FEMA for America First Act of 2025
FEMA for America First Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# FEMA for America First Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would restrict federal disaster assistance eligibility for certain non-U.S. citizens. Currently, people with specific immigration statuses—including parolees, asylees, and refugees—can receive FEMA disaster aid. The bill would remove eligibility for these three groups unless they have become lawful permanent residents. This would affect programs like FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (which provides emergency housing and other disaster relief) and disaster unemployment assistance. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily impacts non-U.S. citizens who are in the country under temporary humanitarian or emergency status.
This includes people paroled into the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons, people who have been granted asylum, and refugees—unless they have completed the process to become lawful permanent residents (green card holders). U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents would not be affected. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative W. Gregory Steube (R-FL) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
FEMA for America First Act of 2025This bill restricts the eligibility of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) for federal disaster assistance benefits by eliminating eligibility for individuals with certain immigration statuses. Under current law, a non-U.S. national must have one of several specific immigration statuses (e.g., lawful permanent resident, parolee, or refugee) to be eligible for federal disaster assistance provided to individuals (e.g., the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Individuals and Households Program or disaster unemployment assistance).The bill narrows the immigration statuses eligible for disaster assistance to individuals by making non-U.S. nationals ineligible for such assistance if they area parolee (i.e., paroled into the United States temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit), an asylee that has not sought adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, or a refugee that has not sought adjustment to lawful permanent resident status.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.