U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) on Feb. 12 proposed the bipartisan Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects (HELP) Act to hasten recovery projects following natural disasters.
Sen. Tillis sponsored S. 3285 with six cosponsors, including Sen. Rounds, Sen. Burr and U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), to modify eligibility requirements for certain hazard mitigation assistance programs, according to the congressional record summary, while grant applicants await federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) hazard mitigation grant program.
Under current law, local stakeholders applying for federal funding for mitigation projects must wait until they receive a final eligibility determination from FEMA before they begin to purchase land or start construction on a project, some of which could be found disqualified after project work has started.
“Unfortunately, red tape has prevented many of these projects from even being started and has drawn out the recovery process for thousands of North Carolinians,” Sen. Tillis said, adding that S. 3285 would help “bring relief to these communities sooner and allow them to start certain projects instead of waiting for the federal government.”
State and local governments shouldn’t have to wait on the federal bureaucracy to start recovery projects, agreed Sen. Rounds.
“Our bill will help to make sure federal funds continue to go toward eligible projects even after they’ve already been started, which makes the entire process more efficient,” said Sen. Rounds.
Sen. Burr called S. 3285 “commonsense legislation” that would provide local officials with flexibility to start their smaller-scale disaster relief work while waiting for a final FEMA decision on their Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants.
“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Tillis, and I look forward to the Senate’s passage,” he said.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that natural disasters have caused throughout the country and the state of Alabama,” said Sen. Jones. “This bipartisan legislation will allow local governments and states to move more quickly on land acquisition and simple construction projects that will protect Alabamians in the case of severe weather events.”