Following a presidentially declared emergency or disaster, assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be extended for specific Americans under a bipartisan bill sponsored on Oct. 21 by U.S. Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC).
“This legislation adjusts a pressing FEMA deadline to give Americans peace of mind and extra time while recovering,” said Rep. Rice last week.
The FEMA Relief Extension Act, H.R. 5668, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and any corresponding regulation, to extend federal housing assistance to individuals and households from an 18-month period to a 24-month period, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Rice’s office.
“I hear frequently from South Carolinians about their frustrations with FEMA and the disaster relief process. Oftentimes, it can take months to receive estimates, make repairs, and restore a home to a livable condition following a disaster,” Rep. Rice said. “The FEMA Relief Extension Act will give folks who utilize FEMA assistance after a disaster or emergency more flexibility.”
Rep. Fletcher said she was “glad to work with Congressman Rice to introduce legislation that gives victims of natural disasters flexibility when applying for FEMA assistance.”
The American Flood Coalition Action supports H.R. 5668, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
H.R. 5668 is the third bill introduced by Rep. Rice in the 117th Congress to increase transparency, accountability and usability of disaster relief programs. He sponsored the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act, H.R. 5343, with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), on Sept. 22 to increase transparency of case management staff turnover at FEMA following a disaster. And on May 12, Rep. Rice sponsored the Disaster Relief Transparency Act, H.R. 3162, with Reps. Mace and Buddy Carter (R-GA) to increase government accountability in the allocation of disaster relief funds at both FEMA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.