Fair Disaster Assistance Act of 2025

Safe Shelters Act of 2025

Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2025

The Disaster Recovery Efficiency Act

Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act

America First Act

Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act

People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Act or the People CARE Act This bill establishes the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission within the legislative branch to review federal means-tested welfare programs. Means-tested welfare programs are those designed to specifically provide assistance exclusively to low-income Americans. The commission shall review all federal means-tested programs, excluding various specified programs such as the Social Security benefits program, Medicare, and Department of Veterans Affairs-administered programs. The commission's review shall cover topics including (1) ways to make the benefits programs more efficient and streamlined, (2) opportunities to reduce costs by contracting with private entities or delegating to states, (3) any programs that should be subject to discretionary appropriations, and (4) changes to allow caseworkers to have a holistic view of the beneficiary. The commission shall report its findings to Congress, and the report shall include proposed legislation to carry out the commission's recommendations. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate majority leader shall introduce the proposed legislation in their respective chambers. The proposed legislation shall be considered under certain expedited procedures, such as limitations on debate.

Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2023 This bill establishes activities to address wildfires. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish spatial fire management plans before the end of FY2026. The bill establishes accounts in the Treasury for addressing wildfires, a program to train and certify citizens who wish to be able to volunteer to assist USDA or Interior during a wildland fire incident, a program to award grants to eligible states or units of local government to acquire slip-on tank and pump units for a surge capacity of resources for fire suppression, the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species, and the Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board. The bill also requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to reimburse a state or federal agency for the costs of wildfire suppression as a result of a fire caused by DOD activity, requires the Joint Fire Science Program to work with unmanned aircraft test ranges to carry out research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications, requires federal and state disaster preparedness programs to include postdisaster assistance, and authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postfire recovery funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted by a wildland fire.

Housing Survivors of Major Disasters ActThis bill lowers the eligibility criteria for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program (IHP) housing assistance, including for IHP permanent housing construction, and requires FEMA to consider evidence of constructive ownership of a residence when determining eligibility for IHP home repair or home replacement assistance.  Specifically, the bill lowers the level of damage required for certain IHP housing assistance eligibility, so the residence must merely be damaged by a major disaster instead of rendered uninhabitable. Also, under current law, FEMA is authorized to provide assistance for permanent housing construction where (1) no alternative housing resources are available; and (2) other types of temporary housing assistance are unavailable, infeasible, or not cost-effective. The bill authorizes IHP permanent housing construction where FEMA determines such assistance is a cost-effective alternative to other housing solutions, including temporary housing costs.Additionally, the bill requires FEMA to consider an individual or household’s claim of constructive (i.e., implied) ownership, where evidence supports its existence is more likely than not, when determining eligibility for IHP financial assistance for home repair or replacement for a residence without documented ownership rights. FEMA must consider all evidence provided when determining whether constructive ownership more likely than not exists, and the bill lists examples of evidence. If FEMA determines the evidence is insufficient, FEMA may require a signed declarative statement describing the constructive ownership. FEMA may not require notarization of the statement.

Wildfire Recovery Act This bill makes changes with respect to the federal cost share for Fire Management Assistance Grants and provides that the federal share shall be not less than 75% of the eligible cost. Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct and complete a rulemaking to provide criteria for the circumstances under which FEMA may recommend that the President increase the federal cost share. Such criteria shall include a threshold metric that assesses the financial impact to a state or local government from responding to a fire for which fire management assistance is being provided.

Support Neighborhoods Offset Winter Damage Act of 2025 or the SNOW Act of 2025This bill authorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funding for winter storm hazard mitigation and requires FEMA rulemaking to expand assistance for winter storms. It also increases the federal cost share for various FEMA grants, for any hazard type, in rural or disadvantaged areas.The bill specifically authorizes the use of grant funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program to reduce the risk of future damage in areas affected by winter storms, such as by acquiring snow removal equipment. Also, under current FEMA policy, in determining eligibility and recommending a presidential major disaster declaration for a snowstorm, FEMA’s considerations include whether data shows record (or near record) snowfall and whether estimated statewide costs meet applicable thresholds. The bill requires FEMA to create regulations waiving these eligibility requirements for a major disaster declaration for a snowstorm in certain circumstances. FEMA must also create regulations to provide certain assistance for winter storms, including for debris removal and specified infrastructure, as well as individual and emergency assistance when the state determines the storm exceeds state and local capacity. In addition, for any hazard type, the bill requires FEMA to increase the federal cost share from 75% to 90% for certain assistance provided in rural or disadvantaged areas. It also authorizes an increased HMGP federal cost share amount from 75% to 90% for assistance in rural or disadvantaged areas. 

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule ActThis bill requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried on the west lawn of the Capitol on or before July 4, 2026. Congressional leadership will determine the contents of the time capsule, and the time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276.

Wildfire Smoke Relief Act This bill provides for assistance for the purchase of smoke inhalation prevention equipment to specified individuals at risk of wildfire smoke-related illness. The President, in carrying out the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), shall provide (1) assistance to a state or local government, local public health authority, or a coordinated care organization to purchase and provide such equipment to at-risk individuals; and (2) cost-efficient transitional shelter assistance to at-risk individuals in any case in which such equipment is insufficient to mitigate the risk of illness.