REFERENCE TITLE: FEMA recovery policy; urging Congress

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

HCM 2010

Introduced by Representatives Descheenie: Andrade, Espinoza, Rubalcava

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

urging the united states congress to amend FEMA Recovery Policy 9525.2 by increasing the in‑kind contribution limits.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security; and

Whereas, FEMA's stated mission is to "support [the citizens of the United States] and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards"; and

Whereas, FEMA's public assistance grant program (PA program) provides federal assistance to state, tribal and local governments so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters and emergencies; and

Whereas, under the PA program, when an emergency is called by the state, the federal government will cover 75% of the eligible costs and the recipient is expected to cover the other 25% of the eligible costs, and when an emergency is called by the federal government, the federal government will cover 90% of the eligible costs and the recipient is expected to cover the other 10% of the eligible costs; and

Whereas, under FEMA Recovery Policy 9525.2, a recipient of grant monies may contribute toward its portion of the eligible costs using in‑kind contributions, including volunteer labor, donated equipment and donated materials; and

Whereas, currently, the maximum amount of permitted in-kind contributions is 33% of the recipient's 25% obligation when an emergency is called by the state and 11% of the recipient's 10% obligation when an emergency is called by the federal government; and

Whereas, smaller rural communities often have an excess of in-kind contributions but do not have the financial capacity to cover their share of eligible costs.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1.  That the United States Congress act to amend FEMA Recovery Policy 9525.2 to allow grant recipients to pay for their share of eligible costs with 100% in-kind contributions.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit a copy of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.