[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H3990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FEMA CASEWORKER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5343) to direct the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report to Congress on 
case management personnel turnover, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5343

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``FEMA Caseworker 
     Accountability Act''.

     SEC. 2. REPORT ON STAFF TURNOVER.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     submit to Congress a report containing--
       (1) the turnover rate for case management personnel of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency;
       (2) the average and median length of employment for the 
     personnel described in paragraph (1);
       (3) the steps that the Agency is taking, or plans to take, 
     to lower the rate of turnover for the personnel described in 
     paragraph (1);
       (4) the number of personnel of the Agency that is detailed 
     to work disaster recovery and then return to such personnel's 
     full time assignment after a disaster, disaggregated by full-
     time, part-time, temporary, and contract personnel; and
       (5) the average time and median length of the rotations of 
     personnel described in paragraph (4) and how often rotations 
     and reassignment of personnel occur for each disaster 
     recovery position and function, disaggregated by full-time, 
     part-time, temporary, and contract personnel.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Georgia (Ms. Williams) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Webster) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5343, as 
amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5343. This bill addresses 
the high rate of turnover for disaster case management personnel at 
FEMA.
  FEMA's case management personnel are critical to the disaster 
recovery process. They help survivors access basic needs such as 
housing, childcare, and transportation assistance.
  This legislation requires FEMA to provide a report to Congress with 
data on case management personnel turnover and any Agency plans to 
reduce turnover.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides to join with me and support this 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 5343, the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act, 
requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to examine their case 
management turnover rates and the average length of employment for 
employees detailed to disaster response cases.
  The goal of H.R. 5343 is to reduce the turnover rates for FEMA 
employees who have been detailed to disaster recovery.
  Consistent turnover only hurts disaster victims as it can prolong the 
recovery process, especially for small rural communities.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Rice).
  Mr. RICE of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
my bill, H.R. 5343, the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act.
  South Carolina's Seventh District is still recuperating from disaster 
after disaster. We experienced four flooding events in 8 years.
  Over the years, I have learned some tough lessons. We have 
continuously heard and seen how case management staff turnover rates at 
FEMA have extended the process for our communities to receive the 
assistance they need after a disaster.
  Sometimes it takes 4 or 5 years for FEMA to get people back in their 
homes, and it is far too long because, unfortunately, the people who 
are disproportionately affected by these disasters are people of low 
income and minorities. They lose everything that they had, what little 
they had, and they can't wait for 5 years for the government to 
respond.
  I have heard complaints from disaster victims to local officials 
about the lack of coordination due to the high turnover rates at FEMA. 
This disorganization causes significant delays in processing claims and 
reimbursement of essential funds.
  This bill will increase the transparency at FEMA following a disaster 
by requiring a report on their employees' turnover rate. It also 
requires a report to include the average length of employment for staff 
who are assigned to work on disaster recoveries.
  FEMA must be held accountable to our communities and our taxpayers 
who rely on them following a disaster.
  I thank Representative Mace and Resident Commissioner Gonzalez-Colon 
for their support on this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Madam Speaker, this bill will assist FEMA by providing data to reduce 
turnover and provide more consistency for communities recovering from 
disasters.
  Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge others to do 
the same.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Williams) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5343, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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