H.R. 5780

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5780 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5780

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to continue to obligate and disburse covered funds in the Disaster 
Relief Fund during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 17, 2025

Mr. Moskowitz (for himself and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure

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A BILL

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
to continue to obligate and disburse covered funds in the Disaster 
Relief Fund during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Emergency Management 
Continuity Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS OF FEMA.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 
a lapse in appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
the Administrator of the Agency shall continue obligating and 
disbursing covered funds available in the Disaster Relief Fund for 
covered programs.
(b) Employees.--Employees necessary to carry out disbursements or 
related program activities under subsection (a) shall be treated as 
excepted employees under section 1341 of title 31, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the `Anti-Deficiency Act') and such employees 
may not be subject to furlough or reduction in force due to the 
applicable lapse in appropriations.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered funds.--The term ``covered funds'' means any 
funds in the Disaster Relief Fund that have been appropriated 
before the applicable lapse in appropriation and remain 
available to be expended.
(2) Covered programs.--The term ``covered program'' means 
any disaster relief, emergency assistance, and recovery program 
authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), including 
individual assistance under section 408 of such Act, public 
assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502, and other 
disbursements and obligations made from the Disaster Relief 
Fund for programs or activities necessary to protect life and 
property during a lapse in appropriations.
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