[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 156 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE FEMA EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER ACT

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, as a cosponsor of S. 1516, legislation 
reauthorizing the Federal Emergency Administration's Emergency Food and 
Shelter program, I am very pleased that the Senate is about to pass 
this legislation and send it to the House of Representatives. I hope 
that our colleagues in the House will swiftly approve this important 
bill, so that it can be sent to President Clinton for his signature 
before our legislative session adjourns for the year.
  FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) program provides financial 
assistance to supplement community efforts to provide food, shelter, 
and other valuable items to homeless and hungry people around the 
country. Most of the EFS' monies are distributed directly to local 
boards, which are comprised of representatives from religious and 
charitable organizations from the surrounding area. These boards then 
award grants to non-profit, voluntary, and social service 
organizations, which assist individuals with their food, shelter, or 
emergency assistance costs. Using a local distribution network helps to 
ensure that the EFS' funds are targeted to those who most need 
assistance.
  To its credit, FEMA has been very successful in keeping the 
administrative costs of this program very low. In fact, these costs 
consume less than 3 percent of the funding, which is an inspiring 
example that all of the Federal Government's agencies and departments 
should strive to follow.
  In Maine, the EFS program has been extremely helpful. For example the 
Sister Mary O'Donnell Shelter, located in Presque Isle, Maine, received 
a $10,500 grant from this program. Amazingly enough, this shelter was 
able to use this modest funding to provide the equivalent of 1,974 
nights of shelter for the homeless in northern Maine.
  EFS is a very successful program that carefully targets its resources 
where they are needed most, and does so with an absolute minimum of 
administrative expense. The Government Affairs Committee approved this 
legislation with a unanimous voice vote on November 3, 1999, and I hope 
the full Senate will do likewise.

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