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U.S. Government Affairs Committee
news archives 2007
Memorandum From IAEM Policy Advisor Martha Braddock With Update on FY 2008 Appropriations for U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (12/18/07)
Update on FY 2008 Appropriations for Department of Homeland Security (12/17/07) The House will consider, as early as Monday night, an Omnibus bill including the 11 unfinished Appropriations bills for FY 2008. The vehicle is HR 2764, the Appropriations Bill for the Department of State and Foreign Operations.
We have posted the DHS section of the Omnibus, which is Division E:
Division G of FY 08 Omnibus bill, Appropriations for the Departmens of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies:
PL 110-53 Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (08/03/07) IAEM Calls for Additional Work on the National Response Framework;
Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, Testifies on Readiness in the Post-Katrina and Post 9-11 World (09/11/07) IAEM
has issued a news release urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work with local and state emergency managers to fix
the National Response Framework (NRF). “IAEM believes that the NRF should serve as the over-arching
planning document that identifies the roles and responsibilities of all potential players and the methods by which
resources are requested and delivered at all levels,” stated Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, chairman of IAEM’s U.S.
Governmental Affairs Committee. “It is not rocket science – and it does not have to be 800 pages long. The draft NRF that we have reviewed appears to be more like a public relations document rather than a response plan or framework.” Bohlmann testified on Sept. 11 before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, on "Readiness in the Post Katrina and Post 9.11 World: An Evaluation of the New National Response Framework."
IAEM press release
Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, represented IAEM at the Sept. 11 hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on "Readiness in the Post Katrina and Post 9/11 World: An Evaluation of the New National Response Framework." Witnesses from left to right are: William L. Waugh, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of Public Administration, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University; Tim Manning, Chairman, Response and Recovery Committee, National Emergency Management Association, and Director, New Mexico Dept. of Homeland Security & Emergency Management; and Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee Chair, Emergency Management & Homeland Security Director for York County, Maine. Also on the panel was Paul N. Stockton, Senior Research Scholar, Center for International Security and Cooperation, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University.
- Opening Statement by Full Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar ((D-MN)
- Opening Statement by Subcommittee Chair Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
- Opening Statement by Ranking Member U.S. Rep. Sam Graves
(R-MO)
- R. David Paulison,
Administrator,
Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
- Roger Rufe, Director of the Office of Operations Coordination, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
- Tim Manning, Chairman, Response and Recovery Committee, National Emergency Management Association, and Director, New Mexico Dept. of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
- Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee Chair, Emergency Management & Homeland Security Director for York County, Maine
- Paul N. Stockton,
Senior Research Scholar,
Center for International Security and Cooperation,
Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies,
Stanford University
- William L. Waugh, Jr., Ph.D.,
Professor of Public Administration,
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies,
Georgia State University
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, is pictured with Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, at the Sept. 11 hearing on "Readiness in the Post Katrina and Post 9/11 World: An Evaluation of the New National Response Framework."
President Bush Signs Bill Implementing Recommendations of 9/11 Commission (08/03/07) President George W. Bush on Aug. 3 signed H.R. 1, "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007." (PL 110-53). Included in the 23 titles of this bill are authorization language on Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG), homeland security grants, interoperable communications, private sector preparedness, and strenghening the use of incident command.
Dewayne West, CEM, Testifies Before U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Behalf of IAEM and NACo (07/31/07) Dewayne West, CEM, Past IAEM President, testified on behalf of IAEM and NACo on July 31 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on "FEMA Preparedness in 2007 and Beyond."
Dewayne West, CEM, represented IAEM and NACo at the
July 31 U.S. House Oversight and Government Operations
Committee hearing on "FEMA Preparedness in 2007 and Beyond."
Witnesses from left to right are: Albert Ashwood, President of the National Emergency Management Association; Christopher Geldart, Director, Office of National Capitol Region Coordination; Dewayne West, CEM, Past IAEM President; Darrell Darnell, Director, District of Columbia Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency; and Kathleen Tierney, Director, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado-Boulder.
The hearing focused on the changes FEMA has undergone and not undergone in order to ensure that the federal government is prepared for and ready to respond to the next catastrophic disaster. The hearing also examined the disaster preparedness roles for other relevant agencies within federal, state, and local government.
Download Dewayne West's testimony. Testimony of the other witnesses is provided below:
- Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Rep. Tom Davis,
Ranking Republican Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Mr. R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Major General Terry Scherling, Director of the Joint Staff, National Guard Bureau
- Mr. Matt Jadacki, Deputy Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security
- Mr. Albert Ashwood, Director, Oklahoma State Emergency Management Agency, President, National Emergency Management Association
- Mr. Christopher Geldart, Director, Office of National Capitol Region Coordination
- Mr. Darrell Darnell, Director, District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency
- Mr. William Jenkins, Director, Homeland Security & Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office
- Ms. Kathleen Tierney, Director, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado-Boulder
Emergency Management Performance Grant Bill (HR 2775) approved by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (06/29/07) On June 28, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure marked up and ordered reported, HR 2775, a bill to amend the Stafford Act and authorize EMPG. There was no opposition, and the bill was ordered reported by voice vote. The bill codifies EMPG in the Stafford Act, maintains the current administration and allowable uses, and increases the authorization levels to $450 million for FY 2009, $500 million for FY 2010, and $550 for FY 2011. The bill also changes the cost share for emergency operations centers to 75-25 from the current 50-50. Supportive statements on the bi-partisan bill were made by Full Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), Subcommittee Chair Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO).
Update on U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Actions on Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations for DHS (06/22/07)
 IAEM Region 3 President Testifies at Briefing and Roundtable Discussion on Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for Children (06/20/07)
Update on Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations for DHS, H.R. 2638 (06/10/07) From Martha Braddock, IAEM Policy Advisor
H.R. 2638, a bill making appropriations for the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2008, was reported by the House Appropriations Committee and is expected to be considered on the House floor on Tuesday, June 12, 2007. The bill includes $300 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG). Download related documents here:
As of June 9, 2007, the Senate Subcommittee on Homeland Security is scheduled to markup on Wednesday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m., in Room 128 of the Capitol. The Full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to markup on June 14 at 2:00 p.m., in Room 106 of the Dirksen Building.
IAEM News Release: Maintaining Separate Identity of the National Weather Service Is Critical to Emergency Managers for Protection of Life (05/18/07)
IAEM President Testifies on "FEMA's Preparedness and Response to All Hazards" Before U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management (04/26/07) IAEM President Mike Selves, CEM, on Apr. 26 testified on "FEMA's Preparedness and Response to All Hazards" before Chairman Norton and the members of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Download Mike Selves' testimony. Also testifying were
Admiral Johnson, Deputy Director of FEMA; James Lee Witt; Craig Fugate, State Director of Florida; and representatives of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Sheriffs Association.
From left: Mike Selves, CEM, IAEM President;
James Lee Witt, Former Director of FEMA, and
CEO of James Lee Witt Associates; and
Craig Fugate, Director of Florida Division of
Emergency Management representing the
National Emergency Management Association,
testified as a panel before the U.S. Subcommittee on
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management on Apr. 26, 2007. The topic of the hearing
was “FEMA’s Preparedness and Response to All Hazards.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS
IAEM President Testifies Before U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security (03/09/07) IAEM President Mike Selves, CEM, on Mar. 9 testified before Chairman Price, Ranking Member Rogers, and other members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security at a hearing titled "Preparing for Disasters, Natural or Otherwise." Download Mike Selves' testimony. Selves was part of a panel of witnesses that also included: Bruce Baughman, Immediate Past President, National Emergency Management Association; Harold A. Schaitberger, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters; Chief James B. Harmes, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs; and Chief Jeff Cash, National Volunteer Fire Council, North Carolina State Director. A second panel of witnesses included: R. David Paulison, FEMA Director/DHS Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management, and William O. Jenkins, Jr., Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO.
IAEM President Mike Selves, CEM (left) with
IAFC President Chief James B. Harmes
following Mar. 9, 2007 hearing before U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
IAEM Issues Position Statement on Emergency Management Performance Grants (02/13/07) The Emergency Management Performance Grant Program should be maintained as a separate all-hazard program focused on capacity building for all-hazards preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation at the state and local levels. Read IAEM's recommendations.
DHS Budget in Brief (02/05/07) Especially note: pp. 61-71 FEMA summary information; p. 66-67 comparison chart and notes on FY 07 enacted and FY 08 request; pp. 68-71 new initiatives; and p. 13 of overview "Build a Nimble Effective Emergency Response System and Culture of Preparedness", one of Secretary's five priorities for FY 08.
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