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HR 315

A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to enable veterans to access hyperbaric oxygen therapy for both traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Gillen and 2 co-sponsors

During Stafford Act emergencies, H.R.315 lets Puerto Rico, DC, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands bypass 41 U.S.C. chapter 83 procurement rules in purchases/contracts.

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Bill Summary · HR 315

Summary — H.R. 315 (Introduced Jan 9, 2025; Adopted)

Main purpose

H.R. 315 directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, in the event of an emergency declared under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §5191), not to require application of chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code, to purchases made or contracts issued by Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, or the United States Virgin Islands. In short, it temporarily exempts those jurisdictions from the specified federal procurement requirement during Stafford Act emergency declarations.

Key provisions

  • Explicit prohibition: When an emergency is declared under Stafford Act §501, FEMA shall not require that chapter 83 of title 41 U.S.C. apply to purchases or contracts made or issued by:
    • Puerto Rico
    • The District of Columbia
    • American Samoa
    • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Scope: The text is narrowly framed — it applies only in cases of an emergency declared under the referenced Stafford Act provision and only to the listed jurisdictions.
  • No dollar amounts, sunset, or detailed procedural rules are included in the provided text.

(Note: chapter 83, title 41, U.S.C. is cited without amendment in the bill text; H.R. 315 removes the FEMA enforcement/application requirement for that chapter in the listed territories during Stafford Act emergencies.)

Who is affected

  • Primary: Governments of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — they would be allowed to proceed with purchases and contracts in declared emergencies without FEMA-mandated application of 41 U.S.C. chapter 83.
  • Secondary: FEMA (its oversight and requirements), contractors and suppliers who perform emergency-related work for the listed jurisdictions, and federal/territorial oversight bodies that monitor procurement during disasters.
  • Potential effects: Faster, more flexible procurement and contracting during emergencies for the listed jurisdictions; possible changes in oversight, competitive procurement, or audit procedures depending on how chapter 83 would otherwise apply.

Procedural / timeline information

  • Introduced in House: January 9, 2025.
  • Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and, subsequently, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
  • House actions show the resolution was read, placed on calendars, laid before the House, and adopted (committee/calendar actions through March 6, 2025).
  • Floor vote/readings: Read by title and passed to 3rd reading; on June 10, 2025 the resolution was read by title, roll called — yeas 93, nays 0 — and adopted. It was enrolled, signed by the Speaker (June 11), and transmitted to the Secretary of State (June 13) per House rules.
  • Sponsors listed: Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (primary), Carmen Rice (primary), Vance Smith (primary), Dixon McMakin (primary).

Additional notes / document context

  • The document bundle provided also contains several unrelated ceremonial “House Resolution No. 315” texts from state legislatures recognizing individuals (e.g., Jacob Crumbley in Georgia; Lucy Prouty in Illinois; Robert J. Bezotte in Michigan). Those are honorary/tribute resolutions and are not substantively connected to the FEMA procurement exemption provision summarized above.
  • The bill text as provided is brief and does not specify implementation details (e.g., duration beyond the declared emergency, interaction with other procurement or audit requirements, or oversight mechanisms). Such details would affect operational impact during emergency response.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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