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U.S. Government Affairs CommitteE
news archives 2006
 President Bush Signs U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (10/04/06)
Conference Report on HR 5441 (DHS Appropriations for FY 2007 and FEMA Reform) Passes House and Senate: President to Sign Soon (09/29/06) On Sept. 29, the U.S. House and Senate cleared the Conference Report on HR 5441, which made appropriations for the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security for FY 2007 and included the FEMA reform bill. IAEM is pleased that EMPG was funded at $200 million and that the FEMA reform bill makes many changes to strengthen FEMA and start the restoration of an all-hazards National Emergency Management System.
Local Emergency Managers Applaud FEMA Reform Legislation in H.R. 5441 (09/26/06)
Ellis Stanley, Sr., CEM, IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee Vice-Chair, testified before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security on Sept. 7, on behalf of IAEM, on the topic of "Are We Prepared?" The prepared statement addressed funding issues, functional issues, and successful preparedness initiatives. Stanley stressed the need to increase funding for Emergency Management Performance Grants; discussed the key steps needed to strengthen federal emergency management at DHS; successful initiatives, such as EMAP, CEM, and EMAC; and strides in public-private preparedness initiatives. He also stressed the importance of state and local emergency managers having the opportunity to have significant, continual and meaningful participation in the policy development process.
DHS Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management, R. David Paulison; DHS Under Secretary for Preparedness George Foresman; U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen.
IAEM Government Affairs Committee Vice-Chair and Past IAEM President Ellis Stanley, CEM; NEMA President Bruce Baughman.
Chairman Gregg (R-NH)*, Senator Cochran (R-MS)*, Senator Shelby (R-AL), Senator Domenici (R-NM), Senator Allard (R-Co),
Ranking Member Byrd (D-WV)*, Senator Landrieu (D-LA)
*present during 2nd panel
- Ellis M. Stanley, Sr., CEM - General Manager, Emergency Preparedness Department, City of Los Angeles, California, and Vice-Chair of the IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee.
- Bruce Baughman - Director, Alabama State Emergency Management Agency, and President of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA).
- R. David Paulison - Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Other statements will be posted when available.
S. 3721, the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on August 3 is available on this link. This bill contains structural changes to FEMA as well as Stafford Act amendments. This Government Printing Office version of the bill has all the amendments made in the Aug. 3 Committee markup incorporated. You will notice that the bill has been changed to reflect the successful amendment of Sen. Coburn (R-OK) to maintain the name Federal Emergency Management Agency. Since the bill as marked up was a "substitute" for the bill as introduced, all the provisions after the enacting clause on page one to page 232 are lined through or "struck." Turn to page 232 to start your review of the current bill. If you have specific comments on this bill which you would like to provide to the IAEM Government Affairs Committee, please provide them to IAEM Policy Advisor Martha Braddock at braddock@iaem.com, note the page number and line number, and include your contact information. As of Aug. 8, it is anticipated that this bill will be considered on the Senate Floor the week of Sept. 11. However, that timetable is subject to change.
H.R. 5316, the RESPOND Act: Restoring Emergency Services to Protect Our Nation from Disasters Act of 2006, was approved by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 18 and by the House Committee on Government Reform on May 19. The RESPOND Act restores FEMA as an independent cabinet-level agency, strengthens FEMA, and creates a national system to improve emergency preparedness at all levels of government. As of May 25, the bill had 76 co-sponsors, including 8 of the 11 members of the House Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparations for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. press release
H.R. 5351, the National Emergency Management Reform and Enhancement Act of 2006, was approved by the House Committee on Homeland Security on May 18. The bill takes steps to improve communication and coordination at the federal, state and local levels; strengthen disaster preparedness and response capabilities nationwide; and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. FEMA remains in DHS, but preparedness is returned to FEMA. During an incident of national significance, the FEMA director becomes part of the Cabinet. As of May 25, the bill had 40 co-sponsors. press release.
 IAEM Legislative Alert: Contact Senators To Request Increase in EMPG Funding (06/22/06) On Tuesday, June 27, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security is scheduled to mark up H.R. 5441, the FY 07 Appropriations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On Thursday, June 29, the Full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up H.R. 5441.
Background: The President’s request for Fiscal Year 2007 was $170 million, a decrease from the $183.1 million appropriated by Congress last year. The House passed a bill that included $185 million. ($6 million was added in House Full Committee.) This is going to be a tough budget year, and it is important that the Senators’ offices hear from you again. Many of you made Senate contacts in March requesting that your Senators sign the letter being circulated by Senators Voinovich, Akaka, Collins and Lieberman, seeking to increase Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) to $235 million and asking that they include EMPG on their personal priority list. We were pleased that 41 Senators signed the letter. See a copy of the letter.
Action Requested: Contact your Senators’ Washington Offices as soon as possible. Download IAEM legislative alert, including tips on substance of contacts, whether established or new.
IAEM Legislative Alert: Upcoming House Vote on Whether FEMA Will Be Independent or Stay Within DHS (06/21/06) Over the past few months, as a service, we have informed our members about activity in Congress regarding the future status of FEMA. This alert is to advise you that next week – probably on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 – H.R. 5316, a bill with numerous provisions to strengthen FEMA, will be considered on the House Floor. There also will be a vote on an amendment to this bill to keep FEMA in DHS. This is a "watershed" moment for the future of emergency management in the United States; therefore, regardless of which position you take, we urge you to make your opinions known. Download IAEM legislative alert.
U.S. Government Affairs Committee Meeting, June 2006 (06/14/06)
The IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee met during the Mid-Year Meeting at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD. The committee held a full-day work session, during which open comments were received on several key bills in Congress. Participants also discussed possible Stafford Act Changes.
Kathleen Henning, CEM, IAEM Region 3 President, presented a report on the actions of the Citizens Corps Council and the impact of its future projects on IAEM members. Dalan Harris, NACo Legislative Specialist, discussed the issues that the National Association of Counties is working on and how they link with IAEM issues.
IAEM policy advisor Martha Braddock presented the various committee activities currently being conducted in Congress and how they are likely to impact the emergency management community. At the end of the day, individual working groups developed two position statements:
These position statements were presented to the IAEM Board by IAEM Government Affairs Committee Chairman Robert Bohlmann, CEM, and approved by the Board.
Individuals interested in working with the IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee are asked to contact IAEM Membership Director Sharon Kelly at info@iaem.com or Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, Committee Chairman, at rcbohlmann@co.york.me.us for more information. We are always seeking individuals who are willing to work with local Congressional staff members to enhance IAEM’s ability to provide accurate, timely information on issues impacting our profession.
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