US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 4401, 4402

Repealed. Pub. L. 93–288, title VII, § 703, formerly title VI, § 603, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 164; renumbered title VII, § 703, Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(1), (2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3100

Pub. L. 91–606, title I, § 10184 Stat. 1744Section 4401, , , , related to Congressional findings and declarations.

Pub. L. 91–606, title I, § 10284 Stat. 1745Section 4402, , , , related to definitions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of Repeal

section 605 of Pub. L. 93–288section 5121 of this titleRepeal of sections 4401 and 4402 effective , see , formerly set out as an Effective Date note under .

Short Title

Pub. L. 91–606, § 184 Stat. 1744Pub. L. 91–606section 1926 of Title 7lsection 1681 of Title 48, , , provided that which enacted this chapter, amended , Agriculture, sections 1706c, 1709, and 1715 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, sections 241–1, 646, and 758 of Title 20, Education, sections 165, 5064, and 5708 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, section 1820 [now 3720] of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and section 461 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, repealed sections 1855 to 1855g, 1855aa, 1855aa note, 1855bb to 1855ii, 1855aaa, 1855aaa note, 1855bbb to 1855nnn of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 4401 and 4434 of this title, and amended provisions set out as a note under , Territories and Insular Possessions, may be cited as the “Disaster Relief Act of 1970”.

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 93–288Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(1)108 Stat. 3100Section 703, formerly section 603, of , as renumbered by , (2), , , provided in part that notwithstanding repeal of the provisions of Disaster Relief Act of 1970, such provisions should continue in effect with respect to any major disaster declared prior to .

References to Disaster Relief Act of 1970

Pub. L. 93–288, title VII, § 702(m)88 Stat. 164Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(1)108 Stat. 3100

section 5121 of this title84 Stat. 1744“Whenever reference is made in any provision of law (other than this Act [the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, see Short Title note set out under ]), regulation rule, record, or documents of the United States to provisions of the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 () [see Short Title note above], repealed by this Act such reference shall be deemed to be a reference to the appropriate provision of this Act.”
, formerly title VI, § 602(m), , , as renumbered by , (2), , , provided that:

References to Act of

Pub. L. 91–606, title III, § 301l84 Stat. 1758Act of Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 112564 Stat. 1109Pub. L. 93–288, title VII, § 70388 Stat. 164Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(1)108 Stat. 3100(), , , provided that whenever reference is made in any provision of law (other than this chapter), regulation, rule, record, or document of the United States to the , , (classified to sections 1855 to 1855g of this title), or to any provision of such Act, such reference shall be deemed to be a reference to the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 or to the appropriate provision of the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 unless no such provision was included therein, prior to repeal by , formerly title VI, § 603, , , renumbered title VII, § 703, , (2), , .

Availability of Funds Appropriated Under This Chapter for Use Under Chapter 68

Pub. L. 93–288, title VII, § 70488 Stat. 164Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(1)108 Stat. 3100

section 4451 of this titlesection 1969 of Title 7section 4401 of this titlesection 636 of Title 15section 5121 of this title“Funds heretofore appropriated and available under Public Laws 91–606, as amended [this chapter], and 92–385 [amending and sections 633 and 636 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, repealing , Agriculture, enacting provisions set out as notes under and ] shall continue to be available for the purpose of providing assistance under those Acts as well as for the purposes of this Act [see Short Title note set out under ].”
, formerly title VI, § 604, , , as renumbered by , (2), , , provided that:

Use of Funds Allocated Before

Pub. L. 91–606, title III, § 30384 Stat. 1759, , , provided that funds allocated before , under a Federal-State Disaster Agreement for the relief of a major disaster and not expended on , may be used by the state to make payments to any person for reimbursement of expenses actually incurred by such person in the removal of debris from community areas, but not to exceed the amount that such expenses exceed the salvage value of such debris, or in otherwise carrying out the act of , or this chapter.

Report to Congress; Proposals for Legislation

Pub. L. 92–385, § 386 Stat. 556, , , required President to conduct a thorough review of existing disaster relief legislation and to submit a report to Congress not later than .

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 5195 of this titleFunctions of President under the Disaster Relief Acts of 1970 and 1974 delegated, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Homeland Security, see sections 4–201 and 4–203 of Ex. Ord. No. 12148, , 44 F.R. 43239, as amended, set out as a note under .

Executive Order No. 11526

Ex. Ord. No. 11526, eff. , 35 F.R. 6569, which provided for establishment of National Council on Federal Disaster Assistance, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11749, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 11575

Ex. Ord. No. 11575, eff. , 36 F.R. 37, which related to administration of this chapter, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11749, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 11749

section 5195 of this titleEx. Ord. No. 11749, , 38 F.R. 34177, which related to consolidation of functions assigned to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12148, , 44 F.R. 43239, set out as a note under . See Delegation of Functions note above.