give Congress evidence to guide future fixes.
Federal, state, and local governments (and therefore taxpayers) may incur additional administrative and program costs to implement new behavioral-health response requirements, update FEMA guidance, and produce required reports and audits.
The bill could create or extend ambiguity about authorities and coordination among the President, FEMA, states, and private providers — and the 180-day deadline to revise guidance risks rushed or incomplete implementation — which may complicate disaster responses and confuse applicants and partners.
Policymakers awaiting GAO review or reports before making changes could delay program adjustments, potentially prolonging service gaps for people needing crisis counseling after disasters.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Amends the Stafford Act's crisis counseling authority with unspecified insertions, requires FEMA to update applications and report in 180 days, and orders a GAO review of program duration and eligibility limits.
Introduced November 21, 2025 by Becca Balint · Last progress November 21, 2025
Makes small statutory edits to the federal crisis counseling program in the Stafford Act, requires FEMA to update its assistance application and guidance to reflect those edits, and orders two oversight reports: one by FEMA to Congress within 180 days and one by the Government Accountability Office on program duration and eligibility limits. The bill does not specify the exact inserted wording, does not appropriate new funds, and focuses on administrative updates and oversight of crisis counseling tied to disasters.