S 1617 117th Congress Senate Commerce Congressional oversight Disaster relief and insurance Government lending and loan guarantees Government studies and investigations Rural conditions and development Small business

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

Introduced: May 13, 2021 Introduced by: Risch, James E. Republican · Idaho See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 22 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Dec 20, 2022

Became Public Law No: 117-249.

Dec 20, 2022

Signed by President.

Dec 16, 2022

Presented to President.

Dec 8, 2022

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8853-8854)

Dec 8, 2022

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 8 (Roll no. 517). (text: 12/05/2022 CR H8741)

Dec 8, 2022

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Dec 5, 2022

DEBATE - The House resumed debate on S. 1617.

Dec 5, 2022

Ms. Velazquez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Dec 5, 2022

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

Dec 5, 2022

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1617.

Dec 5, 2022

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8741-8742)

Sep 29, 2022

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Sep 29, 2022

Received in the House.

Sep 29, 2022

Held at the desk.

Sep 28, 2022

Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5165; text: CR S5165)

Sep 28, 2022

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S5165; text: CR S5165)

May 3, 2022

By Senator Cardin from Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship filed written report. Report No. 117-103.

Feb 17, 2022

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 278.

Feb 17, 2022

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Cardin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Feb 15, 2022

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

May 13, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

May 13, 2021

Introduced in Senate

Votes taken on this bill 1

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Dec 8, 2022	House · vote #517	On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass	Passed	406–8	See who voted →

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare a disaster in rural areas where significant damage has been incurred for the purpose of providing certain assistance.

A rural area is a county or political subdivision designated as such by the Census Bureau. Significant damage means uninsured losses of not less than 40% of the fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property (whichever is less).

For a rural area where the President has declared a major disaster, the SBA may declare a disaster for the purpose of providing economic injury disaster loans if (1) the state or tribal government wherein the rural area is located requests the declaration; and (2) any home, small business, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative has incurred significant damage.

The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) any unique challenges to communities in rural areas compared to communities in urbanized areas when seeking economic injury disaster assistance, and (2) any legislative recommendations for improving access to disaster assistance for communities in rural areas.

What's happening now December 20, 2022

Became Public Law No: 117-249.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 5 versions

Engrossed in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Enrolled Bill Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Public Law Formatted Text PDF United States Legislative Markup
Reported to Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 1

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 3

Hassan, Margaret Wood

New Hampshire · May 13, 2021

Kennedy, John

Louisiana · May 13, 2021

Shaheen, Jeanne

New Hampshire · May 13, 2021

Cite this page click to expand

APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1617: Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1617/

MLA

"S. 1617: Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1617/.

Bluebook (legal)

S. 1617, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1617/.

Markdown link

[S. 1617: Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1617/)