FEMA as a Cabinet-Level Agency?

In a vote on September 3rd the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act. Basically, it makes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) a cabinet-level agency and — if it passes the House and eventually the Senate — FEMA would be under the direct oversight of the president.

The legislation is a bipartisan push by Washington State Democrat Rep. Rick Larsen and Missouri Republican Rep. Sam Graves.

“The FEMA Act is designed to address one simple fact that we all recognize, especially Americans who have been impacted by disasters: FEMA is not working the way it should for our communities," Graves said.

The bill will help states invest in mitigation efforts and put together rainy day funds, and gets a definite thumbs up from Jimi Grande, the senior vice president of federal and political affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

“Insurance is built on the promise of being there for policyholders when they need it most, and sound emergency management is absolutely essential for insurers to help the victims of natural disasters begin the recovery process as quickly as possible,” Grande said.

Source link: Insurance Business America — https://bit.ly/4prtlDi