Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, S. 2109, the Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015, requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to develop a plan to control and reduce its disaster-related administrative costs and other activities.

The GAO has noted that FEMA's costs incurred in administering disaster-related activities have increased substantially. FEMA has acknowledged the increase and has struggled to address this issue.

Most recently, in 2014, the GAO recommended that FEMA develop an integrated plan to control and reduce disaster-related administrative costs.

GAO also recommended that FEMA assess the feasibility of tracking administrative costs by disaster program, such as public assistance and individual assistance.

Finally, GAO recommended that FEMA clarify its guidance and minimum documentation requirements for State and local governments with respect to their direct administrative costs.

This bill, Mr. Speaker, will codify these recommendations and statutorily require FEMA to take these actions.

I appreciate the improvements this bill will make toward reducing overall disaster costs and losses, but this is not enough. We must do more to reduce these costs and losses, Mr. Speaker. There is no better way than to invest in predisaster mitigation.

I introduced H.R. 830 to reauthorize the predisaster hazard mitigation program. We consistently talk about the potential to reduce disaster costs and save taxpayers money through predisaster mitigation.

In fact, our subcommittee has noted the reports by the Congressional Budget Office and the National Institute of Building Sciences Multihazard Mitigation Council, which found that predisaster mitigation saves $3 to $4 for every dollar spent on mitigation activities.

But there is more. Predisaster mitigation activities save lives and reduce injuries. It is time to stop talking and do more. Let us, Mr. Speaker, reauthorize the predisaster mitigation program at levels sufficient to significantly reduce disaster costs and save lives. Our citizens deserve this.

I look forward to working with my good colleagues on the other side of the aisle to make sure that these strides will come to fruition.

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