Lafayette Reporter

The Senate has passed the bipartisan Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act, presented by Sens. John Kennedy and Gary Peters. The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Kennedy expressed his satisfaction with the Senate's unanimous approval of the bill, stating, “The Senate just unanimously passed our common-sense solution to help the private sector and federal officials work better together to respond to emergencies. Now the House needs to send this solution to the president’s desk. I’ll keep working to get Louisianians and all Americans the help they need when disaster strikes, and I’m thankful to partner with Sen. Peters to that end.”

Peters also emphasized the importance of efficient emergency response, saying, “The federal government should have every tool available in order to help survivors of disasters get back on their feet. This bill will allow the Department of Homeland Security to respond to emergencies and natural disasters quickly and more effectively by streamlining the process to help disaster survivors recover and put their lives back together after tragedy strikes.”

The HELP Response and Recovery Act aims to enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency's ability to respond to disasters and emergencies promptly. One key aspect of the legislation is the repeal of Section 695 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, which limits the length of non-competitive DHS contracts for urgent requirements to 150 days. By removing this restriction, the Act ensures that DHS can issue contracts for up to one year, aligning with current government-wide rules.

The full text of the HELP Response and Recovery Act can be accessed for further information.