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U.S. Government Affairs Committee
news archive 2008
 Fiscal Year 2009 U.S. Emergency Operations Center Grant Program Guidance Announced (16 Dec 2008) A total of $12,357,500 is available for competitive grants to eligible state, local, or tribal governments' principal EOCs. State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) apply on behalf of eligible applicants. Applications are due to SAAs on Feb. 6, 2009. Applications are due to DHS/FEMA from the SSAs on Feb. 27, 2009. A total of $34,002, 500 was appropriated as part of the FY 2009 Appropriations for DHS, as included in Public Law 110-329. Of that, $21,645,000 was earmarked by Members of Congress for specific EOCs. The list is included in the Guidance.
IAEM-USA Members Asked to Review FEMA's Revised "CPG-101 Producing Emergency Plans: A Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning for State, Territorial, Local and Tribal Governments" (10 Dec 2008) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking input from stakeholders (in particular, emergency managers) on the newly revised "CPG-101 Producing Emergency Plans: A Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning for State, Territorial, Local and Tribal Governments." The time frame for completing this review is very tight. Comments should be e-mailed to John "Rusty" Russell so that IAEM comments can be compiled into one master submission on behalf of IAEM.
IAEM-USA Council Leaders Met with President-Elect Obama’s Transition Team to Share IAEM-USA Requests in Regard to Issues of Importance to Local Emergency Managers
(08 Dec 2008) IAEM-USA Council leaders met with a representative of President-Elect Obama's transition team for FEMA/DHS. IAEM-USA was represented by IAEM-USA President Russ Decker, CEM, U.S. Government Affairs Committee Chair Randy Duncan, CEM, IAEM-USA Immediate Past President Larry Gispert, IAEM Executive Director Elizabeth Armstrong, MAM, CAE, and IAEM Policy Advisor Martha Braddock. IAEM provided a brief paper, IAEM-USA Requests for Consideration by the President-Elect.
At these meetings, the transition team members are in "listening mode," gathering information, not making statements. As part of the transition team policy of transparency, a list of the meetings held and a copy of the papers provided will be posted on the transition team Web site at www.change.gov under Your Seat at the Table.
FEMA Announces FY 2009 Grant Guidance for Over $3 Billion in Preparedness Grant Programs (11/05/08) The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Dept. of Homeland Security, today released Fiscal Year 2009 Application Guidance for 14 federal grant programs, including the Emergency Management Program Grants (EMPG). Grants totaling more than $3 billion are available in federal funding to assist state and local governments in strengthening community preparedness. For EMPG, the 25% requirement remains but it can be met by planning, training and exercises. Construction and renovation of EOCs are allowed with the same caps as the FY 2008 EOC grant program ($1 million for construction and $250,000 for renovation) and a 50-50 match.
DHS Appropriations Update (09/19/08) Chairman David Price filed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for FY 2009 last night. (FEMA specifics are on pages 41-55 of bill and 109-130 of report. PFO limiting language is Sec. 521 on p. 73 and p. 176.) It is possible that the House could consider it next week, or it could become the vehicle for a broader appropriations package. The Senate bill was previously reported but has not gone to the Floor. The House and Senate Committee bills and reports follow:
Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, IAEM U.S. Governmental Affairs Committee Chair, Testified Apr. 30 before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, in support of reauthorization of FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (04/30/08)The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program provides assistance on a competitve basis to states and localities to perform hazard mitigation projects. The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program sunsets on Sept. 30, 2008 unless reauthorized.
- Statement of The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
- Statement of The Honorable James L. Oberstar, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
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Statement of The Honorable Sam Graves, Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
- Statement on behalf of IAEM by Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, IAEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee Chair, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director for York County, Maine
- Statement of Brent Woodworth, Chairman and CEO of Global Crisis Services, Inc., and Chair of the Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC)
- Statement of James Mullen, Mitigation Chair, National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and Director, Washington State Emergency Division
- Statement of David I. Maurstad, Assistant Administrator and Federal Insurance Administrato,r Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security
Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, represented IAEM at the Apr. 30
hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on "Saving Lives and Money Through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program."
Pictured L-R are
Jim Mullen, Mitigation Chair, NEMA;
Brent Woodworth, Chair, Multihazard Mitigation Council; and
Bob Bohlmann, CEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee Chair, IAEM.
Bob Bohlmann, CEM U.S. Government Affairs Committee Chair,
IAEM, (left) with
Subcommittee Chairwoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jim Mullen, Mitigation Chair, NEMA,
at the Apr. 30 hearing on the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program.
Complete Information From DHS About Fiscal Year 2008 Emergency Management Peformance Grants (EMPG) (03/25/08)
IAEM President Larry J. Gispert Testified Mar. 13 Before U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security (03/13/08) President Gispert's statement is posted, and additional witness statements will be posted as available. Mar. 13 photo gallery.
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security FY 2009 Budget Provided to Congress (02/04/08)
IAEM Applauds the Revised National Response Framework (01/22/08) IAEM News Release | Photo Gallery: Press Conference
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released the National Response Framework (NRF), successor to the National Response Plan. The NRF, which focuses on response and short-term recovery, articulates the doctrine, principles and architecture by which the United States prepares for and responds to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities. The NRF is being released following an extensive process of outreach and coordination between DHS and key stakeholders representing federal, tribal, state and local governments, non-governmental agencies and associations, and the private sector.
IAEM First Vice President Russ Decker, CEM, participated in the DHS roll-out of the revised National Response Framework at the National Press Club. Decker stated, "We are extremely pleased with the final National Response Framework (NRF) product. It is apparent that our counterparts in Washington were listening and genuinely interested in addressing the issues raised by local emergency managers. As result of the improved process, we believe the NRF is a document that local emergency managers will find very useful. This is the greatest compliment a local official can give a Federal document. We get many documents from Washington that go on a shelf, but this one will actually be used. We appreciated being included in the process and look forward to a continued dialogue on this and other issues."
DHS documents released at Jan. 22 press conference:
IAEM Polls U.S. Members on Uses of Emergency Management Performance Grants (01/03/08) EMPG has been underfunded for many years. In the past few years, the U.S. Congress has been very responsive to our efforts and that of our partners to increase this critical funding. The funding increased from $165 million in FY 2004 to $180 million in FY 2005. It remained at $180 million in FY 2006 and increased to $200 million in FY 2007 (plus a $50 million FY 2007 Supplemental) and increased to $300 million for FY 2008. As we prepare for the FY 2009 Appropriations effort, we need information from those of you who receive EMPG. We need more information on what you are able to accomplish because of this funding. Please download and complete the questionnaire, and e-mail it to MSBraddock@aol.com, RDuncan@sedgwick.gov, and
Jessica.leifeld@NDSU.edu by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, Mar. 5, 2008.
~ Download IAEM EMPG Questionnaire Here ~
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