Senate Passes Peters Bipartisan Bill that Helps Improve Prompt Response and Recovery Following Disasters

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to ensure more effective and prompt support for disaster survivors and strengthen the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) ability to respond to emergencies has passed the Senate. The bill repeals an outdated section of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA) that has hindered DHS's emergency contracting authority."As natural disasters continue to affect communities across the nation, the federal government must be able to help those in need quickly and effectively," said Senator Peters. "This bill would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security can streamline the process of helping disaster survivors rebuild their lives in the wake of these tragedies."

Under current law, DHS and FEMA face limits on the duration of non-competitive emergency contracts, while other federal agencies operate under updated government-wide standards. Peters' legislation eliminates this outdated restriction, aligning DHS emergency contracting deadlines with those followed across the federal government and removing barriers to delivering timely support to communities in crisis.

The bipartisan Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act repeals Section 695 of PKEMRA, which capped DHS emergency contracts at 150 days. By aligning DHS with government-wide standards established pursuant to section 862 of the FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, the bill ensures contracts can extend up to one year, streamlining emergency response and recovery, and improving the timely delivery of critical services.

The legislation is endorsed by the International Association of Emergency Managers, the Disaster Recovery Coalition of America, and the National Emergency Management Association.

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