Legislation recently proposed by U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) aims to hasten disaster relief for states and localities by getting federal funds disbursed more quickly.
“For too long, we’ve seen FEMA disaster relief delayed due to Washington bureaucracy and partisanship,” Rep. Letlow said on Tuesday. “When bureaucrats play politics, disaster-prone states like Louisiana suffer the consequences.”
The No Delays in Disaster Relief Act, H.R. 8695, which the congresswoman sponsored on May 7, would direct the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to appoint an acting regional administrator — a key position responsible for approving disaster aid — in any case where a FEMA regional administrator position has been vacant for at least 90 days.
The acting regional administrator then would be authorized to ensure faster disbursement of federal funding, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Letlow’s staff.
“My bill would ensure that even when administrations change, FEMA leaders have the authority to meet the needs of our people when disaster strikes,” added Rep. Letlow.
Additionally, H.R. 8695 would increase FEMA transparency by requiring the agency to report to Congress on the effectiveness of existing leadership and provide data on how timely aid is being distributed, the summary says.
The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.