S.Amdt. 6595

SA 6595, submitted by Mr. Peters, aims to add a new section to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

The purpose of this amendment is to establish a unified disaster assistance intake process and system. This change is intended to reduce the burden on survivors of major disasters and emergencies by improving how information is collected and shared.

The amendment aims to add the following to the bill:

• A Consolidated Application: It requires the FEMA Administrator to create a system that allows applicants to use a single application for various forms of disaster assistance.

• System Capabilities: The new system must allow applicants to receive status updates, update their information, and get details on additional recovery resources.

• Agency Coordination: It allows the Administrator to certify other Federal agencies as "disaster assistance agencies" to share information and coordinate efforts, provided they sign an agreement regarding data protection and liability.

• Accountability and Oversight: It requires Federal agencies that choose not to participate in the system to certify why they are opting out. It also mandates reports to Congress from FEMA and the GAO to evaluate how the system affects the survivor experience.

• Operational Flexibility: The Administrator is given the authority to waive certain Paperwork Reduction Act requirements during major disasters to speed up the collection of necessary information.