October 21, 2025
Mr. Bell (for himself, Mr. Moulton, and Mr. Fields) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund in the event of a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the FEMA Operations Continuity Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Continuation of FEMA operations during a lapse in appropriations
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall be authorized to—
(1)
continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund;
(2)
obligate and disburse Disaster Relief Fund balances for all existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, 408, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, 5173, 5174, and 5192); and
(3)
maintain personnel and contract support necessary to ensure uninterrupted processing of claims and payments.
Sec. 3. Use of Disaster Relief Fund
(a) Availability
All unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund shall remain available to the Administrator for expenditure during a lapse in appropriations.
(b) Prohibition on diversion
No funds from the Disaster Relief Fund may be withheld, sequestered, or reprogrammed during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘Anti-Deficiency Act’).
Sec. 4. Exception from government shutdown restrictions
For purposes of section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘Anti-Deficiency Act’), operations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized under this Act shall be considered essential to protect human life and property, and therefore exempt from shutdown restrictions.