July 17, 2025
Mr. Barrett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President to designate a Veteran Advocate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Improving Disaster Assistance for Veterans Act
.
Sec. 2. Designation of Veterans Advocate
(a) In general
Title III of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (15 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
328. Designation of veteran advocate
(a) In general
The President shall designate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency a Veteran Advocate.
(b) Responsibilities
The Veterans Advocate shall be an advocate for the fair treatment of veterans in the provision of assistance under this Act.
(c) Duties
The Veterans Advocate shall—
(1)
participate in the disaster declaration process under section 401 and the emergency declaration process under section 501 to ensure that the needs of veterans are being addressed;
(2)
serve as the primary point of contact between veterans service organizations and the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(3)
identify opportunities for expanded veteran recruitment for Federal Emergency Management Agency employment, including Federal Emergency Management Agency reservist positions; and
(4)
conduct such other activities as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency considers appropriate.
(b) Statutory construction
Nothing in this section or the amendment made by this section shall be construed to authorize major disaster or emergency assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) that is not authorized as of the date of enactment of this Act.