Results for
FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020
HR #8266 | Last Action: 9/30/2020FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020 This bill modifies the federal cost share of certain emergency assistance relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides for (1) a 100% federal cost share of assistance provided under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, relating to COVID-19 and any subsequent major disaster declaration that supersedes it; and (2) at least a 90% federal cost share of assistance provided for any emergency or major disaster declared by the President from January 1-December 31, 2020. These provisions shall apply to funds appropriated on or after this bill's enactment. With respect to the emergency declaration issued on March 13, 2020, the President may provide assistance for activities, costs, and purchases of states, Indian tribal governments, or local governments, including, among other things * backfill costs for first responders and other essential employees who are ill or quarantined; * increased operating costs for essential government services due to such emergency; * personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and services for first responders; and * costs of procuring and distributing food to individuals affected by the pandemic. The bill (1) directs the President to provide financial assistance to meet disaster-related funeral expenses (subject to the availability of appropriations), and (2) authorizes specified assistance in advance. FEMA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to convene a committee of experts to study the use of certain assistance to respond to an emergency that does not cause physical damages. The bill extends by one year federal disaster assistance to individuals and households.FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020
S #4627 | Last Action: 9/17/2020FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020 This bill modifies the federal cost share of certain emergency assistance relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides for (1) a 100% federal cost share of assistance provided under the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, relating to COVID-19 and any subsequent major disaster declaration that supersedes it; and (2) at least a 90% federal cost share of assistance provided for any emergency or major disaster declared by the President from January 1-December 31, 2020. With respect to the emergency declaration issued on March 13, 2020, the President may provide assistance for activities, costs, and purchases of states or local governments or the owners or operators of eligible private nonprofits, including, among other things * backfill costs for first responders and other essential employees who are ill or quarantined; * increased operating costs for essential government services due to such emergency; * costs associated with maintaining alternate care facilities or related facilities currently inactive but related to future needs tied to the ongoing pandemic event; * personal protective equipment and other critical supplies and services for first responders and other essential employees; and * costs of procuring and distributing food to individuals affected by the pandemic through networks established by state, local, or tribal governments or other organizations.Food and Necessities During Public Emergencies Act of 2020
HR #6449 | Last Action: 4/3/2020Food and Necessities During Public Emergencies Act of 2020 This bill provides that during an emergency declared under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits may be used to purchase specified durable goods. Specifically, such goods shall include infant care necessities, household paper products, household cleaning products, and personal cleaning products.The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019
HR #4599 | Last Action: 10/1/2019The Southern Border Communities Relief Act of 2019 This bill authorizes assistance to jurisdictions and organizations providing services for aliens released from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody. It also directs DHS to develop a standard protocol related to releasing aliens from custody and issuing notices to such aliens to appear in immigration proceedings. The assistance authorized under this bill shall (1) be for FY2021, FY2022, and FY2023; (2) only be used to provide assistance for aliens released from DHS custody; (3) be distributed by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board; and (4) only be given to jurisdictions that have experienced a significant influx of released aliens or organizations in such jurisdictions. The protocols related to releasing aliens and issuing notices to appear shall include requirements related to (1) coordinating with local governments and organizations on a release date and time, (2) releasing aliens in locations where organizations can provide assistance, and (3) ensuring that notices to appear contain complete and accurate information.Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020
S #3563 | Last Action: 3/22/2020Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020 This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require USDA to (1) notify retailers of the existing opportunities through which they can deliver groceries to SNAP participants; and (2) authorize public-private partnerships between itself, authorized SNAP retailers, and community-based organizations to support grocery delivery during the national emergency regarding COVID-19. The bill provides funding for USDA to support grocery delivery for SNAP participants who are seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a grocery store. Additionally, the bill (1) extends the certification period under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for infants to two years, instead of the current one year; and (2) authorizes states to increase the certification time under WIC for breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women to two years postpartum. The bill also allows any federal agency charged with the administration of a federal assistance program to modify or waive administrative conditions during an emergency.Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020
HR #6445 | Last Action: 4/3/2020Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020 This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require USDA to (1) notify retailers of the existing opportunities through which they can deliver groceries to SNAP participants; and (2) authorize public-private partnerships between itself, authorized SNAP retailers, and community-based organizations to support grocery delivery during the COVID-19 national emergency. The bill provides funding for USDA to support grocery delivery for SNAP participants who are seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a grocery store. Additionally, the bill (1) extends the certification period under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for infants to two years, instead of the current one year; and (2) authorizes states to increase the certification time under WIC for breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women to two years postpartum. The bill also allows any federal agency charged with the administration of a federal assistance program to modify or waive administrative conditions during an emergency.Tribal COVID–19 Disaster Assistance Cost Share Relief Act
HR #6772 | Last Action: 5/11/2020Tribal COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Cost Share Relief Act This bill increases to 100% the federal share of certain disaster assistance provided to Indian tribal governments in connection with COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).Food and Farm Emergency Assistance Act
HR #7656 | Last Action: 7/16/2020Food and Farm Emergency Assistance Act This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide competitive grants to agricultural producers and other agricultural entities to support worker and public health and safety, or to adapt production, processing, distribution, and sales systems, in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). In awarding grants, preference shall be given to applications containing proposals intended to (1) expand access to food for participants in USDA food and nutrition programs; (2) enhance food distribution in high-need or underserved areas; (3) address local agricultural product oversupply issues and reduce food waste; or (4) benefit young, beginning, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. The amount of a grant shall not exceed $15,000 for individual agricultural producers and $35,000 for other agricultural entities. USDA must conduct outreach to states and eligible entities with respect to the availability of grants under the bill.Indian Tribal Government Coronavirus (COVID–19) Disaster Assistance Cost Share Relief Act
S #3622 | Last Action: 5/6/2020Indian Tribal Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Assistance Cost Share Relief Act This bill increases to 100% the federal share of certain disaster assistance provided to Indian tribal governments in connection with COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).Local Community Emergency Relief Act of 2020
S #3806 | Last Action: 5/21/2020Local Community Emergency Relief Act of 2020 This bill waives cost share requirements for all federal emergency declarations and major disaster declarations during 2020. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide a 100% cost share in such instances. In general, FEMA disaster assistance requires a 75% cost-share commitment from the federal government with 25% provided from nonfederal sources. The bill lists activities for which the federal cost share is waived, including * miscellaneous costs, such as the costs of cleaning and sanitizing public areas and buildings where individuals who have contracted COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) have been present to prevent the spread of the virus; * other needs assistance for uninsured, disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs, including specified child care assistance and funeral and burial assistance; * mental health services; * medical equipment; and * hospital and morgue capacity expansion projects to meet actual or projected COVID-19 surge demands.Donate for Disaster Relief Act of 2019
HR #2032 | Last Action: 4/2/2019Donate for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 This bill allows individual taxpayers to designate an amount (not less than $1) of any overpayment of income tax for a Disaster Relief Fund established by this bill to provide relief for major disasters declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.Food for Working Families Act of 2020
HR #6582 | Last Action: 4/21/2020Food for Working Families Act of 2020 This bill revises the requirements for calculating income under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to exclude from income and resources emergency federal pandemic unemployment compensation paid to an individual under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).Defense Communities Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020
HR #7290 | Last Action: 6/22/2020Defense Communities Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 This bill establishes and modifies Department of Defense programs that provide financial assistance to communities that support military installations and personnel, including programs for community infrastructure projects and for schools and small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020
HR #6687 | Last Action: 5/4/2020Pandemic Disaster Assistance Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide direct assistance to individuals who have been impacted by a pandemic and appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor for unemployment compensation and disaster relief. Specifically, at the discretion of a governor or the President, individuals impacted by a pandemic will be eligible to apply directly to federal agencies for various forms of assistance, including (1) assistance under the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program; (2) assistance under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program; and (3) other needs assistance through FEMA's Individual Assistance program, including medical, funeral, and child care assistance. With respect to the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, the bill creates a national floor for benefits at 1.5 times the national weekly average and provides a waiver to the requirement to exhaust state unemployment insurance options. With respect to the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, the Department of Agriculture must provide options other than an in-person interview.Recognizing the continued success of the Food for Peace Act.
HRES #742 | Last Action: 3/10/2020This resolution recognizes Food for Peace as a critical component of global food security efforts and calls for the prioritization of funding for Food for Peace programs.Small Business Disaster Relief Equity Act of 2020
S #4689 | Last Action: 9/24/2020Small Business Disaster Relief Equity Act of 2020 This bill makes state-legal cannabis businesses eligible for disaster assistance, and it requires each agency that administers disaster assistance to allow these businesses to retroactively apply. Disaster assistance is any service, grant, loan, tax credit, tax deduction, or any other assistance that is made available in connection with (1) a federally declared disaster, or (2) specified COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) relief programs.Small Business Disaster Relief Equity Act of 2020
HR #8370 | Last Action: 9/24/2020Small Business Disaster Relief Equity Act of 2020 This bill makes state-legal cannabis businesses eligible for disaster assistance, and it requires each agency that administers disaster assistance to allow these businesses to retroactively apply. Disaster assistance is any service, grant, loan, tax credit, tax deduction, or any other assistance that is made available in connection with (1) a federally declared disaster, or (2) specified COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) relief programs.Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2020
HR #7819 | Last Action: 7/29/2020Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2020 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any grant or other assistance provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund.Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 2019
HR #854 | Last Action: 3/25/2019Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress a long term strategy for coordinating the provision of humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans both in Venezuela and in other parts of the Western Hemisphere and authorizes the President to provide humanitarian aid to such individuals. The strategy shall cover topics including how to provide public health commodities, food, and technical assistance. It shall also describe (1) current and anticipated challenges to distributing humanitarian assistance in Venezuela and elsewhere, and (2) how the United States is coordinating efforts with other countries. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the impact of U.S. assistance for Venezuelans throughout the Western Hemisphere.To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include certain services in the definition of critical services, and for other purposes.
HR #2242 | Last Action: 9/20/2019This bill expands the definition ofcritical servicesin the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include solid waste management, stormwater management, public housing, transportation infrastructure, and medical care.Disaster Assistance Simplification Act
S #2575 | Last Action: 9/26/2019Disaster Assistance Simplification Act This bill addresses the interaction of disaster recovery relief assistance provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Specifically, the bill prohibits HUD and recipients of HUD disaster relief grants from (1) considering whether an applicant for assistance rejected a separate disaster loan from the SBA, or (2) reducing the amount of assistance by the amount of a rejected SBA loan.Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
S #1754 | Last Action: 6/10/2019Disaster Relief Medicaid Act This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements relating to Medicaid coverage of individuals affected by a federally declared major disaster. In particular, the bill provides for specific disaster relief coverage under Medicaid for individuals who meet specified income eligibility standards and, during the seven-day period preceding the disaster, were either residents of the impacted area or were employed in the impacted area (and subsequently lost employment). Coverage is effective for two years after the date of the disaster declaration. State Medicaid programs must provide disaster relief coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the state's Medicaid coverage and the Medicaid coverage of the individual's home state, as applicable. The bill applies a 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to such coverage and related administrative expenses.Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
HR #3215 | Last Action: 6/11/2019Disaster Relief Medicaid Act This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements relating to Medicaid coverage of individuals affected by a federally declared major disaster. In particular, the bill provides for specific disaster relief coverage under Medicaid for individuals who meet specified income eligibility standards and, during the seven-day period preceding the disaster, were either residents of the impacted area or were employed in the impacted area (and subsequently lost employment). Coverage is effective for two years after the date of the disaster declaration. State Medicaid programs must provide disaster relief coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the state's Medicaid coverage and the Medicaid coverage of the individual's home state, as applicable. The bill applies a 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to such coverage and related administrative expenses.Motor Carrier Safety Grant Relief Act of 2020
S #3729 | Last Action: 5/13/2020Motor Carrier Safety Grant Relief Act of 2020 This bill provides relief for recipients of financial assistance awards for FY2019 and FY2020 from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The bill expands the period of availability during which grant recipients may spend funds awarded through the (1) motor carrier safety assistance program, (2) commercial motor vehicle operators grant program, and (3) commercial driver's license program implementation grant program. DOT may keep and redistribute funds that were not allocated for FY2019 or FY2020.Wildfire Smoke Relief Act
S #1997 | Last Action: 6/26/2019Wildfire Smoke Relief Act This bill provides for assistance for the purchase of smoke inhalation prevention equipment to specified individuals at risk of wildfire smoke-related illness. The President, in carrying out the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), shall provide (1) assistance to a state or local government, local public health authority, or a coordinated care organization to purchase and provide such equipment to at-risk individuals; and (2) cost-efficient transitional shelter assistance to at-risk individuals in any case in which such equipment is insufficient to mitigate the risk of illness.