U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Needs Reform; Promising Bill Presented in Congress Signals Possible Change
In the face of increasingly frequent and intense disasters, a bipartisan group of U.S. Congresswomen has introduced a draft bill to support investments in risk reduction and improve the federal disaster response. The bill, proposed last week, aims to deliver on a national security imperative and address the shortcomings of the current system.
The bill recognizes the federal government's role in supporting and rewarding states that follow through with investments in resilience. Currently, some states, such as Louisiana, require local governments not to expend more funds than they have available. However, the federal disaster aid system does not incentivize such investments in resilience and risk mitigation.
The bill proposes a shift to a cost estimation method for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where jurisdictions would receive an upfront payment based on a licensed professional's estimate of repair costs. This would reduce the cost of capital and speed up rebuilding for local communities, addressing concerns that the current system is too slow and burdensome.
The bill also aims to improve the survivor experience by allowing for permanent repairs and reducing waiting times for additional programs. Currently, FEMA reimburses jurisdictions for 75% of the cost of rebuilding public buildings, requiring them to either have the money up front or take out loans or bonds. This can be a significant challenge, especially in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
The Trump administration has expressed interest in reforming FEMA. The administration has identified that some aspects of the federal disaster aid system, including FEMA, are not working effectively. A FEMA Review Council has been created by the administration to address these issues.
The bill would allow homeowners to make permanent repairs to homes with FEMA funding, not just temporary fixes. This is a significant change from the current system, which often results in homes being rebuilt to the same standard as before the disaster, rather than being made more resilient to future disasters.
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which was popular and oversubscribed, has been canceled. The bill aims to create a sliding scale for FEMA funding based on state investments in resilience and risk mitigation, addressing concerns that the cancelation of the BRIC program has left a gap in funding for such investments.
The bill has bipartisan support, with House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole endorsing the program as "extraordinarily helpful." The bill's sponsors include Representatives Debbie Dingell, Don Beyer, and Jan Schakowsky.
Managing disasters effectively is vital to protecting lives and livelihoods in the United States. The bill aims to meet this moment by strengthening the federal disaster aid system and encouraging investments in resilience and risk mitigation.
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