Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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