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HR 1137 109th Congress House

Responding Equitably, Swiftly, Proportionally, and On-time to Natural Disasters Act of 2005

Official title: To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to improve Federal response to disasters, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 7, 2005 See on congress.gov
Emergency Management Administrative procedureAuditingCommerceCongress
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Congressional reporting requirementsDepartment of Homeland SecurityDisaster reliefDisastersEconomics and Public FinanceEmployee trainingEnvironmental ProtectionFederal Emergency Management AgencyFederal aid to IndiansFederal officialsFederal-local relationsFederal-state relationsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGrants-in-aidIntergovernmental fiscal relations
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 8, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Mar 7, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mar 7, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 8, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Responding Equitably, Swiftly, Proportionally, and On-time to Natural Disasters Act of 2005 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include among those methods by which Congress intends to provide Federal disaster assistance: (1) ensuring that assistance is adequate and allows individuals to maintain their pre-disaster quality of life; and (2) ensuring that minority and low-income individuals and households and those in underserved communities receive equitable assistance.

Makes State and local governments eligible for Federal disaster assistance for debris removal on private lands, retroactive to August 11, 2004, if: (1) such governments provide specified services to such lands; or (2) failure to remove the debris places the lives, health, and safety of those living in the community at immediate risk.

Makes individuals and households eligible to apply for Federal disaster assistance for a period of 18 months beginning on the date of declaration of a major disaster. Increases the amount of individual and household assistance.

Directs the Federal Coordinating Officer appointed by the President in response to a major disaster to designate a local coordinating officer for each affected county.

Requires: (1) Federal financial assistance for disaster relief and emergency assistance to be allocated, distributed, or approved only by employees of the Department of Homeland Security or other appropriate Federal agencies; and (2) preparation of a report (for submission to specified congressional committees) on the role and effectiveness of using private entities to deliver disaster assistance.

Establishes a disaster expert grant program, to be fully funded by the Federal Government.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1137: Responding Equitably, Swiftly, Proportionally, and On-time to Natural Disasters Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1137/
MLA
"H.R. 1137: Responding Equitably, Swiftly, Proportionally, and On-time to Natural Disasters Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1137/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1137, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1137/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1137: Responding Equitably, Swiftly, Proportionally, and On-time to Natural Disasters Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1137/)
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