Fema Caseworker Accountability Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5343) to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report to Congress on case management personnel turnover, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5343

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act''. SEC. 2. REPORT ON STAFF TURNOVER.

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing--

(1) the turnover rate for case management personnel of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(2) the average and median length of employment for the personnel described in paragraph (1);

(3) the steps that the Agency is taking, or plans to take, to lower the rate of turnover for the personnel described in paragraph (1);

(4) the number of personnel of the Agency that is detailed to work disaster recovery and then return to such personnel's full time assignment after a disaster, disaggregated by full- time, part-time, temporary, and contract personnel; and

(5) the average time and median length of the rotations of personnel described in paragraph (4) and how often rotations and reassignment of personnel occur for each disaster recovery position and function, disaggregated by full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract personnel.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. 5343, as amended.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5343. This bill addresses the high rate of turnover for disaster case management personnel at FEMA.

FEMA's case management personnel are critical to the disaster recovery process. They help survivors access basic needs such as housing, childcare, and transportation assistance.

This legislation requires FEMA to provide a report to Congress with data on case management personnel turnover and any Agency plans to reduce turnover.

I urge my colleagues on both sides to join with me and support this legislation.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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