Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – A House bill to provide the most robust legislative reforms of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and federal disaster assistance programs in decades is garnering the support of numerous emergency management stakeholders.

Tomorrow – Tuesday September 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET) – the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a markup to consider the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669).  The FEMA Act was introduced on July 23^rd by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO); Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA); former Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee lead Republican Daniel Webster (R-FL); and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Ranking Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ).

The FEMA Act is based on feedback the Committee received from Members of Congress and the emergency management stakeholder community after Graves and Larsen released a discussion draft of the bill in May.  

The legislation streamlines the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs while also making FEMA a cabinet-level agency once again that is directly accountable to the President.  In addition, the bill rewards effective state and local preparedness, protects taxpayers, cuts red tape, and ensures that relief efforts are fast, fair, and free from political bias.

Many stakeholders have expressed their support for H.R. 4669, including the following:

Appalachian Flood Policy Coalition: “We appreciate many provisions in the bill that will help hardworking communities across Appalachia who are increasingly vulnerable to extreme rainfall. Over the last decade thousands of families have been impacted by federally declared flooding disasters across central Appalachia….” (Read the full letter)

American Coastal Coalition: “The comprehensive reforms proposed in H.R. 4669 will streamline disaster recovery, accelerate the repair of critical infrastructure, and ensure more responsive and equitable support for coastal communities impacted by storms and flooding. Provisions in this bill will expedite public assistance, modernize permitting and hazard mitigation programs, and create a more transparent and accountable FEMA. These reforms will significantly reduce the cost and complexity of recovery while improving outcomes for local governments and disaster victims alike.” (Read the full letter)

American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA): “We commend the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure for prioritizing this proposal, which is among the most significant overhauls of FEMA, federal disaster assistance, and proactive resilience programs in decades. If enacted, this proposal would transform our broken federal disaster recovery system, help survivors get back on their feet faster and ensure that communities across the country can rebuild expeditiously while increasing resilience to future disasters.” (Read the full letter)

American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA): “APCIA encourages the Committee to advance this important bipartisan bill, which will preserve the lifesaving work, property loss mitigation, and post-disaster recovery work that FEMA does.” (Read the full letter)

American Public Power Association (APPA): “APPA believes that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plays a key role in disaster preparation, response, and recovery…. However, as Chairman Graves has correctly pointed out, all too often disaster mitigation, response, and recovery is hindered as communities are forced to navigate a maze of complicated rules, conflicting timelines, and mountains of burdensome paperwork.” (Read the full letter)

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): “ASCE is pleased to see an emphasis on cutting red tape and speeding relief funding, while preserving the unique and critical role the federal government must play during disaster response. The major disaster response system is a complex, multi-layered approach involving federal, state, and local agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector.” (Read the full letter)

Disaster Recovery Coalition of America: “This is a much‑needed step toward faster, smarter disaster recovery. After disaster strikes, the road to repair depends on those with the skills to rebuild. The FEMA Act of 2025 helps ensure disaster recovery professionals can do what they do best—help communities rebuild safely and efficiently.” (Read the full press release)

International Association of Emergency Managers, National Emergency Management Association, Big City Emergency Managers, and BuildStrong America: “The FEMA Act represents a significant step forward in strengthening our nation’s emergency management enterprise by reinforcing the mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), clarifying its authorities, and ensuring it has the tools and resources needed to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters of all types. We believe the Act’s provisions—especially those enhancing coordination with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners—will improve national resilience and better serve the American people.” (Read the full letter)

Large Public Power Council (LPPC): “We appreciate your leadership in advancing thoughtful reforms that reflect the experiences and recommendations of emergency management stakeholders across the country…. H.R. 4669 includes meaningful reforms to streamline federal recovery programs, reduce administrative inefficiencies, and empower state and local entities to rebuild communities more effectively.” (Read the full letter)

Montana Emergency Managers Association (MEMA): “As the leading voice for emergency management professionals across our state, MEMA strongly believes this bipartisan legislation represents the most significant reform of FEMA and federal disaster assistance programs in decades. MEMA applauds the Act’s key provisions to restore FEMA’s independence and cabinet-level status, ensuring direct accountability to the President and empowering the Administrator to coordinate a unified, government-wide disaster response. By streamlining federal programs, cutting unnecessary red tape, and rewarding effective state and local preparedness, H.R. 4669 will enable our communities to recover faster and more cost-effectively following disasters.” (Read the full letter)

National Association of Counties (NACo): “Counties are the nation’s frontline responders during disasters – providing emergency services, clearing debris, operating shelters and managing long-term recovery. Yet we often face an overly bureaucratic and delayed federal process that slows our ability to deliver timely support to residents and rebuild critical infrastructure. The FEMA Act directly addresses these barriers.” (Read the full letter)

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): “The National Association of Home Builders commends Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for introducing H.R. 4669, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025. This legislation includes the bipartisan Promoting Resilient Buildings Act, which provides important building code flexibility for certain FEMA programs and establishes a pilot program to retrofit existing homes—both measures that reflect NAHB’s commitment to advancing practical resiliency solutions. By focusing on cost-effective, market-driven resiliency strategies, this bill will deliver meaningful improvements for builders, homeowners and renters in communities across the country.”

National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC): “The FEMA Act of 2025 includes numerous positive reforms to enhance stability, expertise, transparency, accountability, uniformity, coordination, and speed of disaster response. We are further encouraged by your continued commitment to incorporating modern approaches for stronger and safer building to reduce risk in cost-effective ways that protect individuals, families, and communities from natural hazards. Re-thinking FEMA’s role and operations to prioritize mitigation will mean fewer homes destroyed by catastrophes – which, in turn, means more stability for families, communities, and markets.” (Read the full letter)

National League of Cities (NLC): “On behalf of the National League of Cities (NLC) and the 19,000 cities, towns and villages across the country, we commend your bipartisan leadership in introducing the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669)…. Ensuring that cities, towns and villages have the tools, resources and timely support to prepare for, respond to and recover from all types of disasters is essential to the safety and resilience of communities.” (Read the full letter)

National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC): “In the past, disaster survivors have often been prevented from accessing lifesaving assistance due to bureaucratic hurdles. Without this assistance, they face higher housing costs, displacement from their communities, and, at worst, homelessness. Removing these barriers via the ‘FEMA Act of 2025’ would help ensure that disaster survivors can fully recover while remaining in their homes and their communities.” (Read the full letter)

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): “When disaster strikes, electric cooperatives are regularly on the front lines working to restore power in some of the hardest hit areas. FEMA is a critical partner in these efforts. Reforming FEMA into a stronger, more responsive agency will help strengthen rural resilience, protect taxpayer dollars and ensure essential services are restored as quickly as possible after a disaster.” (Read the full press release)

Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies: “The bill, as drafted, will restore FEMA as an independent agency reporting directly to the president as a cabinet-level agency, eliminating wasteful bureaucracy. It will lengthen the amount of time FEMA can assist disaster-impacted households, which has proven to be a barrier for disabled people. Importantly to the disability community, it will create a common disaster assistance program and will require FEMA to create clear notices that are understandable about FEMA eligibility. Finally, it will remove penalties for people who utilize crowdfunding sources to help defray disaster expenses. These will all make FEMA more accessible to disabled disaster survivors and their families.” (Read the full letter)

More information about the FEMA Act is available here.