What This Bill Does · Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · AI extraction
This bill amends the Stafford Act to allow states, tribes, and territories to use leftover funds from closed disaster recovery grants for management costs on other disaster projects. It defines 'excess funds for management costs' as the difference between the authorized management cost amount and the amount actually spent when a grant is closed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can make these excess funds available to grantees, who can then use them for capacity-building or management costs related to other disasters, emergencies, preparedness, or mitigation activities. The funds remain available for five years after they are provided. The bill also requires a GAO study on disaster management costs and explicitly states that no new funds are authorized.
Action Timeline
2025-10-03
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-320.
2025-10-03
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 274.
2025-10-03
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-320.
2025-02-26
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2025-02-26
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-02-26
Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged
2025-01-29
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
2025-01-28
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2025-01-28
Introduced in House
2025-01-28
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.744 pass?
HR.744 is still alive. Current stage: REPORTED. Pass likelihood: 35%.
What does HR.744 do?
This bill amends the Stafford Act to allow states, tribes, and territories to use leftover funds from closed disaster recovery grants for management costs on other disaster projects. It defines 'excess funds for management costs' as the difference between the authorized management cost amount and the amount actually spent when a grant is closed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can make these excess funds available to grantees, who can then use them for capacity-building or management costs related to other disasters, emergencies, preparedness, or mitigation activities. The funds…
Who sponsored HR.744?
HR.744 was sponsored by Joe Neguse (D-Colorado).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 744 RH: Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-10-03 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB Union Calendar No. 274 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 744 [Report No. 119–320] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2025 Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Ezell , Mr. Harder of California , Mr. Stanton , Ms. Stansbury , Ms. Bonamici , Ms. Jayapal , Ms. Titus , and Mr. Raskin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure October 3, 2025 Additional sponsors: Mr. Carson , Mr. Fitzpatrick , and Mr. Fulcher October 3, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To amend section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to incentivize States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to close disaster recovery projects by authorizing the use of excess funds for management costs for other disaster recovery projects. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act . 2. Use of excess funds for management costs (a) In general Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165b ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly; and (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), as so redesignated, by striking provide the following percentage rates and inserting “provide— (A) excess funds for management costs as described in subsection (c); and (B) the following percentage rates ; (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Use of excess funds for management costs (1) Definition In this subsection, the term excess funds for management costs means the difference between— (A) the amount of the applicable specific management costs authorized under subsection (b)(1) and subsection (b)(2)(B); and (B) as of the date on which the grant award is closed, the amount of funding for management costs activities expended by the grantee or subgrantee receiving the financial assistance for costs described in subparagraph (A). (2) Availability of excess funds for management costs The President may make available to a grantee or subgrantee receiving financial assistance under section 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 any excess funds for management costs. (3) Use of funds Excess funds for management costs made available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2) may be used for— (A) activities associated with building capacity to prepare for, recover from, or mitigate the impacts of a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively; and (B) management costs associated with any— (i) major disaster; (ii) emergency; (iii) disaster preparedness measure; or (iv) mitigation activity or measure authorized under section 203, 204, 205, or 404. (4) Availability Excess funds for management costs made available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2) shall remain available to the grantee or subgrantee until the date that is 5 years after the date on which the excess funds for management costs are made available under paragraph (2). . (b) Applicability The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any grant award in relation to a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 , 5191)— (1) the declaration of which is made on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) that is funded with amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) GAO study Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report— (1) on the actual management costs described in section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165b ) during the period of a major disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 ) to determine whether the amount set aside for those management costs after the date of enactment of this Act is appropriate; and (2) that includes the management costs described in section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5165b ) for each disaster declared under during the period of a major disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 ) during the 5-year period preceding the date of the report, the amount set aside for those management costs, the use of those management costs, the length of each disaster, and the reason for the length of each disaster. (d) No additional funds No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a). October 3, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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