S. 594: Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act

The Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act, also known as the HELP Response and Recovery Act, proposes to amend existing legislation regarding emergency management in the United States.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Repeal of Obsolete Requirements: The bill aims to remove certain outdated requirements from the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, specifically the repeal of Section 695, which is considered no longer necessary.

Reporting Requirements

• The Secretary of Homeland Security is mandated to submit reports concerning the impact of the repeal within a specified time frame. These reports must be made within 540 days of the bill's enactment and annually for five years thereafter.
• The reports are required to assess:
  • How the repeal has helped in preventing waste, fraud, and abuse.
  • How it has contributed to taxpayer savings.
• Additionally, the reports will include information about contracts entered into or extended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under urgent circumstances where bids were not solicited. This information must detail:
  • The total number of such contracts.
  • The subject of each contract.
  • The monetary amounts obligated by FEMA for each contract.
  • The states that benefited from each contract, if applicable.
  • The major disaster or emergency related to each contract, if applicable.

Objective of the Bill

The overarching intention of the bill is to streamline emergency response efforts by eliminating unnecessary regulations and ensuring that response measures can be taken more quickly and efficiently in times of crisis. The reporting requirements are designed to maintain oversight and accountability concerning these measures.

Relevant Companies