Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 27, 2005
Debris Removal Act of 2005 - Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to pay an eligible disaster relief applicant 50% of the federal share of assistance for which the applicant is eligible under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, within 60 days after the applicant files a claim for such assistance.
Authorizes reimbursement for clearing and removing debris to include reimbursement for clearing, removing, and disposing of debris from any emergency access road.
Authorizes federal assistance for removing debris and wreckage resulting from a major disaster from owner-occupied private residential residential property, utilities, and residential infrastructure (such as a private access route) as necessary for a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition.
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Provides that, for at least 180 days after the declaration of an emergency or major disaster between August 25, 2005, and December 31, 2005, the federal share of assistance provided to eligible applicants for debris removal shall be 100%. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide clear, concise, and uniform guidelines for the reimbursement to any county or government entity affected by a hurricane of the cost of hurricane debris removal.
Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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