Rice, Mace propose bill to address FEMA staff turnover rates

Legislation introduced on Sept. 22 by U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) aims to increase transparency of case management staff turnover at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

“FEMA must be held accountable to our communities and taxpayers who rely on them following a disaster,” said Rep. Rice, who sponsored the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act, H.R. 5343, with lead original cosponsor Rep. Mace.

If enacted, the bill would require FEMA to submit a report on the turnover rate of case management staff and the steps taken by FEMA to lower the staff turnover rate, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers. 

Additionally, H.R. 5343 would require statistics on the average and median length of employment of case management staff and agency staff detailed to work on disaster recovery, the summary says.

“South Carolina’s 7th District recuperates from disaster after disaster. Over the years, we’ve continually seen how case management staff turnover rates at FEMA have extended the process for our communities to receive the assistance they need. I’ve heard this from constituents in the district and local officials alike,” said Rep. Rice. “The FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act will help to curb these issues by requiring FEMA to put in place steps towards reducing the agency’s turnover rates.”

An agency as important as FEMA needs to have a low staff turnover rate, added Rep. Mace.

“Institutional knowledge within disaster management staff needs to be significant in order to effectively respond to disasters as they happen,” Rep. Mace said. “The FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act will help reduce the agency’s staff turnover rate and hold the agency accountable for the citizens they assist after disasters.”

Randall Webster, Assistant County Administrator for Public Safety in Horry County, S.C., and Brandon Ellis, director of emergency services for Georgetown County, S.C., endorsed the measure, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.