---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 657j"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "657j"
heading: "Information tracking and follow-up system for disaster assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/657j"
units:
  - "Chapter 14A — Aid to Small Business"
---

# §657j. Information tracking and follow-up system for disaster assistance

- (a) **System required—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall develop, implement, or maintain a centralized information system to track communications between personnel of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) and [applicants](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) for [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) assistance. The system shall ensure that whenever an [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) for [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) assistance communicates with such personnel on a matter relating to the application, the following information is recorded:
  - (1) The method of communication.
  - (2) The date of communication.
  - (3) The identity of the personnel.
  - (4) A summary of the subject matter of the communication.
- (b) **Follow-up required—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall ensure that an [applicant](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) for [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) assistance receives, by telephone, mail, or electronic mail, follow-up communications from the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) at all critical stages of the application process, including the following:
  - (1) When the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) determines that additional information or documentation is required to process the application.
  - (2) When the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) determines whether to approve or deny the loan.
  - (3) When the primary contact [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) managing the loan application has changed.
- (c) **Report on web portal for disaster loan application status—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after November 25, 2015, the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report relating to the creation of a web portal to the[^1] track the status of applications for [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) assistance under [section 636(b) of this title](/usc/15/636.md?p=b).
  - (2) **Contents—** The report under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall include—
    - (A) information on the progress of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) in implementing the information system under [subsection (a)](#a);
    - (B) recommendations from the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) relating to the creation of a web portal for [applicants](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) to check the status of an application for [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) assistance under [section 636(b) of this title](/usc/15/636.md?p=b), including a review of best practices and web portal models from the private sector;
    - (C) information on any related costs or staffing needed to implement such a web portal;
    - (D) information on whether such a web portal can maintain high standards for data privacy and data security;
    - (E) information on whether such a web portal will minimize redundancy among [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) programs, improve management of the number of inquiries made by [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) [applicants](/usc/15/7a.md?p=3) to employees located in the area affected by the [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) and to call centers, and reduce paperwork burdens on [disaster](/usc/15/632.md?p=k-1) victims; and
    - (F) such additional information as is determined necessary by the [Administrator](/usc/15/637c.md?p=1).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “the” probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–536, § 2[38], as added Pub. L. 110–234, title XII, § 12067, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1410, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XII, § 12067, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2172; Pub. L. 114–88, div. B, title III, § 2303, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 696.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–88 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Enactment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.