H.R. 2254 Introduced Emergency Management

Don’t Penalize Victims Act

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to make certain changes with respect to duplication of benefits, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] Introduced March 21, 2025 Cosponsors 12 (9 D, 3 R) Latest action March 21, 2025

Summary

Don’t Penalize Victims Act
This bill enables persons receiving funds from a federal disaster assistance program to also receive funds for that same purpose from any other source except for another federal program or insurance.
Under current law, federal agencies providing financial assistance for losses resulting from a major disaster or emergency are prohibited from allowing recipients to receive other funds for that same purpose from any other source. Persons seeking federal disaster assistance must report the availability or receipt of duplicative funds and federal agencies will reduce the amount of disaster assistance accordingly to prevent a duplication of benefits.
The bill narrows the duplication restriction to apply only to funds from other federal programs or insurance, so federal agencies providing disaster assistance may allow recipients to also receive funds for that same purpose from any other sources (e.g., charitable gifts, legal claims).

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Mar 21, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
  2. Mar 21, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  3. Mar 21, 2025 Introduced in House

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