HELP Response and Recovery Act

Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery Act or the HELP Response and Recovery Act

This bill extends the maximum duration of noncompetitive Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracts for disaster response and recovery from 150 days to one year by repealing a current limitation on such DHS contracts so that standard procurement regulations apply regarding urgent needs. It also requires DHS to report to Congress annually for five years to review how this repeal has prevented waste and provide information on noncompetitive Federal Emergency Management Agency contracts.

Other titles

the names this measure carries besides the one at the top of this page, each with the record's own label for it. The collection includes titles given to parts of a bill as well as to the whole.

A bill to amend the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006 to repeal certain obsolete requirements, and for other purposes.Official Title as Introduced

HELP Response and Recovery ActShort Title(s) as IntroducedShort Title(s) as Reported to SenateShort Title(s) as Passed Senate

Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt Response and Recovery ActShort Title(s) as IntroducedShort Title(s) as Reported to SenateShort Title(s) as Passed Senate

Legislative history

S. 594·Senate·Bill·Emergency Management

Sen. Gary Peters(Democratic-Michigan)·

Feb 13, 2025

SenateRead twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Jul 30, 2025

Senate · CommitteeCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Nov 3, 2025

Senate · CommitteeCommittee 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

SenatePlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 252.

Dec 16, 2025

Senate · FloorPassed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8764-8765; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8764-8765)

Dec 17, 2025

Senate · FloorMessage on Senate action sent to the House.

Dec 17, 2025

House · FloorReceived in the House.

Dec 17, 2025

House · FloorHeld at the desk.

Documents

Everything Congress printed about this measure. A bill is reprinted each time it changes, the Congressional Research Service summarizes each version, and the committee that reports a bill files its own written account of it.

Bill text

Dec 16, 2025As passed by the Senate Nov 3, 2025As reported by the Senate committee Feb 13, 2025As introduced in the Senate

Plain-language summaries

Feb 13, 2025