Her agency can help with recovery of various areas by. Live coverage of this hearing on cspan three cspan3. As a reminder, please email it to documentsti mail. House. Gov. I want to thank our witness, the honorable. Is it deeann or deanna . For being here today. We are focusing on the current state of femas readiness, response, and recovery. Core mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters. Unfortunately, fema has added layers and adopted political agendas. The Biden Administration is imposing an agenda focused on Climate Change and equity which is diverging away from femas core mission. On august 28, the committee was alerted that the Disaster Relief fund would move to immediate needs funding until additional funds are appropriated. Federal reimbursements, recognized tribes for longterm disaster cover, projects are halted. Instead, the remaining balance is reserved for any Immediate Response activities. First asked fema in february. It is a long time ago now what it was going to do to avoid the drf running out of money since femas own monthly reports indicated the drf was projected to be depleted by now in september where we are. Fema provided no. Despite increase since we were not notified of the supplemental request until it was submitted to congress in august. Last month. And the request was tied to ukraines pending. In the wake of one of the deadliest fires in United States history, a supplemental request for additional disaster funding comes with Strings Attached to ukraine. Think about that in the audience if you are watching us. The american tax payer, the people that are suffering from disasters and somehow could not be bothered to discuss getting the drf refunded until august and it is tied to ukraine. I cannot reconcile that. I have overarching concerns about decisions being made. Domestic response activities tied to ukraine. We see fema under the administrations, significantly expanding its mitigation programs and ways that no longer require projects to demonstrate that they will, in fact, reduce cost or save lives. All in the name of equity and Climate Change. Female resources. Despite, fema being understaffed and obviously, underfunded. The Homeland Security act prohibits assets, functions, or mission for the continuing use of any other ghs organization unless assignments do not reduce the capability of fema to performance missions. Your agencies cannot be followed that law. That is concerning to me. Fema has a capacity problem and every diversion of resources undermined stability perform core missions. Confirmed this capacity issue at a hearing earlier. We know in response to letters from chairman graves that the key fema personnel have been diverted by the secretary to assist with bringing people into the country illegally. Femas emergency food and Shelter Program originally created to help americans is now become a program to pay for illegal foreign nationals. Residing in our communities and in our cities. I may disagree with many of my colleagues on the role of the federal government and what it should play when it comes to disasters but regardless, fema should not be used to advanced partisan policy objectives in fema resources should not be diverted for other purposes unrelated to its mission. Ultimately, all of this impacts readiness and ability to respond to disasters happening across our country from the maui wildfires to hurricane natalia and multiple flooding events. We can debate the role of the federal government but at the very least, we need to ensure fema is focused on its core mission. That is the one thing that this congress and signed into law. I look forward to hearing from you today. I now recognize the Ranking Member for five minutes for an opening statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, administrator criswell for joining us today as we discussed femas ability to lead Disaster Response and recovery. Since her testimony to the last year, Climate Change and Severe Weather instances have continued to generate dire circumstances that your agencies have had to deal with. That Disaster Relief fund, as a result and serves as the backbone is nearing depletion. It is utmost important that congress feel the president s request for supplemental funding. We should do that free of any poison and try to impose social policy into this area. That is the only way that fema can continue to provide the necessary resources for ongoing Recovery Efforts like we are seeing and malley in florida. We are likely to see even more emerge in the near future as we are into hurricane season. I appreciate your steadfast leadership of fema during this difficult time. My home state of nevada has experienced some impacts of Climate Change. Take time to think fema people and Emergency Response managers in my state for their Rapid Response to the extreme weather that communities, especially in southern nevada. You do not think about having a hurricane in the desert but indeed, we saw that across Southern California and some of its impact into the southern part of nevada. We also had unrelenting heat and we know that heat is a threat like other Natural Disasters that need to be undressed and we had repeated flashed letting. A channel that can be tried for years and suddenly become a rushing river. Will cause the successors to get worse in the coming years. As we Work Together with about a communities, i think this demonstrates one of the priorities of the administration which is in all of government approach. In addition to all of government, we think equity is important. We think Solutions Must guarantee that all disaster survivors and communities are created in treated fairly by these programs and these programs are addressed regardless of the neighborhood. Natural disasters amplify existing disparities in our society. It should go without saying is here to address the needs. As we try to respond these kinds of crisis. The subcommittee has received considerable testimony from underserved communities about their frustration of how they seem to be ignored, how much time it takes, and they are not in a position to get additional funding and we need to be sure that fema addresses that. I know that you recognize these standing disparities and you have been working with us to try to address them. We appreciate your work to implement new laws and policies that will have these longterm benefits all across the board. I especially appreciate and value your public support for reforms. Congressman. This is the disaster provider fairness act. We passed out of the full committee unanimously earlier this year. I would like to see it come forward because it was unanimous. It was designed. More accessible to survivors. It can contribute to some of the problems at the chairman without making it more efficient and effective. It removes barriers by creating a universal application and it empowers the agency to assist home damage more fairly, more quickly, and more accurately. This should ease the burden on families applying for Disaster Assistance and we hope to see it pass because these are the worst times in their lives and that is the least there government can do. Administrator, i think you and your colleagues for the work youve done to sheppard fema in a positive direction. I think you have done that by acknowledging Climate Change, prioritizing equity which we think is important and investing in mitigation. We recognize the challenges you face and we want to do everything we can help you. We know that that fund needs to be replenished. Thank you for being here. Chair, we recognize the chairman of the full committee. Chairman graves for five minutes for his opening statement. Thank you, administrator for being here today. On a bipartisan basis, the committee and this subcommittee in particular have worked to improve fema and the federal governments Emergency Management system. I am proud to be one of the co chairs of team is preparedness month which helps the American People and what they can do to be prepared. Femas role is critical and we have had recent planning and tornadoes in my district and it is important for fema to work quickly and closely with the state Emergency Management agencies and local responders. Last month on august 4th, and ef 2 tornado ripped through the city of bearing in knox county, missouri in my district. Governor parson submitted a federal disaster declaration on september 6th. I hope that fema will work swiftly and efficiently to approve this declaration to the people of missouri can continue to recover. I also hope that many of the reforms we have passed in my time on the committee is going to help her move a lot of unnecessary bureaucratic lessees as we move through the recovery process. I look forward to hearing with the administrator has to say today and other Critical Issues as we prepare for and to respond to disasters all across this country. With that, german barry . Thank you. Recognize the full committee for his opening statement. Thank you. It will be an opportunity today to discuss the many challenges fema is facing due to a busy disaster season and strategies to overcome the challenges. Climate change is making disasters more frequent, intense, and costly. Noah announced a troubling new record this month that in 2023, the u. S. Is experiencing a Record Number of disaster events with losses exceeding 1 billion. 23 separate events with each of those events exceeding 1 billion. Disaster season is far from over so this figure is bound to grow. The intensity of this years disaster season is rapidly distributing the Disaster Relief fund. I am very concerned about the lack of funding available to fight these disasters and impact on femas authorized programs. In the wake of wildfires, fema announced implementation of immediate needs funding last month to save what little money fema has left. Obligating funds for direct aid to survivors and actions that immediately save life and property. The result is all of the recovery projects such as rebuilding roads, bridges, and schools are on hold indefinitely. Fema had to put out 1610 recovery and mitigation projects on hold impacting nearly every state in every community in our country. The current state of the Disaster Relief fund is not femas fault, however. To provide enough funding. If the Congress Works together in a bipartisan manner to replenish the drf as soon as possible so that fema can continue to fill its mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters. However, addressing the billiondollar disaster requires more than just adding money to the drf. Needs to adapt a strategy for an evolving world so it can provide an adequate response each time the disaster was declared. Deputy administrator hooks briefed us earlier this year on current efforts outlined in femas Strategic Plan to address that. I appreciate the time that regional administrator in 10 took with my staff in Washington State. The exercise was very informative and facilitated connections. It is something that i would encourage other members to do in the regions with their Regional Directors to better understand congresss role in responding to disasters. There is always more work to be done. With more than 50 increase in storms and disasters in the last 10 years, fema must use science to incorporate into all of its programs. In order to address modern, Natural Disasters, we need to expand mitigation and increase resilience. Overwhelming evidence shows that medications common sense, costeffective waves save life and property. Support expanding funding and access in these projects. And we need to leverage all the resilience funding provided by the bipartisan. This landmark legislation included a 7 Million Investment for Disaster Mitigation programs would make it possible for fema to support the largest notice of funding opportunities in the building resilience infrastructure and Communities Program. The largest dentistry and funded the new Storm Program. New authorities provided by legislation such as davids Community Disaster resilient zones act, we will also have the target funding to the communitys greatest need and highest risk, Natural Disasters. We have to ensure all minis have equal opportunities to access these vital funds. Simplifying the benefit cost analysis requirement. More needs to be done to ensure the nations readiness by incorporating to change productions in all of femas programs. To make access of predisaster. Administrator, you have a difficult job. I want to thank you for the work that you do and what your team does and what they have done under your leadership. Your dedication and service to communities throughout the country is well noted and we need to do our job in supporting femas efforts to ensure more equitable outcomes and boarding more resilient nations. I look forward to discussing how we can drive these reforms and help fema achieve its goals. Thank you for being here. Let forward to your testimony. Gentleman from washington, i would like to thank our witness and thank you for spending your time with us today. I know you are busy and we appreciate your presence. Briefly, i would like to take a moment to explain our system to you. There are three lights in front of you. Green means go, yellow means you are running out of time, and red means to conclude your remark. It actually means you shouldve already concluded your remark. I ask unanimous consent that the witnesses will statement be included in the record without objection so ordered. If your written testimony has been written made part of the official record, the subcommittee asks that you limit your oral remarks to five minutes, maam. With that, administrator criswell, you are recognized for five minutes for your testimony and statement. Thank you, chairman perry and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss the state of fema. Fema has a powerful Mission Statement spelled out in just seven words. Helping people before, during, and after disasters. That Mission Statement is our northstar and it reflects a deep and abiding commitment of our workforce to public service. And i can say without hesitation that our mission that fema has become more challenging. We could no longer really speak of a disaster season from atmospheric rivers in january two tornadoes and wildfires in december, we now face intensified Natural Disasters throughout the year, often in places not used to experiencing that. In just the last several months alone, we have seen disasters ranging from record flooding in vermont to the deadliest wildfire in over a century on the island of maui to the first Tropical Cyclone to make landfall in california since 1938. It is therefore vital that fema be able to tap into a properly funded Disaster Relief fund. We strive to be vigilant stewards of the taxpayer dollar and we are careful in our budget addictions. However, there are times when disasters outpace our appropriated funds and we are in such a moment today. The administration has requested a package that includes 16 million for the Disaster Relief fund and i urge congressional approval of this request and the administrations as soon as possible. On august 29, fema implemented funding for the First Time Since 2017. Under inf, we are prioritizing lifesustaining Disaster Responses in delaying obligations for longerterm work. As a result, we have needed the pause obligations to over 1000 public assistance projects across the country worth over 1. 5 billion. You all have my commitment that fema will move quickly to resume obligations paused as soon as the drf is replenished and Congress Must act today without delaying. To be effective, fema requires not only funding but a well trained workforce ready to deploy at a moments notice. The vast majority of our 22,000 person workforce are resurfaced. I think this committee and congress for passing the crew act last year, which expended to job protections. This law is improving our intention efforts. Fema is constantly working to improve the technology our programs use. After Hurricane Ian impacted florida, we implemented a rapid debris task force that used a combination of satellite, flyover, and on the ground data to identify areas where the debris was particularly concentrated and cleared 19 million cubic yards of debris. Enough to fill more than 5800 olympic size swimming pools within six weeks across the hardest hit areas. This was months faster than we have been able to do previously. We are also using Remote Sensing technology in maui to match homes listed in our individual assistance program. The survivors case information is shared with our housing inspectors who can reach out to survivors without requiring their destroyed homes. You will continue to Leverage Techno