[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 69 (Friday, April 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E570-E571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2018

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4) to 
     reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
     and for other purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the 
Jackson Lee Amendment to H.R. 4, FAA Reauthorization and Disaster 
Recovery Reform Act, which was not included in the Rule for this bill.
  I am disappointed that the other Jackson Lee Amendments to H.R. 4, 
the ``FAA Reauthorization and Disaster Recovery Reform Act that would 
have made permanent the FEMA Office of Disaster Response and Recovery, 
which exists, but has not been codified, was not made in order.
  FEMA is the agency that helps people before, during and after 
disasters.
  For 38 years, FEMA's mission remains: to lead America to prepare for, 
prevent, respond to and recover from disasters with a vision of ``A 
Nation Prepared.''
  On April 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the executive order 
that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
  From day one, FEMA has remained committed to protecting and serving 
the American people.
  That commitment to the people we serve and the belief in our survivor 
centric mission will never change.
  The Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinates the federal 
government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects 
of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether 
natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
  The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(Public Law 100-707), signed into law on November 23, 1988; amended the 
Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-288).
  The Stafford Act constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal 
disaster response activities especially as they pertain to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and FEMA programs.
  The underlying Disaster Reform language in H.R. 4, the FAA 
Reauthorization Act provided the opportunity to make strong statement 
regarding the Federal government's responsibility for disaster response 
and recovery.
  The work of the FEMA Office of Disaster Response and Recovery is 
critical when disaster strikes and for this reason should be a 
permanent part of the agency.
  This is the office responsible for the Federal wide coordination of 
disaster response and recovery efforts.
  Disaster response also requires that this office work well with non-
governmental aid agencies like the Red Cross, and health care

[[Page E571]]

responders, and private entities and business who collaborate on meet 
the needs of communities experiencing a disaster.
  I offered this Amendment to this bill because of my experience with 
Hurricane Harvey.
  There was no way to pre-prepare for Hurricane Harvey, or Maria or any 
of the other major disaster events in 2017.
  What we can do is learn as much as possible and apply those lessons 
to future disaster response and recovery efforts.
  When there is an event, like Hurricane Harvey there are important and 
valuable lessons that can help us to meet future challenges.
  On June 1, 2018, this year's Hurricane Season will begin, and it must 
be the duty of this Congress to make sure that FEMA is prepared to meet 
the challenge.
  I plan to introduce a FEMA Modernization Act this year to address a 
range of moderation issues that are intended to strength the capacity 
of the agency to manage several major disasters simultaneously.
  Every place in this nation has one or more vulnerability to floods, 
damaging storms, wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic activity, or earth 
movement--such as mudslides.
  FEMA is the nation's premier organization that must respond to 
catastrophes at a moment's notice.
  Making permanent the FEMA's work in disaster response and recovery 
will be part of this bill.

                          ____________________