FEMA Accountability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7461
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-11: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:05:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The FEMA Accountability Act (H.R. 7461) aims to improve transparency and oversight of federal disaster relief funding by requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide regular, detailed reports on how money from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed and spent. The DRF is a federal account that provides financial aid for disaster recovery under laws like the Stafford Act.
Key Provisions
- Monthly Reporting Requirement: Starting 60 days after the bill becomes law, FEMA's Administrator must submit a monthly report to specific congressional committees (Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure in the House; Appropriations, Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs in the Senate). Reports cover the status of all DRF-funded projects and activities from the previous month.
- Report Contents:
- Total unobligated balance (uncommitted funds), total obligated funds (legally promised for specific uses), and total disbursed funds (actually paid out).
- Breakdown by disaster type (major disasters or emergencies), including declaration name and date, affected states/territories/tribal areas, obligated and disbursed amounts to date, and the percentage of obligated funds disbursed.
- Lists of public assistance projects submitted for approval, approved for obligation, and those with funds disbursed.
- Projects with obligation decisions pending over 180 days.
- Any withheld, deferred, or reprogrammed funds, with reasons and estimated payout timelines.
- Public Access: FEMA must post each report on its website within 10 days of submitting it to Congress.
- Standardized Reporting: Within 90 days of enactment, FEMA must create a uniform template for DRF data reports, following federal open data standards (rules for making government data accessible and usable), and update the data monthly on an ongoing basis.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandatory monthly reporting on DRF obligations and expenditures, which was not previously required at this frequency or level of detail. It builds on the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (which established the DRF) by adding accountability measures, such as public disclosure and standardized data formats, without altering core disaster funding rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: FEMA will face increased administrative workload to compile and share detailed data, potentially leading to more efficient fund management and quicker project approvals to avoid reporting delays on pending items.
- Citizens: Affected communities in disaster-struck areas gain better visibility into how relief funds are allocated and spent, which could build public trust and help identify delays in aid delivery.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic disaster relief.
- Overall, it may speed up disaster recovery processes by highlighting bottlenecks, such as long-pending obligations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- FEMA and Federal Agencies: Primary implementer, responsible for reporting and data management.
- Congressional Committees: Gain enhanced oversight tools to monitor DRF usage and hold FEMA accountable.
- State, Territorial, and Tribal Governments: Benefit from detailed tracking of funds for their disaster declarations, aiding in planning and advocacy.
- Disaster Victims and the Public: Receive public access to fund status, promoting transparency in how taxpayer dollars support recovery.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing disaster relief laws by mandating open data compliance, which could lead to fewer disputes over fund allocation through better documentation. "Obligation" is defined as a binding federal commitment to pay for approved projects.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to oversee executive spending (under the Appropriations Clause), without infringing on executive branch operations.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan accountability in disaster funding, potentially reducing waste or delays amid frequent U.S. disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, but may spark debates on administrative burdens during emergencies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-11: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2026-02-10: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-02-10: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- FEMA Accountability Act — issued 2026-02-10 — PDF (4 pages)