FEMA for America First Act of 2025
This bill restricts the eligibility of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) for federal disaster assistance benefits by eliminating eligibility for individuals with certain immigration statuses.
Under current law, a non-U.S. national must have one of several specific immigration statuses (e.g., lawful permanent resident, parolee, or refugee) to be eligible for federal disaster assistance provided to individuals (e.g., the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Individuals and Households Program or disaster unemployment assistance).
The bill narrows the immigration statuses eligible for disaster assistance to individuals by making non-U.S. nationals ineligible for such assistance if they are
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1748 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1748
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to provide that aliens who are not qualified aliens are
ineligible for certain assistance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Mr. Steube (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas, and Ms. Boebert)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to provide that aliens who are not qualified aliens are
ineligible for certain assistance, 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 ``FEMA for America First Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF ALIENS FOR ASSISTANCE.
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 431. ELIGIBILITY OF ALIENS FOR ASSISTANCE.
``(a) In General.--With respect to an alien otherwise eligible for
any assistance provided to individuals under this Act, only a qualified
alien shall be eligible for such assistance.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms
used have the same meaning given such terms in section 101(a)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
``(2) Qualified alien.--The term `qualified alien' has the
meaning given such term in section 431 of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
(8 U.S.C. 1641), except that such term does not include--
``(A) an alien who--
``(i) is granted asylum under section 208
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1158); and
``(ii) has not sought adjustment to the
status of alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence under section 209(b) of such Act;
``(B) a refugee who--
``(i) is admitted to the United States
under section 207 of such Act; and
``(ii) has not sought adjustment to the
status of alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence under section 209(a) of such Act; or
``(C) an alien who is paroled into the United
States under section 212(d)(5) of such Act.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
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