The
American Relief Act, 2025 is a comprehensive legislative draft focused on providing continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2025 and addressing various public needs through disaster relief, health, agriculture, and defense measures. Here is a summary of its key provisions:
- Continuing Appropriations (Division A):
- Extends government funding through March 14, 2025.
- Allocates funds for emergency planning, geostationary satellite acquisition, and justice-related technological upgrades.
- Appropriates funds for military needs, such as shipbuilding and defense system upgrades.
- Disaster Relief (Division B):
- Provides $30.78 billion for agricultural disaster relief, including assistance for crop, livestock, and timber losses caused by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.
- Allocates additional funds for the Emergency Watershed Protection and Emergency Forest Restoration Programs to support disaster recovery efforts.
- Supports NOAA's disaster response for hurricanes, wildfires, and other emergencies, including the acquisition of hurricane hunter aircraft.
- Health and Medicare (Division C):
- Extends funding for community health centers and special diabetes programs.
- Continues Medicare-dependent hospital and telehealth flexibilities.
- Authorizes funding for acute hospital care at home and coverage of specific oral antiviral drugs under Medicare.
- Agriculture (Division D):
- Extends funding for agricultural programs and disaster assistance for rural areas.
- Adjusts payment caps for economic relief to address the needs of smaller states and territories.
- Other Provisions (Division E):
- Strengthens cybersecurity protections and extends provisions for fentanyl-related substance control.
- Temporarily raises the debt limit to avoid financial disruption.
- Enhances student loan servicing and eligibility determination processes.
- Emergency Designations:
- Many provisions are designated as emergency requirements under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, highlighting their urgency and necessity.
This act aims to sustain critical government operations while addressing immediate challenges related to public health, natural disasters, and national security. Let me know if you would like a deeper dive into specific sections or funding allocations.