Could FEMA overhaul legislation (HR 5441) finally see light at the end of the tunnel?

On September 15, 2006 agreement to keep the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the Homeland Security Department was reached between House and Senate negotiators after months of discussions. Under this latest deal, there would be a system of FEMA regional offices equipped with "strike teams" ready and able to respond quickly to disasters. In addition to a funding increase for the Agency, there would also be a newly created National Advisory Council to allow state and local first-responders to advise FEMA before, during, and after a disaster.

HR 5441, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, includes FEMA-related provisions dealing with:

• administrative and regional operations costs
• readiness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities
• necessary expenses in carrying out provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)
• funding for flood map modernization
• expenses under the National Flood Insurance Fund and the National Flood Mitigation Fund

This legislation is expected to go to a conference committee within a week, and if agreement is reached quickly (as expected by Hill watchers), HR 5441 could reach President Bush's desk around the beginning of October. For the current status of this bill, go to Thomas at http://thomas.loc.gov/, "search by bill text," and put in HR 5441.