Disaster Relief And Summer Jobs Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

Disaster Relief And Summer Jobs Act Of 2010

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Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4899, the ``Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010''. I strongly support this bill which, as requested by the President, appropriates an additional $5.1 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to support ongoing disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation efforts, and to ensure that our Nation is adequately prepared in the event of future disasters.

The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) provides the funding for the Federal Government's activities to help communities respond to, recover from, and mitigate major disasters and emergencies declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act).

Last month, due to diminishing funds, FEMA announced that the agency was forced to limit expenditures from the DRF. In some cases, FEMA has completely suspended reimbursements to State and local governments for reconstruction projects for facilities damaged or destroyed by recent disasters. FEMA has also slowed the issuance of reimbursements for critical post-disaster hazard mitigation projects, which help communities, build better after a disaster to protect against future damage.

For example, FEMA has stopped funding projects to make repairs from facilities damaged in last Spring's flooding in my home State of Minnesota. Specifically, Federal funding is being held up for repairs to a building at Concordia College and for road repairs in Becker County, Lien Township and Gully Township.

Delays in providing reimbursements to States and local governments will necessarily slow the pace of recovery and mitigation projects, as most States do not have the flexibility in these difficult economic times to move ahead without a guarantee of when Federal funds will become available. Inadequate funding in the DRF, therefore, impedes the rapid recovery of communities across the country from devastating disasters and inhibits the job creation and economic stimulus that these projects provide.

If Congress does not act to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund, FEMA will be unable to respond to future disasters once the fund is depleted. This is particularly troubling because the National Weather Service has issued a warning that there is a high, or above average, risk of flooding this spring in much of the country. As one example, the Nation has watched carefully the situation in North Dakota and my home state of Minnesota, as the Red River crested over the weekend. It appears that major flooding has thankfully been avoided in large parts of the two States along the Red River for the time being. However, the risk of flooding remains and serves as an example of what other parts of the country may encounter in the coming months.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure authorizes and oversees FEMA's disaster programs under the Stafford Act. Members of my Committee know first hand the devastation that a disaster can wreak on a community and the importance of a swift, effective Federal response. Through oversight and legislation, the Committee has been working to improve FEMA's operations and provision of disaster assistance. Without adequate funding in the DRF, however, FEMA will not be able to carry out any of its critical missions or functions.

On March 12, 2010, I wrote to Speaker Pelosi in support of the President's request for a supplemental appropriation for the Disaster Relief Fund and urging swift action to replenish the Fund. I would like to thank the Speaker and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. OBEY), Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, for bringing this bill before the House today. Their dedication to this issue affirms the importance of the DRF and underscores the urgency of ensuring its solvency.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4899.

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