Legis Daily

HELP Response and Recovery Act

USA119th CongressS-594| Senate 
| Updated: 12/17/2025
Gary C. Peters

Gary C. Peters

Democratic Senator

Michigan

Cosponsors (1)
John Kennedy (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act" aims to streamline Department of Homeland Security operations by repealing an outdated provision within the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. Specifically, it strikes section 695, which previously outlined certain requirements for DHS contracting for goods and services, including those related to disaster relief. To ensure accountability and monitor the impact of this change, the bill establishes new reporting obligations for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Beginning 540 days after enactment and continuing annually for five years, the Secretary must submit reports to Congress. These reports are required to review how the repeal has prevented waste, fraud, and abuse and promoted taxpayer savings . Furthermore, the reports must provide detailed information on contracts entered into or extended by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under urgent and compelling circumstances where bids were not solicited. This includes the number of such contracts, their subject, obligated amounts, the benefiting state, and the specific major disaster or emergency for which each contract was made.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3648
HELP Response and Recovery Act
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 30, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 3, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 3, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 252.
Dec 16, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8764-8765; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8764-8765)
Dec 16, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 17, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 17, 2025
Received in the House.
Dec 17, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3648
    HELP Response and Recovery Act


  • February 13, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 13, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 30, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • November 3, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • November 3, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 252.


  • December 16, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8764-8765; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8764-8765)


  • December 16, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 17, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 17, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • December 17, 2025
    Held at the desk.

Emergency Management

Congressional oversightDisaster relief and insuranceGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPublic contracts and procurement

HELP Response and Recovery Act

USA119th CongressS-594| Senate 
| Updated: 12/17/2025
The "Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act" aims to streamline Department of Homeland Security operations by repealing an outdated provision within the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. Specifically, it strikes section 695, which previously outlined certain requirements for DHS contracting for goods and services, including those related to disaster relief. To ensure accountability and monitor the impact of this change, the bill establishes new reporting obligations for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Beginning 540 days after enactment and continuing annually for five years, the Secretary must submit reports to Congress. These reports are required to review how the repeal has prevented waste, fraud, and abuse and promoted taxpayer savings . Furthermore, the reports must provide detailed information on contracts entered into or extended by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under urgent and compelling circumstances where bids were not solicited. This includes the number of such contracts, their subject, obligated amounts, the benefiting state, and the specific major disaster or emergency for which each contract was made.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3648
HELP Response and Recovery Act
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 30, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 3, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Nov 3, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 252.
Dec 16, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8764-8765; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8764-8765)
Dec 16, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 17, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 17, 2025
Received in the House.
Dec 17, 2025
Held at the desk.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3648
    HELP Response and Recovery Act


  • February 13, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 13, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 30, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • November 3, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • November 3, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 252.


  • December 16, 2025
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8764-8765; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8764-8765)


  • December 16, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.


  • December 17, 2025
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • December 17, 2025
    Received in the House.


  • December 17, 2025
    Held at the desk.
Gary C. Peters

Gary C. Peters

Democratic Senator

Michigan

Cosponsors (1)
John Kennedy (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Emergency Management

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightDisaster relief and insuranceGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPublic contracts and procurement