Graves legislation bolsters support for disaster-stricken communities

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) on Oct. 20 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would provide communities with more control and tools to rebuild and recover following disasters.

The Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster (SPEED) Recovery Act, H.R. 5641, would allow more small recovery projects to proceed under simplified federal procedures, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Graves’ office. Rep. Graves, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the bill with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), who serves as chairman.

“By far, most disaster recovery projects in the United States are relatively small, and there’s no need to force individuals trying to recover and rebuild to navigate the same procedures as larger, more complex projects,” Rep. Graves said. “The SPEED Recovery Act cuts red tape for smaller projects and will speed recovery in many of our communities, especially rural communities, that have been hit by disasters.”

Historically, according to Rep. Graves’ office, the number of disaster projects that qualified as small projects with simplified procedures accounted for 95 percent of such projects. But because the threshold for a “small project” has not kept pace with inflation and modern construction costs, a larger percentage of projects now fall outside the scope of a small project, adding paperwork and burdens for both communities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

H.R. 5641 has garnered support from the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Emergency Management Association, and Big City Emergency Managers.

“This type of modernization to disaster response and recovery programs will allow us as emergency managers to more swiftly move projects for disaster survivors and expedite the road toward recovery,” the groups said in a joint statement. “As we work individually and with one another to build resilience nationwide, tools such as the SPEED Recovery Act will simplify and streamline FEMA programs when survivors need them most.”