Congress·Passed Senate·S. 594

Updating disaster rules to cut waste and track no-bid contracts

HELP Response and Recovery Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Senate

House

President

Law

Removes old disaster contracting rules from the early 2000s that no longer fit how emergencies are handled today
Makes the Homeland Security Department report every year on how the change cuts waste and saves taxpayer money
Requires the agency to list all emergency contracts given without open bidding, including what they are for and how much they cost
Reports must also say which states and which disasters those no-bid contracts were tied to, so Congress can monitor spending
These reports continue for about five years, so lawmakers can decide if the new system works and is protecting public funds

National SecurityInfrastructureEconomyConsumer Protection

7 milestones11 actions

Dec 17, 2025House

Held at the desk.

Dec 17, 2025House

Received in the House.

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Dec 16, 2025Senate

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

Dec 16, 2025

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

HELP Response and Recovery Act

Bill NumberS 594

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionHeld at the desk.

(1)

R: 1

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

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