Senator Gary Peters

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI),the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, that would simplify the application process for disaster victims to receive federal disaster recovery assistance.

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a universal application across federal agencies for disaster survivors seeking federal assistance from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Currently, individuals hoping to receive disaster aid must complete a complex application process across multiple federal agencies that can take weeks or even months to complete. This legislation would significantly help streamline this process and reduce the burden placed on disaster survivors in need of immediate assistance. The bill was previously approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“Families who are working to rebuild their lives after a natural disaster shouldn’t be burdened by complicated paperwork before they can receive essential services,” said Peters in a press release. “My bipartisan legislation will establish a universal application for individuals seeking federal disaster assistance to help make accessing federal support for the recovery and rebuilding process easier for everyone.”

Following a disaster, survivors may become eligible for several forms of federal assistance. FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program can provide financial or direct assistance for housing, and the Small Business Administration’s Real Property Disaster Loans and Personal Property Loans helps homeowners and renters who have incurred uninsured or underinsured damage to their property in declared disaster areas. To help more survivors access the resources available after a disaster, the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act would require FEMA to establish a universal application process for disaster survivors seeking federal recovery aid. Further, this bill would require all information shared between FEMA and partner agencies to meet federal data security standards, ensuring the safety and privacy of disaster survivors.