[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 182 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6534-H6535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DISASTER MANAGEMENT COSTS MODERNIZATION ACT
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7671) to amend section 324 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to incentivize
States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to close disaster recovery
projects by authorizing the use of excess funds for management costs
for other disaster recovery projects.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:
H.R. 7671
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 ``Disaster Management Costs
Modernization Act''.
SEC. 2. USE OF EXCESS FUNDS FOR MANAGEMENT COSTS.
(a) In General.--Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5165b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses
(i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the margins
accordingly; and
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), as so redesignated,
by striking ``provide the following percentage rates'' and
inserting ``provide--
``(A) excess funds for management costs as described in
subsection (c); and
``(B) the following percentage rates'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Use of Excess Funds for Management Costs.--
``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `excess
funds for management costs' means the difference between--
``(A) the amount of the applicable specific management
costs authorized under subsection (b)(1) and subsection
(b)(2)(B); and
``(B) as of the date on which the grant award is closed,
the amount of funding for management costs activities
expended by the grantee or subgrantee receiving the financial
assistance for costs described in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Availability of excess funds for management costs.--
The President may make available to a grantee or subgrantee
receiving financial assistance under section 403, 404, 406,
407, or 502 any excess funds for management costs.
``(3) Use of funds.--Excess funds for management costs made
available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2) may
be used for--
``(A) activities associated with building capacity to
prepare for, recover from, or mitigate the impacts of a major
disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501,
respectively; and
``(B) management costs associated with any--
``(i) major disaster;
``(ii) emergency;
``(iii) disaster preparedness measure; or
``(iv) mitigation activity or measure authorized under
section 203, 204, 205, or 404.
``(4) Availability.--Excess funds for management costs made
available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2)
shall remain available to the grantee or subgrantee until the
date that is 5 years after the date on which the excess funds
for management costs are made available under paragraph
(2).''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall apply with respect to any grant award in relation to a
major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or
501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191)--
(1) the declaration of which is made on or after the date
of enactment of this Act; and
(2) that is funded with amounts appropriated on or after
the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) GAO Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report--
(1) on the actual management costs described in section 324
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) during the period of a major
disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
5170) to determine whether the amount set aside for those
management costs after the date of enactment of this Act is
appropriate; and
(2) that includes the management costs described in section
324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) for each disaster declared
under during the period of a major disaster declaration under
section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) during the 5-year
period preceding the date of the report, the amount set aside
for those management costs, the use of those management
costs, the length of each disaster, and the reason for the
length of each disaster.
(d) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amendments
made by subsection (a).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Louisiana (Mr. Graves) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
General Leave
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 7671.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7671, the Disaster Management Costs Modernization
Act, would provide States flexibility and allow management cost funds
to be used across any open disaster, simplifying the administration of
these funds for State and emergency managers.
While the Stafford Act currently does make a percentage of disaster
dollars available for management costs, each disaster's management
costs are tied directly to that declaration, creating accounting
challenges.
Mr. Speaker, what often happens is there are multiple disasters
occurring in a community at the same time. Trying to separate the
administrative costs is difficult, if not impossible.
H.R. 7671 would provide more flexibility and ensure that States can
better manage disasters by giving them the flexibility.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7671, legislation authored by
Representative Neguse and cosponsored by Representatives D'Esposito,
Titus, Ezell, and Stanton.
The bill will incentivize faster recovery for federally declared
disasters and lower costs. It also enables State and local emergency
managers to build capacity for future disaster preparedness,
mitigation, response, and recovery.
When managing Federal disaster declarations, States administer FEMA
grants that may be worth billions of
[[Page H6535]]
dollars. FEMA allows States to utilize a percentage of those grants to
cover the cost of administrator requirements and grant management.
Current law requires management costs to be strictly tied to each
specific disaster declaration. However, most States are managing
recovery for multiple disaster declarations simultaneously.
A project inspector working a full day may visit multiple disaster
sites in a State. If those sites are associated with more than one
disaster, all associated costs must be parceled out to possibly dozens
of open grants. This is inefficient, wastes taxpayer dollars, and slows
recovery.
This bill encourages efficiency by allowing States to use their
management funds across all open disasters. Additionally, H.R. 7671
helps build capacity at FEMA and at the local level by rewarding
applicants that complete recoveries from major disaster declarations
quickly.
One of the most common concerns we hear from emergency management
experts is that FEMA, States, and local governments do not have
sufficient personnel or resources to prepare for and respond to
disasters. Increasing efficiency and building capacity is one of the
most important actions we can take to ensure nationwide disaster
readiness and empower State and local emergency managers. I urge my
colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
Neguse).
Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Oregon,
Representative Hoyle, for her kind words and her articulate description
of the bill that we are considering today.
In particular, I thank Ranking Member Larsen for his leadership on
the committee and his help in getting this bill across the finish line,
we hope, in the days and weeks ahead.
I thank my friend and colleague, the chairman of this distinguished
committee. I certainly wish him well in all of his future endeavors. I
have enjoyed our verbal sparring on the Select Committee on the Climate
Crisis and the House Committee on Natural Resources. I have appreciated
his friendship and also appreciated his leadership and his support for
this piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the Disaster Management Costs
Modernization Act. As you heard from Representative Hoyle, as we
continue to face increasing numbers of natural disasters across our
country--wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and more--it is critically
important that we work to equip our communities with the resources they
need.
My home State of Colorado has seen firsthand the devastating impacts
of these disasters, as we have unfortunately experienced record-
breaking and deadly wildfires, drought, and flood conditions all over
in just the past few years.
Mr. Speaker, this bill would strengthen our efforts to prepare for
and mitigate the impacts of future disasters across our country. It is
a simple bill. When State and local governments receive Federal
assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, otherwise
known as FEMA, they are allocated a percentage of that assistance for
management costs or administrative costs to manage that disaster.
However, as you heard Representative Hoyle describe, those management
costs are awarded for a particular disaster. When managing multiple
open disasters, the reality is that that results in unnecessary
administrative burdens on State and local governments and limits
flexibility for disaster recovery and preparedness.
Mr. Speaker, let me give you a very practical example of what this
looks like. In Colorado's Second Congressional District, we have been
home to multiple historically large and destructive
wildfires. Oftentimes, these wildfires happen simultaneously in
different parts of our State and indeed different parts of my district.
In my view, the ability for the State government and local
governments to apply these cost-sharing dollars these grants, from FEMA
for different disasters simultaneously has been inhibited by, in my
view, a nonsensical approach in current law. That is what we seek to
change, Mr. Speaker.
It is a commonsense way to cut red tape and ultimately benefit
communities across the West and across the country as they continue to
grapple with natural disasters in the years ahead.
I am proud this bill is supported by a broad spectrum of Coloradans,
Republicans and Democrats. That includes my colleagues in this Chamber.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hoyle and the chairman. I
encourage everyone to support this important bill.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, emergency managers need more
resources and capacity to effectively respond to increasingly frequent
and severe disasters. This bill incentivizes faster disaster recovery,
gets communities back on their feet, and creates more capacity in
Federal and local emergency management offices.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for
his kind words and for sponsoring this legislation, for offering this
legislation.
Just to put a face on it, in 2020 and in 2021, my home State of
Louisiana had Hurricane Laura, Delta, and Zeta. In 2021, Hurricane Ida
came through the State. In some cases you had the exact same footprint
for all four hurricanes. You are asking an emergency responder to try
to separate the work that they are doing, whether it was for Hurricane
Laura or Hurricane Ida. You simply can't do it.
This does simplify the process. I think it will expedite recovery and
remove some of the bureaucracy from the aftermath of disasters. It will
provide States more flexibility in managing disasters, allowing them to
have a greater focus on the needs of disaster victims.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7671, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 7671.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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