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A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to specify procedures for the conduct of preliminary damage assessments, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to vigorously investigate and prosecute instances of fraud, including fraud in the handling and approval of claims for Federal emergency assistance, and for other purposes.

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-161.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 18, 2005

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relielf and Emergency Assistance Act to: (1) specify procedures for the conduct of preliminary disaster damage assessments; and (2) increase the associated penalties for fraud.

Directs the President to: (1) investigate vigorously any allegations and instances of fraud, including fraud relating to the handling and approval of claims for federal emergency assistance; and (2) refer to the Attorney General appropriate allegations, instances, and investigation results.

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) give serious consideration to any allegation or instance of fraud and begin an investigation into it not later than 10 days after the receipt of such a referral; and (2) report on investigation progress and results to the Secretary of Homeland Security within 45 days.

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Requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to propose new inspection procedures that: (1) more accurately identify disaster-related losses of household items for which applicants should be compensated; (2) modify guidelines for individual and housing inspections to require inspectors to specify any item that was not available for inspection; and (3) develop eligibility criteria for funding vehicle damage, taking into consideration damage to a vehicle sustained as a result of a disaster.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D–FL

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

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    1. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-161.

    2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

    3. Introduced in Senate

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    Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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