No Delays in Disaster Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8695
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-11T21:33:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The No Delays in Disaster Relief Act (H.R. 8695) aims to prevent disruptions in disaster relief by requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to appoint an Acting Regional Administrator when a Regional Administrator position remains vacant for 90 days or more. This ensures timely processing of grants and funds for disaster recovery.
Key Provisions
- Appointment Process: FEMA's Administrator must create a formal process to appoint an Acting Regional Administrator for any vacant position lasting at least 90 days.
- Powers of Acting Administrator:
- Make decisions on grants and programs to speed up fund obligations and payments.
- Process and distribute federal grant aid to states and local governments.
- Congressional Report: Within 180 days of enactment, FEMA must submit a detailed report to Congress covering:
- Implementation steps, including policy updates.
- Status of long-term vacancies (over 180 days) and acting appointments.
- Delegated powers and any limits.
- Data on grant processing times before/after changes, showing improvements.
- Effects on efficiency, internal checks (like fraud prevention), and risks.
- Challenges faced and solutions.
- Suggestions for further laws or admin changes to speed aid delivery.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a mandatory 90-day deadline for appointing acting officials, which was not previously required.
- Explicitly grants acting administrators authority over critical disaster funding decisions, filling potential gaps in current FEMA vacancy procedures.
- Adds a reporting requirement to Congress for transparency and accountability.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: FEMA gains structured continuity during leadership vacancies, potentially reducing delays in disaster response; improves grant processing speed.
- Citizens: Faster access to federal disaster aid for individuals and communities via states/locals, aiding quicker recovery from events like hurricanes or floods.
- No notable international relations impacts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- FEMA leadership (Administrator and regional staff).
- States and local governments receiving disaster grants.
- Congress (receives oversight report).
- Disaster-affected citizens and communities benefiting from timely aid.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens administrative continuity under existing federal vacancy laws (e.g., Vacancies Reform Act) without altering Senate confirmation processes for permanent roles.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to direct executive agencies; no separation-of-powers conflicts.
- Political: Addresses potential delays from unfilled political appointee positions, promoting non-partisan efficiency in emergency management; report enables ongoing congressional scrutiny.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Delays in Disaster Relief Act — issued 2026-05-07 — PDF (3 pages)