Sponsors (5)
The bill ensures uninterrupted disaster response and relief—helping survivors, responders, and local governments recover faster—but does so at the cost of increased federal outlays and reduced congressional oversight, with risks to Disaster Relief Fund balances and future fiscal flexibility.
Residents in disaster-affected communities (urban and rural), including low-income survivors, homeowners, and renters, continue to receive FEMA individual assistance and payments without delay during funding lapses, reducing immediate hardship after disasters.
Emergency responders and contractors can keep lifesaving response and recovery operations running during shutdowns, improving public safety and reducing loss of life.
State and local governments retain access to Disaster Relief Fund resources and uninterrupted FEMA assistance, enabling faster restoration of infrastructure and housing and speeding community recovery.
Taxpayers may face higher federal outlays during appropriations lapses because FEMA activities continue to spend, increasing short‑term deficit exposure and fiscal burden.
Continuing disaster obligations without fresh appropriations reduces congressional oversight and leverages for reviewing or prioritizing spending during lapses, raising accountability concerns.
Allowing obligations for future disaster declarations during funding gaps could deplete Disaster Relief Fund balances and leave fewer resources available for new catastrophes.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Permits FEMA to use Disaster Relief Fund balances to continue disaster operations and payments during a lapse in appropriations and treats those operations as essential.
Official title: To authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund in the event of a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Introduced October 21, 2025 by Wesley Bell · Last progress October 21, 2025
Authorizes FEMA to continue disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation work using the Disaster Relief Fund during any lapse in annual appropriations. It allows FEMA to obligate and disburse existing and future Disaster Relief Fund balances for Stafford Act individual and public assistance and to keep personnel and contracts in place to process claims and payments without interruption. Protects unobligated Disaster Relief Fund balances from withholding, sequestration, or reprogramming during shutdowns except as required by the Anti‑Deficiency Act, and designates these FEMA operations as essential for protecting life and property so they are exempt from shutdown restrictions under 31 U.S.C. § 1341.