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Washington, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster played a vital role in reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), giving the agency the tools and authority to do its job. While FEMA remains part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this bill ensures that FEMA is more autonomous and capable of responding to all disasters. This comprehensive reform of FEMA passed the House of Representatives today as an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. After the Senate passes the measure it will be ready for the President’s signature.
“As a member of the House Select Katrina Committee and the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, I am pleased that we have taken steps toward ensuring that FEMA is a more effective and efficient federal agency,” said Shuster. “In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we realized that FEMA, once a respected federal agency, had deteriorated to the point that they were not able to effectively do their job. We took the initiative to make positive changes to implement a comprehensive reform of FEMA, DHS, and the federal emergency management system. Today we restore FEMA’s authority to carry out all aspects of disaster management and give it the tools to carry out its vital mission.”
The bill specifies that the agency will have a clear chain of command during a disaster and direct access and involvement with President. It requires professional expertise within the agency and accountability at local, state and federal levels. FEMA’s essential response capabilities will be enhanced and restored, ensuring that supplies and equipment is not only available, but strategically placed around the country. The bill also requires the development of a comprehensive emergency preparedness system to ensure the nation is prepared to respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the effects of all hazards.
Shuster is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, which is part of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. |
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