FEMA Critical Staffing Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4992 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4992

To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use appropriated 
    funds to restore agency staffing levels, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 19, 2025

 Mr. Casar (for himself, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Amo, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. Hoyle 
of Oregon, Mr. Stanton, and Mr. Doggett) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use appropriated 
    funds to restore agency staffing levels, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``FEMA Critical Staffing Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Federal Emergency Management Agency supports 
        communities before disasters happen to help understand and 
        prepare for possible risks, during disasters to assist the 
        public and provide recovery centers, and after a disaster to 
        support recovery and mitigating future hazards; and
            (2) due to frequent climate change-fueled disasters like 
        winter wildfires, hail from thunderstorms, and hurricanes, the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency works year-round to support 
        communities across the United States.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL WEATHER MONITORING AND DISASTER RESPONSE WORKFORCE 
              LEVEL REQUIRE.

    Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act 
and notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or 
otherwise made to for the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall be 
used to reinstate to a position in the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency each individual who--
            (1) during the period beginning on January 20, 2025, and 
        ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, was 
        involuntarily separated from service in a position in the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
            (2) elects to be so reinstated.

SEC. 4. CONTINUATION OF AUTHORIZED FEMA PROGRAMS.

    (a) Requirements.--The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency--
            (1) shall continue to carry out any programs for which 
        funds have been appropriated that support State and local 
        efforts to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events; 
        and
            (2) may not make any changes to existing congressionally 
        mandated programs that will reduce access to extreme weather 
        resources.
    (b) Actions Required.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall--
            (1) immediately reinstate the Building Resilient 
        Infrastructure and Communities program (established pursuant to 
        section 203(i) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133(i))) and carry out any 
        project under such program for which funds have been made 
        available; and
            (2) immediately reinstate the flood mitigation assistance 
        program authorized under section 1366 of the National Flood 
        Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c) and carry out any 
        project for which funds have been made available under such 
        program.
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