H.R. 8695: No Delays in Disaster Relief Act

This bill, known as the No Delays in Disaster Relief Act, aims to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response to disasters by ensuring that there are no significant delays in appointing leadership in the agency's regional offices. Here are the main components of the bill:

Appointment of Acting Regional Administrators

The bill mandates that FEMA's Administrator must establish a process to appoint an Acting Regional Administrator for any regional office that has been without a Regional Administrator for more than 90 days. This means that, instead of leaving a position vacant, FEMA would have an interim leader in place to manage regional disaster response efforts.

Authority of Acting Regional Administrators

Once appointed, an Acting Regional Administrator will have specific responsibilities, which include:

• Making grant and programmatic decisions: The Acting Regional Administrator will be able to decide on the necessary grants and funding programs to support timely disaster relief efforts.
• Processing and disbursing Federal grant assistance: They will also handle the distribution of federal funds to states and local governments that need assistance following disasters.

Reporting Requirements

The bill requires FEMA's Administrator to submit a report to Congress within 180 days after the bill is enacted. This report must include:

• A summary of steps taken to implement the delegation of authority to Acting Regional Administrators, including any changes in policy or internal guidelines.
• Identification of regions where there have been vacancies exceeding 180 days and the status of any Acting Regional Administrators appointed.
• An outline of the powers given to Acting Regional Administrators and any limitations on those powers.
• Data comparing grant processing timelines before and after this new implementation, indicating any measurable improvements.
• An evaluation of how the delegated authority impacts program efficiency and risk management.
• A discussion of any challenges faced in implementing this process and the solutions attempted.
• Suggestions for any legislative or administrative changes needed to further enhance FEMA's ability to deliver timely assistance.

Aim of the Bill

The overarching goal of the No Delays in Disaster Relief Act is to ensure that disaster response efforts are not hindered by administrative vacancies and that federal assistance reaches those in need as quickly as possible.

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