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U.S. Government Affairs News

• IAEM Releases December Government Affairs Update (Dec. 9, 2024) The December issue of the GAC Update focuses on several current issues, including policy recommendations for President-Elect Trump and Congress, the Senate version of the DHS funding bill, the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act, Disaster Simplification Act, and prospects for a disaster supplemental. It provides resources for members to use to contact leaders. Read the issue.

• IAEM Releases “Policy Recommendations for President-Elect Trump and Congress” (Dec. 3, 2024) IAEM released policy recommendations for President-Elect Trump’s transition team and will formally submit them to the “landing Team.” There are six significant recommendations: nominate and quickly confirm the FEMA Administrator; reduce bureaucratic complexity; simplify the process for receiving disaster assistance; maintain the disaster relief fund; support SLTT emergency management capacity; and empower the FEMA Administrator. Read the recommendations.

• IAEM Releases September Government Affairs Update (Sep. 23, 2024) The September issue of the GAC Update focuses on a hearing held by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding multiple bills. This update discusses the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act and Natural Disaster Recovery Act of 2024. It includes a call to action to members to contact their representatives regarding 12 bills endorsed by IAEM. Read the GAC Update. 

• IAEM Releases August Government Affairs Update (Aug. 3, 2024) In thsi issue of the GAC Update, IAEM discusses a recent meeting with FEMA Administrator Criswell, reviews Immediate Needs Funding beginning on Aug. 7, and encourages members to engage with Representatives and Senators while they are on recess in their districts. IAEM provided the lists of members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastruture, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Members are encouraged to meet with members on the committees, if you are a constituent. Read the GAC Update for more information. 

• IAEM Asks Members to Contact Leaders about Grant Fund Cuts (July 17, 2024) Grant funds that support emergency management programs are receiginv cuts that average about 9% across the board for FY 2024 (Oct. 2023-Sept. 2024). Teh Government Affairs Committee created a template for letters to Congress and asks IAEM members to contact U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, State Representatives, and Governors. Learn more by reading the GAC Update.

• IAEM Seeks Input on How DHS Grant Funding Cuts Have Affected Members (July 8, 2024) IAEM issued a call for members to complete a survey on how a 9% cut in the FY 24 budget (Oct. 2023-Sept. 2024)  DHS grant funds are affecting members. Read the GAC Update for infomation. 

• IAEM issues June Government Affairs Update (June 14, 2023) The June issue of the GAC Update provides an information on the FY 25 Appropriations, highlights a meeting with IAEM, NEMA, BCEM, and FEMA Administrator Criswell, introduces the "Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act," announces an upcoming Government Affairs webinar, and provides information on key communications from IAEM to Congressional Committees. Read the Issue.

• Senators express support for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (May 15, 2024) On May 15, 33 Senators signed a letter of support for the Nonprofit Security Grant program. The letter was sent to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting $400,000,000 be appropriated for the program in Fiscal Year 2025. Read the letter.

• Senators express support for FEMA’s preparedness grants (May 15, 2024) On May 15, 10 Senators signed a letter of support for FEMA’s preparedness grants programs, including EMPG. The letter was sent to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting robust funding for the programs in Fiscal Year 2025. Specifically, the Senators requested that the programs be funded either to the level of the FY24 Minibus, or the President’s Budget Request, whichever is higher. Read the letter.
   
• Monthly Updates and the FY24/FY25 Budget (May. 13, 2024) The IAEM-USA Government Affairs Committee provides monthly updates to members on work promoting the emergency management profession's policy and funding positions with our federal and legislative partners. These are typically high-level overviews on several topics. The May 2024 Government Affairs Update provides insight into the FY24 and FY25 budget cycles.
  
  The FY24 appropriations cycle was an extreme example of the continuing resolution budget process. The result was that FEMA took a cut of $73 million below the FY23 enacted level and $268 million below the President’s budget request. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the cut to FEMA’s budget is a 9% across-the-board reduction for all homeland security and emergency management grants. The Disaster Response Fund (DRF) is also in serious trouble again this year.
  
  Read our full update to see what IAEM, in coordination with other associations, is doing to advocate for supplemental funding for the DRF and a return to previous grant funding levels in the FY25 budget.
   
• IAEM and other organizations endorse H.R. 7070 (Jan. 23, 2024) IAEM, NEMA, Big City EMs, NACo, IFCA, and BuildStrong sent a letter of endorsement for H.R. 7070, the Wildfire Response Improvement Act. The bill directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources. Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures. It further directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water. And, it directs the FEMA Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods. Download the letter of endorsement.