Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 152) to amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to develop a study regarding streamlining and consolidating information collection and preliminary damage assessments, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 152.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 152, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, is a commonsense bill that is going to streamline and consolidate the collection of information following a disaster.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the lead Federal agency on disasters, there are often many Federal agencies involved in disaster response and recovery.

I have experienced firsthand just how frustrating it can be when these Federal agencies fail to work together following a natural disaster.

That is why I am proud to support H.R. 152, which would address this concern by amending the FEMA-led working group created in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018.

Specifically, the working group is going to develop a plan to make the collection of information from disaster survivors less burdensome, duplicative, and time consuming. This working group is also going to coordinate with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to identify ways to reduce duplication and streamline the Federal damage assessment process.

I thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell) for his leadership on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell), the bill's sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, H.R. 152 is a good government bill that will help improve disaster recovery efforts. It has previously passed the House in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 152, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act.

This legislation amends the Disaster Recovery Reform Act to help Federal agencies streamline and consolidate information collection and preliminary damage assessments following disasters.

After a major disaster, there is no time to wait for bureaucracy. However, Federal recovery assistance following disasters is currently hampered by inefficient information collection and assessments conducted by multiple agencies.

This bill will remove information collection barriers that currently impede disaster aid. It creates a working group to identify duplicative assessments and propose their elimination.

Further, it would streamline Federal disaster recovery efforts by concluding that a single agency is sufficient to conduct damage assessments to account for the needs of disaster victims.

The Federal Government can and should be doing this smarter.

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

Mr. Speaker, as stewards of taxpayer dollars, we need to ensure that we are spending our money as efficiently as possible.

Government should work. As we have seen in fires in Oregon, hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida, and currently the horrific fires in Los Angeles, when people suffer from a natural disaster, it is imperative that they get the help that they need. They have lost everything, and the last thing we should be doing is dragging them through duplicative bureaucracy.

That is why this bill is so important. This bipartisan bill passed the House on suspension in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses. This bill will help disaster survivors by taking a step toward streamlining the Federal Government's fragmented approach to disaster assistance.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and, hopefully, the Senate will move it through. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, which aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster assistance.

Unfortunately, none of us are strangers to the effects of natural disasters, and we have all had these problems in our hometowns.

Right now we are seeing how these events threaten lives, damage property, and strain local, State, and Federal resources.

In the aftermath, millions of Americans are left seeking help to rebuild their lives and their communities.

However, when seeking necessary Federal relief, applying for disaster assistance can be a frustrating and confusing process. This leads to delays, frustration, and even disqualification from receiving the aid.

This is where my bill comes in. H.R. 152 works to eliminate inefficiencies and expedite the application process by ensuring only one information submission is needed.

Survivors are already facing difficult circumstances, and the application process should not add to their stress.

H.R. 152 represents a crucial step forward toward achieving a more effective disaster recovery system that prioritizes the needs of Americans and ensures they receive the help in a timely manner. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, due to the devastating wildfire affecting my district and Southern California, I was not present for today's vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 8, H.R. 192 The Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act, and YEA on Roll Call No. 9, H.R. 152 The Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act.

Mr. Speaker, due to a previously scheduled medical procedure, I was unable to be in D.C. on Monday, January 13, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 8, H.R. 192, the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act, and YEA on Roll Call No. 9, H.R. 152, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act.