Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1858) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to establish a deadline for applying for disaster unemployment assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on S. 1858.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, S. 1858 would align the application deadlines for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's individual assistance and disaster unemployment assistance.

Currently, disaster victims are faced with two different deadlines for their applications, which creates confusion during what is already a stressful time.

This bill simply aligns and ensures identical deadlines to reduce burdens

and help disaster victims in their application process for assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this bill will help to reduce confusion for disaster victims by aligning the deadlines for certain types of assistance.

This bill makes a simple adjustment that will ultimately ease the process by which disaster victims seek assistance, relieving a burden during a difficult period of recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of S. 1858. This bipartisan and bicameral effort was led by Senators Peters and Paul in the Senate and Representative Neguse and Congresswoman Gonzalez-Colon in the House. This legislation aligns the deadlines to apply for FEMA Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Individual Assistance programs.

The application process for Federal disaster assistance can be cumbersome and often makes it difficult for survivors to get that critical aid.

The Federal Government must take every possible step to simplify and streamline this process. We want to do that with disaster survivors quickly because they need help. Navigating the disaster recovery application process should not be an added stressor.

Having to keep track of separate deadlines for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Individual Assistance is unnecessary, complex, and confusing for disaster survivors.

This legislation helps alleviate the burden to keep track of multiple deadlines.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill. I ask everyone else to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 157, S. 1858.

I further ask that the Peters amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.