HR 5310119th CongressIntroduced

Fairness and Accountability of Appeals Act of 2025

Introduced: Sep 11, 2025

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H.R. 5310, the Fairness and Accountability of Appeals Act of 2025, would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the federal government (specifically the FEMA Administrator) to reimburse an applicant’s attorney’s fees if the applicant wins an appeal or arbitration related to disaster assistance decisions. In practical terms, if a person challenging a FEMA decision about disaster aid pursues an appeal (under the act’s existing appeal provisions) or uses an arbitration process (under the act’s arbitration provisions) and receives a favorable outcome, the government would cover the attorney fees the applicant incurred in connection with that appeal or arbitration.

Key Points

1Creates new Section 423(e): Attorney’s Fees. If an applicant who requested an appeal (subsection (a)) or arbitration (subsection (d)) ends with a favorable decision, the Administrator must reimburse the applicant’s attorney fees related to that appeal or arbitration.
2Applies specifically to appeals or arbitration of disaster assistance decisions. The reimbursement triggers only when the outcome is favorable to the applicant.
3No caps or limitations specified in the bill regarding the amount of fees to be reimbursed. The bill states reimbursement for “any attorney’s fees of the applicant relating to such appeal or arbitration.”
4Purpose is to reduce financial barriers to appealing FEMA decisions and to promote fairness in the appeals process.
5Requires administration by FEMA/Program Administrator; potential budgetary impact and need for implementing regulations or guidance.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Disaster survivors and applicants who are challenging FEMA assistance decisions and seek legal representation for appeals or arbitration.Secondary group/area affected: Legal service providers representing disaster survivors; FEMA and the broader Department of Homeland Security budgeting and administrative processes.Additional impacts:- Potential increase in the use of appeals/arbitration if applicants know fees may be reimbursed upon success.- Possible budgetary implications for federal disaster aid programs due to reimbursed attorney fees.- Clarification and potential need for definitions (what counts as “attorney’s fees,” what constitutes a “favorable decision,” and procedures for submitting fee reimbursements).

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