H.R. 4992: FEMA Critical Staffing Act

The FEMA Critical Staffing Act is a proposed piece of legislation aimed at addressing staffing needs within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Below are the key components of the bill:

Purpose

The primary purpose of the act is to ensure that FEMA can effectively respond to disasters and support local and state preparedness efforts by maintaining adequate staffing levels.

Key Provisions

Restoration of Staffing Levels

The bill mandates that within 30 days of its enactment, any funds designated for FEMA must be used to reinstate employees who were involuntarily separated from the agency between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment. These individuals must choose to return to their positions.

Continuation of Programs

The legislation requires FEMA to continue funding and executing programs that help states and localities prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. This includes:

• Continuing existing congressionally mandated programs without reducing access to resources for extreme weather events.
• Immediately reinstating the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which supports various resilience projects.
• Immediately reinstating the Flood Mitigation Assistance program, which provides funding to reduce flood risk.

Findings

The bill's findings highlight the importance of FEMA's role in disaster management, stating that the agency is instrumental in:

• Helping communities prepare for potential disasters.
• Assisting during disasters through public support and recovery efforts.
• Supporting recovery and minimizing future risks after disasters occur.

The findings also emphasize the increasing frequency of disasters linked to climate change, underscoring the necessity for FEMA's continued operational readiness.

Overall Intent

The overall intent of the FEMA Critical Staffing Act is to bolster FEMA's capacity to respond effectively to emergencies by ensuring that it is adequately staffed. This means reinstating personnel who were removed during a specified period and maintaining essential disaster response programs without cuts.

Relevant Companies

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