Federal Emergency Management Continuity Act of 2025
This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue using certain funds in the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown).
Specifically, FEMA must continue obligating and disbursing funds in the DRF that were appropriated before the lapse in appropriations and remain available to be expended. The funds may be used for any disaster relief, emergency assistance, and recovery program authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, including individual assistance, public assistance, and other disbursements and obligations for programs or activities necessary to protect life and property during a lapse in appropriations.
The bill also requires employees who are necessary to carry out these disbursements or related program activities to be treated as excepted employees under the Anti-Deficiency Act. (Excepted employees are required to work during a lapse in appropriations.) The bill also prohibits these employees from being subject to a furlough or a reduction in force due to a lapse in appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5780 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
<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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