On September 25, 2024, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2024 (S. 4900). The bill passed out of committee overwhelmingly by a vote of 14-1. The Investing in Community Resilience Act aims to reduce the financial burden of disasters on local communities, enhance individual and community preparedness, and promote participation in federally-supported resilience programs.
S. 4900 would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by expanding the types of pre-disaster resilience measures that FEMA may incentivize state or Tribal governments to adopt. FEMA may recognize such resilience investments through an increased federal cost-share from the standard 75% federal cost-share up to 85% for post-disaster public assistance restoration and repair projects and associated expenses.
The Investing in Community Resilience Act has been endorsed by 73 organizations. (Read One-Pager | View Full Text)