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Helene Small Business Recovery Act
To provide for a waiver of duplication of benefits for certain assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as a result of a major disaster or emergency, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill allows the President to waive restrictions on receiving duplicate federal disaster assistance under the Stafford Act for disasters and emergencies declared in 2023 or 2024. Upon a Governor's request, the President may grant a waiver if it serves the public interest and does not result in waste, fraud, or abuse, and must decide within 45 days. The bill specifies that a loan cannot be considered duplicate assistance if all federal aid goes toward actual disaster losses, and eliminates income thresholds for waiver eligibility. The provision applies to major disasters and emergencies declared during calendar years 2023 and 2024.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC)
Actions (2)
- Apr 10, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. · senate
- Apr 10, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Tillis introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
A BILL
To provide for a waiver of duplication of benefits for certain assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as a result of a major disaster or emergency, 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 “Helene Small Business Recovery Act”.
SEC. 2. WAIVER OF DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS.
(a) Definitions.—In this section, the terms “major disaster” and “emergency” have the meanings given the terms in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
(b) Waiver of General Prohibition.—
(1) In general.—The President may waive section 312(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155(a)) upon the request of a Governor on behalf of the State or on behalf of a person, business concern, or any other entity suffering losses as a result of a major disaster or emergency if the President finds that the waiver—
(A) is in the public interest; and
(B) will not result in waste, fraud, or abuse.
(2) Considerations.—In determining whether to grant a waiver under paragraph (1), the President may consider the following:
(A) The recommendations of the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency made in consultation with the Federal agency or agencies administering the relevant duplicative program.
(B) If a wavier is granted, whether the assistance to be funded is cost effective.
(C) Equity and good conscience.
(D) Other matters of public policy considered appropriate by the President.
(3) Grant or denial of waiver.—Not later than 45 days after the date of submission of a request under paragraph (1), the President shall grant or deny the request.
(4) Prohibition on determination that loan is a duplication.—Notwithstanding section 312(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155(c)), in carrying out paragraph (1), the President may not determine that a loan is a duplication of assistance if all Federal assistance is used toward a loss suffered as a result of a major disaster or emergency.
(5) Prohibition on income threshold.—In carrying out this subsection, no income threshold may be applied to limit the eligibility of a recipient from qualifying for a waiver.
(c) Applicability.—Subsection (b) shall apply to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) that occurred during calendar year 2023 or 2024. <all>
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