Congressman Robert Garcia Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Disaster Survivors from Unnecessary Federal Assistance Denials
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) announced the introduction of the Fair Disaster Assistance Act to protect applicants for federal disaster assistance by ensuring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not issue premature denial notices before a final decision has been made regarding their insurance claim for disaster-related losses. The bipartisan legislation is co-led by Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28). The bill text can be found here.
“Disaster survivors shouldn't be left in the dark or forced to navigate complex red tape during their most vulnerable moments. That’s why we’re making sure FEMA no longer sends premature and confusing denial notices, allowing families to better focus on their recovery,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “In the aftermath of the wildfires in California, Hurricane Milton in Florida, and Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, we’ve seen how these letters unnecessarily complicate things when folks are trying to rebuild their lives. We must make this process easier.”
“Western North Carolinians have been through enough after Hurricane Helene, and getting a premature denial for assistance because FEMA doesn’t want to wait for a letter of coverage from an insurance provider has only made things more complicated for disaster victims. Requiring that FEMA wait until it has all the information it needs to make a comprehensive determination on an application only makes sense. Disaster survivors deserve a process that’s simple and reasonable, and this bill is a step toward pushing FEMA in the right direction,” said Congressman Chuck Edwards.
“After losing their homes, businesses, and loved ones in the devastating Eaton Fire, I heard from countless residents in Altadena and northern Pasadena who were retraumatized when they received notices from FEMA indicating they were not approved for disaster assistance,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu. "In many of these cases, FEMA simply needed more information from them to process their application. That’s why I’m joining Reps. Garcia and Edwards in introducing the Fair Disaster Assistance Act, which will protect survivors against receiving premature denials and instead provide them with clarity so they can focus on healing and rebuilding without facing unnecessary stress and confusion.”
Currently, applicants for FEMA assistance who have pending insurance claims for their disaster-damaged properties may receive denial notices before insurance companies finalize their claims, causing potential delays and distress as victims navigate the recovery process. This bill would prevent FEMA from sending denial notices until an applicant's insurance claim has been resolved.
Congressman Garcia is dedicated to cutting red tape, improving government efficiency, and uplifting survivors of natural disasters. On the Oversight Committee, Congressman Garcia works to ensure all government operations are effective and streamlined. After devastating Los Angeles County wildfires early this year, Congressman Garcia led thirteen Members of Congress representing L.A. County in seeking answers as to why evacuation warnings were accidentally sent to nearly 10 million L.A. County residents during the fires. Congressman Garcia led dozens of his colleagues in calling on FEMA to honor their commitment to reimbursing California cities and counties for providing shelter options for individuals experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Last Congress, he introduced the “FLASH Act” Fast-Track Logistics for Acquiring Supplies in a Hurry Act of 2023 to help the Department of Health and Human Services cut through red tape to quickly buy critical medical materials during emergencies—from PPE to tests and vaccines—as well as the materials needed to make and distribute medical supplies. Additionally, Congressman Garcia sponsored the bipartisan Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2023, which passed the House last Congress. That legislation will increase government efficiency by eliminating unnecessary federal agency reports to Congress, saving taxpayer dollars and allowing agencies to focus on their core missions.
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