S. 709Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC

The Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2017 changes the Stafford Disaster Relief Act so that FEMA cannot try to take back disaster or emergency assistance payments that have already been given to state or local governments. The rule applies to payments made on or after Jan. 1, 2004 and only affects actions taken after the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

Amends Section 705 of the Stafford Act to replace certain wording about reports with language requiring a "report for project completion as certified by the grantee."
Prohibits the FEMA Administrator from using administrative actions to recover disaster assistance payments to states or localities made after Jan. 1, 2004, once the law is in effect.
Specifies that any recovery actions completed before the law’s enactment are not affected.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

March 23, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 23, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

March 23, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 23, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 709

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 23, 2017

Mr. Nelson introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To prohibit the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency from taking administrative action to recover certain payments for disaster or emergency assistance, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2017.

Actions to recover payment for disaster or emergency assistance

(a)

In general

Section 705 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(A)

by striking Except and inserting Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and except; and

(B)

by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee; and

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking report for the disaster or emergency and inserting report for project completion as certified by the grantee; and

(B)

in paragraph (3), by inserting for project completion as certified by the grantee after final expenditure report.

(b)

Applicability

With respect to a payment for disaster or emergency assistance provided to a State or local government on or after January 1, 2004, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may not take administrative action to recover such payment for assistance after the date of enactment of this Act if the action is prohibited under section 705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205(a)(1)), as amended by subsection (a).

(c)

Limitation

Nothing in this section, including the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any administrative action completed before the date of enactment of this Act.