[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 195 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4789-H4790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ENHANCING STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT AND OUTREACH FOR PREPAREDNESS GRANTS ACT
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 4058) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance
outreach for the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland
Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4058
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 ``Enhancing Stakeholder
Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act''.
SEC. 2. DHS GRANT OUTREACH.
(a) Urban Area Security Initiative.--Section 2003 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 604) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Outreach and Technical Assistance.--The Administrator
shall, on an ongoing basis, provide stakeholder outreach,
engagement, education, technical assistance, and support,
prior to, during, and after the awarding of grants under this
section, including relating to the following:
``(1) Conducting annual surveys to collect feedback from
State, local, Tribal, and territorial stakeholders on the
awarding of such grants and the effectiveness of the
Administrator's outreach efforts.
``(2) Summaries of the surveys conducted pursuant to
paragraph (1) and other State, local, Tribal, and territorial
feedback and how such feedback was incorporated into
subsequent grant notices of funding opportunities.
``(3) Other feedback mechanisms that the Administrator
determines appropriate.''.
(b) State Homeland Security Grant Program.--Section 2004 of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 605) is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Outreach and Technical Assistance.--The Administrator
shall, on an ongoing basis, provide stakeholder outreach,
engagement, education, technical assistance, and support,
prior to, during, and after the awarding of grants under this
section, including relating to the following:
``(1) Conducting annual surveys to collect feedback from
State, local, Tribal, and territorial stakeholders on the
awarding of such grants and the effectiveness of the
Administrator's outreach efforts.
``(2) Summaries of the surveys conducted pursuant to
paragraph (1) and other State, local, Tribal, and territorial
feedback and how such feedback was incorporated into
subsequent grant notices of funding opportunities.
``(3) Other feedback mechanisms that the Administrator
determines appropriate.''.
(c) Comptroller General Review.--Not later than two years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the
effectiveness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's
stakeholder outreach, engagement, education, technical
assistance, and support, prior to, during, and after the
awarding of grants under the Urban Area Security Initiative
and State Homeland Security Grant Program, in accordance with
subsection (f) of section 2003 and subsection (g) of section
2004, respectively, of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as
added by subsections (a) and (b), respectively.
(d) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency shall submit to the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate a report regarding the actions taken pursuant to
subsection (f) of section 2003 and subsection (g) of section
2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by
subsections (a) and (b), respectively, including with respect
to the surveys and summaries required under paragraphs (1)
and (2) of each of such subsections (f) and (g).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Guest) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.
General Leave
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 4058.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Mississippi?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H4790]]
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4058, the Enhancing
Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act, with the
understanding that FEMA's preparedness grants for States, localities,
urban areas, and Tribal and territorial governments are vital to
strengthening the security of this great Nation.
This legislation will require FEMA to engage with and to support
relevant stakeholders prior to, during, and after the awarding of such
grants.
I support this effort to increase outreach, and Mr. Speaker, I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1300
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are here today to consider my bill,
H.R. 4058, the Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for
Preparedness Grants Act.
This bill mandates that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or
FEMA, provide ongoing outreach, engagement, education, technical
assistance, and support to stakeholders before, during, and after
awards for the State Homeland Security Program and the Urban Area
Security Initiative, two of the Department's leading grant programs
that address preventing, mitigating, and responding to acts of
terrorism.
Throughout this Congress, the Committee on Homeland Security has
heard a clear bipartisan message: Preparedness grants work. Time and
again, first responders and homeland security professionals alike have
warned us that without steady, reliable Federal investment, our
Nation's readiness will suffer, and our communities will be left more
vulnerable to the threats that we face. They have told us in no
uncertain terms that now is not the time to pull back and now is the
time to lean in.
Now is the time to strengthen these programs and ensure grantees have
a meaningful voice in shaping the policies that guide their work on the
ground.
My district, like so many others, relies on the Urban Area Security
Initiative and the State Homeland Security Program to strengthen
emergency preparedness and enhance counterterrorism coordination. These
priorities remain critical in New York City, where the memory of 9/11
serves as a constant reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism.
Established in the aftermath of 9/11 to protect our communities, these
grants continue to play a vital role in safeguarding our city.
That is why my bill, H.R. 4058, works to ensure stronger oversight in
how these homeland security grants are managed. My bill requires FEMA
to conduct annual surveys and other feedback mechanisms to gather input
from stakeholders and incorporate this feedback into future grant
opportunities.
Additionally, H.R. 4058 directs the Government Accountability Office
to report on the effectiveness of FEMA's efforts within 2 years and
mandates that FEMA submit a detailed report to Congress on stakeholder
outreach and engagement.
My bill ensures that the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State
Homeland Security Program grants are responsive to local needs and
truly effective in protecting our communities.
The coordination between local, State, and Federal Government is all
the more important as we face increasing threats to our homeland, and
this bill would help to facilitate that.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4058 and to act quickly so that
these critical funds reach the communities that need them most.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared
to close after the gentleman from New York closes.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
Mr. Speaker, my legislation would play a crucial role in
strengthening FEMA's engagement with State and local partners, ensuring
that homeland security grants are responsive, transparent, and actually
driven by the needs of the communities they are meant to protect.
Passage of this legislation is essential to preserving our national
readiness and strengthening our security against emerging threats.
H.R. 4058 restores fairness, accountability, and effectiveness to
FEMA's grant process so that every community, regardless of politics,
regardless of blue or red, can count on the support it needs to prevent
and respond to acts of terrorism.
Lastly, I thank Ranking Member Thompson, Resident Commissioner
Hernandez, and former Congressman and Chairman Mark Green for
cosponsoring this bill. I also extend my gratitude to the Major Cities
Chiefs Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for
endorsing the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4058,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman) for
his work on this piece of legislation, and I also want to recognize the
support of a former colleague and the former chairman of the Committee
on Homeland Security, Mark Green.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4058, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4058.
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. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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