Washington, D.C. – Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein expressed appreciation for the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee’s bipartisan action on the “Fixing Emergency Management for Americans” (FEMA) Act. As co-chairs of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) Public Health and Emergency Management Task Force, the governors sent a letter to T&I Committee leaders underlining governors’ bipartisan priorities for enhancing FEMA’s capabilities and preparedness.
The letter states, in part:
“Governors share a strong interest in working with Congress, the FEMA Review Council, and the Administration to achieve meaningful improvements that strengthen the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and other emergencies.
“FEMA is an essential partner in national preparedness and response. We value your commitment to enhancing FEMA’s capabilities and preparedness, guided by the core principles of the Stafford Act. A strong, well-resourced FEMA is essential to supporting state and local governments as they support communities and manage disaster response.”
- FEMA becomes a critical partner when an event surpasses states and territories’ capacity to respond on their own. In FY 2023 alone, 60 disasters received major federal declarations and assistance, while states and territories managed 23,910 incidents independently. But delays in FEMA funding, stringent application requirements, and a complex bureaucratic process often slow down recovery efforts.
- The Council of Governors and the NGA Public Health and Emergency Management Task Force have each suggested to the FEMA Review Council that access to planned federal funding in the immediate aftermath of a disaster would help states launch recovery projects quicker, and increased flexibility would allow federal funds to better meet the needs of communities.
- Delays in the federal disaster declaration and appeals process leave families, communities, and local governments without the timely support they urgently need. A Missouri disaster program designation was under appeal for more than 125 days without a determination, preventing access to critical resources such as individual assistance, hazard mitigation grants, and even low interest SBA loans. In North Carolina and elsewhere, continuing delays in HMGP approvals undercut both recovery from the historic damage from Hurricane Helene floods and preparedness for future hazards.
The letter concludes, “Thank you for your continued bipartisan work on these critical issues. We are eager to work with you and others towards final action in the 119th Congress.” The House Transportation and Infrastructure committee approved the FEMA Act in September with broad bipartisan support.
Read the full Task Force letter here.
