Texas Flood Emergency Aid Act

What to know

• The bill sends $15 billion to FEMA for 2025 Texas flood recovery.
• The money follows Stafford Act rules for disaster response.
• This spending is marked emergency, so it does not count against normal budget limits.
• FEMA must spend all the money by September 30, 2028.
• An agency leader must report to Congress every 180 days on how the money is used.
• Reports must show where the money went and what problems or unmet needs remain.

Heads up

No buried provisions flagged

We read the whole bill and did not flag any buried provisions.

Section by section

1. Naming the act

   This section gives the law its official name. It will be called the Texas Flood Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025. This name lets people refer to the law easily. It does not spend money or set any rules by itself.

   Who this affects

   This does not directly affect any specific group. It is a naming rule for the whole law.

   Tradeoff

   There is no real tradeoff, since this section only sets the law's title.

   Show the exact bill text

   This Act may be cited as the Texas Flood Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025.

2. Emergency FEMA funding for Texas floods

   This section gives $15 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The money is for the 2025 Texas floods. It can be used to help people and communities recover. It follows the rules of a law called the Stafford Act. That law lets the government respond to disasters. The money will not run out at the end of the budget year. It stays available until it is spent. Congress also marked this spending as an emergency. This means it does not count against normal budget limits. FEMA must use the money by September 30, 2028. After that date, no more of it can be spent.

   Who this affects

   People, towns, and local governments in Texas hit by the 2025 floods. It also affects FEMA and how it manages disaster funds.

   Tradeoff

   The funding helps flood victims recover faster, but it adds $15 billion in emergency spending that does not count against usual budget caps.

   Show the exact bill text

   there is appropriated for fiscal year 2025, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $15,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Assistance Agency for necessary expenses in carrying out the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

3. Regular reports on flood aid spending

   This section makes an agency leader report on flood relief money. The reports go to Congress every 180 days. Reports must continue until all the money is spent. Each report must show how much money was used so far. It must also show where in Texas the money went. It must list what kinds of help the money paid for. Finally, it must explain any problems in getting aid out or any needs still unmet.

   Who this affects

   This affects the federal agency in charge of the flood aid money, and lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees who will review the reports.

   Tradeoff

   Regular reporting helps Congress track how flood aid money is spent and spot problems, but it also adds paperwork work for the agency handling the aid.

   Show the exact bill text

   Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until amounts appropriated under this Act are expended, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report including the following