H.R. 4669: Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025

The "Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025" aims to enhance the operational effectiveness of disaster management in the United States. Key initiatives include:

Establishment of FEMA as an Independent Agency

The bill proposes to elevate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to a Cabinet-level independent agency. This change is intended to improve coordination and collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal partners in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.

Funding and Support

The legislation establishes a FEMA Working Capital Fund to support the agency's operational costs. This fund will enable FEMA to charge fees for certain services, promoting a more sustainable funding model. Additionally, a new Veterans Advocate position will be created within FEMA to ensure that the unique disaster assistance needs of veterans are prioritized during federal responses.

Amendments to the Stafford Act

The bill amends the Stafford Act to:

• Simplify procedures for disaster assistance.
• Enhance accountability in disaster management.
• Establish a task force to address ongoing backlog issues in declared disasters.
• Implement new block grants specifically for smaller disasters.
• Require federal reviews and coordination for disaster recovery projects.

Streamlined Disaster Assistance

Provisions include defining "covered small disaster" and establishing a unified disaster application system for ease of access to assistance. The bill also sets guidelines for:

• Debris removal procedures.
• Determining the incident period for disaster events.
• Financial management of disaster relief funds.

Demographic Data Collection and Eligibility Guidelines

The bill mandates the collection of demographic data related to disaster assistance applications and clarifies eligibility criteria. Specifically, it prohibits income thresholds for assistance, which aims to broaden access to support for those affected by disasters. The bill also allocates specific funding for mitigation projects.

Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Initiatives

Amendments include:

• Defining “latest published editions” of relevant codes.
• Launching a pilot program for funding residential resilience retrofits, particularly for financially needy applicants.
• Improving hazard mitigation delivery and streamlining application processes.
• Mandating studies on the effectiveness of programs and strategies to prevent fraud.

Assessment and Transparency Requirements

The bill requires assessments on:

• State wildfire plans and their effectiveness.
• The functionality of emergency alert systems.
• The costs associated with disaster management.

Additionally, it mandates studies focusing on disaster recovery in noncontiguous communities and seeks to identify best practices for managing fast-moving disasters while ensuring transparency in disaster declarations. Reports on these assessments are required within set timeframes.

Relevant Companies

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