House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders on July 24 announced the introduction of H.R. 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025.
The bill is cosponsored by committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA); committee member Daniel Webster (R-FL); and Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Ranking Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ).
The text of the bill can be found here. A section-by-section summary can be found here.
The FEMA Act was introduced following Chairman Graves’ and Ranking Member Larsen’s release of a discussion draft bill on May 8, 2025. The FEMA Act streamlines the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs while also making FEMA a cabinet-level agency.
In comments on the discussion draft, APPA supported the proposed creation of a new estimate-based Stafford Act section 409 grant program that would, over time, replace the current cost-based Stafford Act section 406 permanent work grant program.
In the comments, APPA had expressed concerns that the potential simplicity, clarity and certainty of an estimate-based payment system would be lost if current regulations for cost-based grants were applied, particularly as relates to federal procurement requirements.
As a result, APPA recommended that the bill be amended to allow states or localities to follow their own procurement practices in the new section 409 cost-estimation process.
APPA said that H.R. 4669 would appear to go further by providing that local governments must use their own procurement practices – if they exist – for all Stafford Act assistance.
APPA also suggested extending the new section 409 grant program to include grants for debris removal and emergency work.
The committee did not adopt this suggestion, but did add a new provision to H.R. 4669 providing that reimbursements for emergency work and debris removal should be made “not later than 120 days after the applicant submits a request for reimbursement if the President determines at least 9 percent of estimated costs are eligible for such reimbursement.”
