The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee published the Bipartisan Legislation project on May 8 to request comments on the ways of renewing the Federal Emergency Management Agency without abolishing it. But this step was almost overshadowed in a week when the besieged agency went to a new attack.
The acting administrator of Fema, Cameron Hamilton, was fired shortly after saying -a Congressional Supervisory Committee on May 7 that the agency should continue to exist. The day before, Kristi Noem, secretary of the United States National Security Department, of which Fema is part, stated that “as it exists today, [the agency] should be eliminated. “Reiterating Trump’s administration policy ..
“States will never have the [necessary] amount of money because the federal government will not pass this money to the [them] To be able to deal with what happens when it occurs, “said an Irato Senator Rosa Delauro (D-Con.), Member ranking of the Complete Committee of Approprians, in response to Noem’s comments.” I think it is very clear … that both you and the President really want to dismantle the federal government and the agencies that have served the American people for decades. ”
A FEMA spokesman confirmed that Hamilton was finished but did not give a reason. His replacement, David Richardson, is described as a former USMARINE and NATAL Safety official, who has no emergency management experience, according to reports.
In his testimony to the congress, Hamilton emphasized the ways he had been hoping to renew the agency, but also said: “As a leading advisor to the President in Disasters and Emergency Management and the Secretary of National Security, I do not think that it is the interest of the North -American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
Legislators seek reform
Despite administration calls to dismantle the agency, legislators also seem reluctant to do so. Earlier this year, they expressed frustration with the agency’s inefficiencies, but they stopped abolishing.
Shana Udvardy, an analyst of senior climate climate resilience policy for the Union of interested scientists, says that the legislative project of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee shows “strong support for the FEMA” to continue as an agency.
The legislation says that FEMA should be withdrawn as part of the largest and highest national security department to be an independent staff at staff, as it was during the Administration of Clinton. This would also simplify the processes of application for aid to the federal Emrgency, rationalize the permit requirements and replace the current system to refund federals with projects based on projects to give the local states and government more authority to direct how the funds are spent.
“We have clearly seen that FEMA does not work as the North -Americans who have been affected by disasters.” This chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves (R-MO.), Draft legislation co-author in a statement. “Congress has approved FEMA reforms over the years, but it has simply not been enough.” But the member of the Committee’s ranking, Rick Larsen (R-Wash.), Also co-authored, described Fema as the “last line of defense” for many communities. “The Republicans and the Democrats of this committee agree that it is an important agency that needs reform,” he said.
A committee staff said that the administration has made it clear to find a “better way to support states that take leadership in disaster response and management, and we believe that the legislation discussion project helps to make it. So we look forward to seeing the comments we get.”
Bipartisan efforts on the ground
John Anglis, director of business development for the construction of branches in Yancey County, has been working on emergency response efforts after Hurricane Helene last September, the first outlay of waste, and now reconstructs critical infrastructure and roads, including a progressive design design project of $ 250 million on a stretch of $ 12 miles on a stretch of 12 miles. The North Carolina Department of Transportation acquired the project, but the funds come from the federal government.
“We need the [federal] Recovery Fund, “he told Enr.” We cannot recover on our own as a county, as a state. “
Although the federal refund process may be “slowly aggravating”, Anglis said he has seen bipartisan collaboration among federal, state and local leaders on the field after the devastation of the storm. “I know the political atmosphere can be tense, but … I’m happy to see … a bipartisan effort, to see.”
The union of worried scientists, Udvardy, said that it is unclear if the administration would follow its threats. Despite the grudge of the comments of President Donald Trump, Noem and other officials, the administration has created a FEMA review council that includes some members who have an important emergency management experience. The Council is chaired by the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Noem.
“What is really frustrating for state and local communities and governments is that [the federal dollars are] The money they have trusted, “he said.” To get a project to accept so much effort, time and planning … and then to make a project removed from under its feet, it is only unthinkable. ”
