Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025
Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary: Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025 **What It Does:** This bill would expand what communities and nonprofits can do to receive higher federal funding when FEMA helps them rebuild after disasters. Currently, when the federal government covers disaster recovery costs, it pays at least 75% of expenses. Communities can already increase this to 85% by investing in certain disaster-readiness measures. This bill would add three new activities that qualify for that higher funding level: investing in preparedness programs, adopting building standards or land-use practices that reduce disaster risk, and supporting community emergency response teams. **Who It Affects:** State and local governments and certain nonprofits that apply for FEMA disaster assistance would benefit most directly.
Communities could potentially receive larger federal reimbursements if they invest in these resilience measures. The bill incentivizes disaster preparation and prevention infrastructure before disasters strike, which could benefit residents broadly. **Current Status:** The bill (S. 372) is currently in committee in the Senate and has not yet been voted on. It was introduced by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) in the 119th Congress and would take effect one year after passage if approved.
CRS Official Summary
Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025This bill expands the activities eligible to increase the federal cost share under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program.Under current law, FEMA provides PA applicants (i.e., government entities and certain nonprofits) a minimum federal cost share of 75% of the costs of repairing or replacing eligible disaster-damaged facilities, but FEMA may increase this to up to 85% if the applicant invests in certain incentive measures that increase disaster readiness and resilience. The bill expands the measures eligible to cause this increase to include (1) investments in preparedness programs, (2) programs designated by FEMA that increase disaster resilience through building standards or land use practices, and (3) support for community emergency response teams or similar non-governmental organizations that provide disaster assistance and advance preparedness.The bill takes effect one year after enactment.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.