Right Now in Washington
Spring has sprung here in Washington and the 113th Congress is well underway tackling major homeland security and emergency management priorities. After a hectic few months of the year, the major take-away seems to be that the “new normal” is far from routine. The major economic losses from Hurricane Sandy last November threw a wrench into the budget process requiring a disaster supplemental and reform legislation that became a critical opportunity to address key emergency management issues. Due to the delay from FY13, the President’s FY2014 budget request was delivered to Congress in early April. Capitol Hill wasted no time scheduling budget hearings to discuss the request and outline their priorities for development of Appropriations bills over the coming weeks. The NEMA Legislative Summary of the FY2014 Budget Request can be found here.
Now that the dust has settled from the 2012 elections, Congressional Committees have taken shape with many new faces on committees with homeland security and emergency management jurisdiction. Without an election to distract lawmakers, key priorities like cybersecurity, program authorizations, and grant reform will likely get attention during committee meetings and markups. NEMA looks forward to providing input on issues affecting our members and we look forward to engaging State emergency management stakeholders as the year progresses.
Grant Reform Initiative:
After more than 6 months of meetings, conference calls, and over 20 drafts, we are very pleased to finally be able to provide you the final product of NEMA's effort to examine the suite of homeland security and emergency management grants. This effort was spurred by our desire to provide a response more than "please don't cut funding" to these grants in this time of austerity while also providing some potentially positive changes. Please do not hesitate to contact us as you review this proposal.
View NEMA's Grants Reform Proposal to House and Senate Appropriators
Follow-up Letter to FEMA's Grants Programs Directorate, April 9, 2012
Current Reports:
NEMA Report on EMPG Return on Investment, March 5, 2012
NEMA Report to Congress on Homeland Security Grant Program
Recent Testimony:
Outside Witness Testimony for Senate Appropriations, April 19, 2012
2013 Appropriations and State and Local Grants by Jim Mullen, March 7, 2012
FEMA Reauthorization and Recovery Testimony by Jerome Hatfield, July 14, 2011
A State and Local Perspective on Emergency Management Testimony by Nancy Dragani, June 10, 2011
Earthquake Preparedness Written Statement to House Science, Space, & Transportation, April 7, 2011
D-Block Statement for the Record to House Committee on Homeland Security, March 30, 2011
Letters to Congress and the Administration:
Letter from 9 associations to House and Senate Leadership regarding cybersecurity
Letters to House and Senate Appropriators regarding fiscal year 2012 funding
Bill Analyses and Legislative Reports:
Analysis of the Preisdent's 2014 Budget Request
NEMA Legislative Priorities for 2013
NEMA Legislative Priorities for 2012
2012 Mid Year Forum Legislative Update
Analysis of the President's 2013 Budget Request
