Memorandum
Date: September 9, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Jessica Pyska, District 5 Supervisor
Subject: Approve Letter of Support for the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669)
Executive Summary:
On September 3, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted 57-3 to advance the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669). The strong vote of support reflects a broad recognition in Congress that the federal disaster response and recovery system needs urgent reform. The legislation, sponsored by Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), aims to streamline FEMA's operations, reduce bureaucratic delays, and empower state and local governments to play a stronger role in emergency management. It should be noted that Congressman Mike Thompson is a cosponsor of the bill.
Restoring FEMA as a Cabinet-Level Agency
One of the most significant provisions restores FEMA to Cabinet-level status, making the agency directly accountable to the president. This structural change is intended to streamline decision-making, elevate FEMA's voice within the executive branch, and improve interagency coordination during large-scale disasters. A similar effort is underway in the Senate, where Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have introduced companion legislation (S. 1246).
Improving Recovery and Cutting Red Tape
The bill makes major changes to FEMA's Public Assistance program. Under current practice, local governments must front the cost of repairs and wait for a reimbursement from the federal government, a process that can take years. The FEMA Act would replace this model with more predictable, project-based grants. This change is especially important for smaller communities, like Lake County, where limited budgets make it difficult to carry large recovery costs while awaiting repayment.
The legislation also creates new financial incent...
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