Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act

Floor Speech

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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).

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Mr. GUEST. 4058.

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Mr. GUEST.

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.

Mr. GOLDMAN of New York.

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.

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Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from New York closes.

Mr. GOLDMAN of New York.

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. 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.

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Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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