To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize my committee colleagues from the great State of Florida, Ms. Frankel and Mr. Webster, on promoting this important piece of legislation. I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this bill.

There is no question for Florida that the emergency management capabilities are among the best in the Nation, but some disasters are even beyond what we can handle and what we can handle in an effective and timely manner.

Right now in our State, we are battling wildfires across the State. We are on the eve of a brand-new hurricane season which happens year after year. These FEMA disaster relief programs are necessary, they are critical, and they are one of the most important responsibilities of the Federal Government to help States and their citizenry recover; but, unfortunately, there is an issue going on.

Many counties in south Florida are still fighting to this day with FEMA to defend the legitimacy of disaster relief aid that they received following one of the worst hurricane seasons in our State's history, where hurricane after hurricane after hurricane crossed the shores of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, victims of a disaster or a national emergency who may not even have shelter over their heads--or food or water or basic necessities--should not be victimized again by their own government just because they lack the paper trail from decades ago when they were undergoing this sort of devastation in their life. By reinstating a 3- year statute of limitations on the reclamation of funds, when there is no evidence of fraud, no evidence of waste, no evidence of abuse, this bill moves more of the onus for recordkeeping and combating fraud away from relief recipients and back to where it belongs, back on to FEMA, and during that time when it is most essential, immediately after the recovery process. Mr. Speaker, I think that is just common sense.

Once again, I fully support this bipartisan bill, and I commend Chairman Shuster and Chairman Barletta for their assistance in getting this important bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1678) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act concerning the statute of limitations for actions to recover disaster or emergency assistance payments, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1678, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The purpose of H.R. 1678 is to establish a statute of limitations for FEMA to recover disaster assistance payments. This bill would provide some finality in disaster assistance, and it would minimize administrative costs.

This is a bipartisan issue, and I appreciate my colleagues from Florida for their continued leadership on this issue.

H.R. 1678 reinstates the 3-year statute of limitations on FEMA's ability to reclaim funds when there is no evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse.

In my district, I have seen FEMA tell a community that a project is eligible for funding, allowing the town to move forward to complete a disaster recovery project, only to have FEMA change its mind years later and take the money back. Not only is this devastating to the community and to disaster recovery, but the administrative time and red tape involved in second-guessing is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Again, my thanks to the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Florida for their continued work on this issue and for introducing this bill.

The House adopted similar language last year when it passed the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast).

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1678, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson for yielding, and I also want to thank Chairmen Shuster and Barletta and Ranking Members DeFazio and Johnson for their continued support.

I have had the honor of working on this legislation with my friends from Florida: Congressmen Dan Webster, Brian Mast, and Frederica Wilson.

I have said this before and I am going to say it again: Florida knows hurricanes. In 2004 and 2005, Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Wilma, and Katrina tore through our State, leaving families stranded and property damaged.

I was the mayor of the city of West Palm Beach when we saw trees crash to the ground, ripping power lines and blocking flooded streets. Water systems were compromised, and our local governments, around the clock, did a miraculous job cleaning debris, fixing broken infrastructure, and getting life back to normal. It takes a lot to get it done.

When hurricanes strike, communities are ravaged, and so are their budgets. So I want to first thank FEMA for the funding assistance it provided Florida in a great time of need. With that said, FEMA is now asking some of our cities and counties to pay back money that was given for disaster relief projects that were approved more than 10 years ago.

There is no question that FEMA should do a responsible audit and make sure that money is used properly. However, the process should not be an endless journey into the Federal bureaucracy. Our local governments cannot afford to wait an infinite number of years for FEMA to do its assessment, especially when millions of dollars are at stake.

The current practice stymies our local governments' ability to plan their future budgets, and, unlike the Federal Government, they can't run a deficit. So this bill would make sure that the process is more evenhanded, giving FEMA adequate time to review its grant payments while allowing for the financial security of our local governments.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very good legislation, and I urge the Senate to take action.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1678, as amended.

I am pleased and proud to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), the author and sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1678, which I rise in support of, is a bill that will clarify the existing statute of limitations for public assistance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to State, tribal, and local grantees.

Pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or the Stafford Act, FEMA provides public assistance grants to State, tribal, and local governments to assist in their recovery efforts after a disaster strikes.

Generally, FEMA approves the use for public assistance funds immediately after the disaster or while the project is being completed. This is the appropriate time to decide how a grantee should spend disaster funds.

Once the project is completed, the grantee submits documentation of completion to FEMA. However, in some instances, FEMA or the inspector general has reviewed projects many years or even a decade after the grantee has submitted project completion documents. At times, FEMA has changed its policy determination on the appropriate use of the funds, or the inspector general has second-guessed FEMA's decision on the appropriate use of the funds. FEMA then tries to recover project funds years later.

Under this bill introduced by Congresswoman Frankel, FEMA may still attempt to recover funds but must do so within 3 years after the project is completed. I commend Representative Frankel for her commitment to address this issue. She has worked tirelessly to bring this matter to the forefront.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.