Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Oregon, Representative Hoyle, for her kind words and her articulate description of the bill that we are considering today.

In particular, I thank Ranking Member Larsen for his leadership on the committee and his help in getting this bill across the finish line, we hope, in the days and weeks ahead.

I thank my friend and colleague, the chairman of this distinguished committee. I certainly wish him well in all of his future endeavors. I have enjoyed our verbal sparring on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the House Committee on Natural Resources. I have appreciated his friendship and also appreciated his leadership and his support for this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act. As you heard from Representative Hoyle, as we continue to face increasing numbers of natural disasters across our country--wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and more--it is critically important that we work to equip our communities with the resources they need.

My home State of Colorado has seen firsthand the devastating impacts of these disasters, as we have unfortunately experienced record- breaking and deadly wildfires, drought, and flood conditions all over in just the past few years.

Mr. Speaker, this bill would strengthen our efforts to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future disasters across our country. It is a simple bill. When State and local governments receive Federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, otherwise known as FEMA, they are allocated a percentage of that assistance for management costs or administrative costs to manage that disaster.

However, as you heard Representative Hoyle describe, those management costs are awarded for a particular disaster. When managing multiple open disasters, the reality is that that results in unnecessary administrative burdens on State and local governments and limits flexibility for disaster recovery and preparedness.

Mr. Speaker, let me give you a very practical example of what this looks like. In Colorado's Second Congressional District, we have been home to multiple historically large and destructive wildfires. Oftentimes, these wildfires happen simultaneously in different parts of our State and indeed different parts of my district.

In my view, the ability for the State government and local governments to apply these cost-sharing dollars these grants, from FEMA for different disasters simultaneously has been inhibited by, in my view, a nonsensical approach in current law. That is what we seek to change, Mr. Speaker.

It is a commonsense way to cut red tape and ultimately benefit communities across the West and across the country as they continue to grapple with natural disasters in the years ahead.

I am proud this bill is supported by a broad spectrum of Coloradans, Republicans and Democrats. That includes my colleagues in this Chamber.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hoyle and the chairman. I encourage everyone to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7671) to amend section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to incentivize States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to close disaster recovery projects by authorizing the use of excess funds for management costs for other disaster recovery projects.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 7671.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7671, the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act, would provide States flexibility and allow management cost funds to be used across any open disaster, simplifying the administration of these funds for State and emergency managers.

While the Stafford Act currently does make a percentage of disaster dollars available for management costs, each disaster's management costs are tied directly to that declaration, creating accounting challenges.

Mr. Speaker, what often happens is there are multiple disasters occurring in a community at the same time. Trying to separate the administrative costs is difficult, if not impossible.

H.R. 7671 would provide more flexibility and ensure that States can better manage disasters by giving them the flexibility.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for his kind words and for sponsoring this legislation, for offering this legislation.

Just to put a face on it, in 2020 and in 2021, my home State of Louisiana had Hurricane Laura, Delta, and Zeta. In 2021, Hurricane Ida came through the State. In some cases you had the exact same footprint for all four hurricanes. You are asking an emergency responder to try to separate the work that they are doing, whether it was for Hurricane Laura or Hurricane Ida. You simply can't do it.

This does simplify the process. I think it will expedite recovery and remove some of the bureaucracy from the aftermath of disasters. It will provide States more flexibility in managing disasters, allowing them to have a greater focus on the needs of disaster victims.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7671, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7671, legislation authored by Representative Neguse and cosponsored by Representatives D'Esposito, Titus, Ezell, and Stanton.

The bill will incentivize faster recovery for federally declared disasters and lower costs. It also enables State and local emergency managers to build capacity for future disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

When managing Federal disaster declarations, States administer FEMA grants that may be worth billions of

dollars. FEMA allows States to utilize a percentage of those grants to cover the cost of administrator requirements and grant management.

Current law requires management costs to be strictly tied to each specific disaster declaration. However, most States are managing recovery for multiple disaster declarations simultaneously.

A project inspector working a full day may visit multiple disaster sites in a State. If those sites are associated with more than one disaster, all associated costs must be parceled out to possibly dozens of open grants. This is inefficient, wastes taxpayer dollars, and slows recovery.

This bill encourages efficiency by allowing States to use their management funds across all open disasters. Additionally, H.R. 7671 helps build capacity at FEMA and at the local level by rewarding applicants that complete recoveries from major disaster declarations quickly.

One of the most common concerns we hear from emergency management experts is that FEMA, States, and local governments do not have sufficient personnel or resources to prepare for and respond to disasters. Increasing efficiency and building capacity is one of the most important actions we can take to ensure nationwide disaster readiness and empower State and local emergency managers. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse).

Mr. Speaker, emergency managers need more resources and capacity to effectively respond to increasingly frequent and severe disasters. This bill incentivizes faster disaster recovery, gets communities back on their feet, and creates more capacity in Federal and local emergency management offices.

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