Helene Small Business Recovery Act

This bill makes it easier for people and businesses hit by big disasters in 2023 or 2024 to get federal help, even if they already received help from another federal program. It lets the President waive the usual “duplication of benefits” rule when a Governor asks and when it’s in the public interest and won’t lead to waste, fraud, or abuse. The President must make a decision within 45 days of the request.

The bill says a federal loan won’t count as “duplicate” if all federal aid goes toward the actual loss, and it bans using an income cutoff to block someone from getting a waiver. When deciding, the President can consider FEMA’s advice, whether the aid is cost‑effective, and basic fairness. The short title is the Helene Small Business Recovery Act.

• Who is affected: People, businesses, and other groups with losses from major disasters or emergencies in 2023–2024.
• What changes: The President can waive the “no double‑dipping” rule; loans don’t automatically count as duplicates; no income limits for waivers; decisions due in 45 days.
• When: Applies to disasters declared in 2023 or 2024 under the Stafford Act.