U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., helped get a proposal from U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., “to help expedite disaster recovery efforts, particularly in small and rural areas” through Congress.
Graves brought out the “Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster (SPEED) Recovery Act” in October 2021 with the support of Webster and some top Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oreg., who chairs the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who chairs the U.S. House Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“The Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster (SPEED) Recovery Act updates the threshold for what qualifies as a ‘small project’ under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (or the Stafford Act). This update will allow more recovery projects to proceed under simplified procedures and in turn streamline the process and paperwork for many projects, reduce administrative burdens, and provide more certainty in the recovery process for communities,” Webster’s office noted.
“By far, most disaster recovery projects in the United States are relatively small, and there’s no need to force individuals trying to recover and rebuild to navigate the same procedures as larger, more complex projects,” said Graves when the bill was introduced. “The SPEED Recovery Act cuts red tape for smaller projects and will speed recovery in many of our communities, especially rural communities, that have been hit by disasters.”
“After disaster strikes, local communities need the federal government to act as a partner in helping them recover and rebuild,” said DeFazio. “This bipartisan legislation will help make sure that FEMA isn’t a hindrance to these efforts and that states, Tribal, territorial, and local governments can be reimbursed more quickly for projects that will help communities get back on their feet.”
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and the Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM) are all backing the bill.
The bill cleared the U.S. House in April on a 414-11 vote with every member of the Florida delegation backing it. The U.S. Senate passed an amendment version last month with no opposition, bouncing the bill back to the House last week which passed it again.
“The passage of this legislation could not come at a more critical time,” Webster said last week. “I’ve heard from communities in my district about the paperwork burdens and increasing denials over technicalities, and I hope the commonsense adjustments in this bill will improve the process. With Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida, it’s vital that our disaster recovery efforts deliver expedited relief to communities in need.”
“The SPEED Recovery Act will streamline the process to provide Floridians, particularly those in rural communities with small projects, with speedier disaster recovery assistance,” he added.
