Don’t Penalize Victims Act

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Not yet voted on. This bill is still a proposal: it hasn't reached a floor vote, and its text can change in committee or on the floor before any vote.

D FriedmanSponsor

12 cosponsors · 9 D, 3 R

9 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

This bill enables persons receiving funds from a federal disaster assistance program to also receive funds for that same purpose from any other source except for another federal program or insurance.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Mar 21, 2025

Don’t Penalize Victims Act

This bill enables persons receiving funds from a federal disaster assistance program to also receive funds for that same purpose from any other source except for another federal program or insurance.

Under current law, federal agencies providing financial assistance for losses resulting from a major disaster or emergency are prohibited from allowing recipients to receive other funds for that same purpose from any other source. Persons seeking federal disaster assistance must report the availability or receipt of duplicative funds and federal agencies will reduce the amount of disaster assistance accordingly to prevent a duplication of benefits.

The bill narrows the duplication restriction to apply only to funds from other federal programs or insurance, so federal agencies providing disaster assistance may allow recipients to also receive funds for that same purpose from any other sources (e.g., charitable gifts, legal claims).

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Don’t Penalize Victims Act

Latest action (Mar 21, 2025): Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Policy area: Emergency Management · Origin: House · Introduced: Mar 21, 2025

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.