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S. 1617 117th Congress Senate

Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act

Official title: A bill to modify the requirements for the Administrator of the Small Business Administration relating to declaring a disaster in a rural area, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 13, 2021 Introduced by: James E. Risch Republican · Idaho See on congress.gov
Commerce Congressional oversightDisaster relief and insuranceGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigations
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Rural conditions and developmentSmall business
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 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
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
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
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8853-8854)
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 resumed debate on S. 1617.
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
Received in the House.
Sep 29, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to 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
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–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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 Latest action December 20, 2022

Became Public Law No: 117-249.

 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.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 3192 Identical bill Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1
D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · May 13, 2021
 R
Kennedy, John
Louisiana · May 13, 2021
 D
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/)
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