Disaster survivors may get a longer window to appeal denials of their federal aid applications if a Florida-backed measure advances further in Congress.
Here's what to know
The proposal recently cleared an important hurdle, passing by a unanimous committee vote. The next step will be to push the bill toward a floor vote, Maxwell Frost, a Florida congressional representative, said in a TikTok video. (If you can't see the video, click here.)
@repmaxwellfrost Today my bill, the Post Disaster Protection Act, passed unanimously out of committee, bringing it one step closer to the House floor! If FEMA gets 90 days to review an appeal, disaster survivors deserve 90 days to make their case. Let's get this across the finish line.
♬ original sound - Congressman Maxwell Frost
According to Frost, the Post Disaster Protection Act would lengthen the time people have to challenge a FEMA denial from 60 days to 90. He explained that the change is intended to fix what he sees as an imbalance in the disaster aid system.
Frost summed up the issue plainly: "If FEMA gets 90 days to review an appeal, disaster survivors deserve 90 days to make their case."
Meeting the current 60-day deadline to appeal a denial can be extremely difficult, he said, because survivors may still be replacing key paperwork, tracking down repair estimates, and trying to recover after losing their homes.
"This literally happens to millions of people across the country," Frost said, referring to applicants who seek individual assistance and then receive a denial notice.
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More background
In Florida, where hurricanes and severe storms often leave residents facing long recoveries, the proposal carries particular weight. Frost said he has repeatedly heard concerns from constituents across Central Florida.
The appeal process requires applicants to submit personal records, evidence of damage, repair-related documentation, and receipts. As Frost pointed out, this can be extremely challenging when a natural disaster has just destroyed someone's home and many of their possessions, including personal records.
Frost argued that giving disaster survivors an additional 30 days to file their appeals could make a huge difference.
"After a disaster like that, every day counts," he said.
A rare bipartisan effort
Frost further described the proposal as a bipartisan effort, saying Republican lawmakers representing parts of Florida helped introduce the bill and that most of Florida's congressional delegation signed on as co-sponsors.
"We got the majority of the entire Florida congressional delegation to co-sponsor the bill as well," Frost said. "That makes this a strong, bipartisan bill."
It remains to be seen whether that bipartisan support will carry the bill forward to a full floor vote. With the midterm elections fast approaching, it is a challenging time to get any measures, even widely popular ones, through Congress.
Where can I learn more?
Fights over FEMA policy and state disaster response show how complicated recovery can become after a major storm. These stories look at changing aid rules, preparedness proposals, funding fights, and homeowner protections in hurricane-prone communities.
• FEMA announced an overhaul to who qualifies for disaster aid as need keeps growing.
• In Florida, lawmakers pushed a sweeping hurricane preparedness bill after a devastating storm season.
• In Texas, Hurricane Harvey survivors demanded full FEMA funding as recovery frustrations boiled over.
• In North Carolina, families were left stranded as policies for hurricane aid stalled.
• In Florida, officials issued an emergency rule to protect homeowners from post-storm insurance fraud.
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