Washington, DC - Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a slate of bipartisan measures during the first full Committee markup of the new year, including legislation to ensure people who are affected by disasters can promptly access critical assistance, legislation to prevent the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from taking back disaster assistance funds it has mistakenly awarded to victims, and legislation to incentivize the early completion of airport improvements.
“I’m proud that once again, members of our Committee have worked across the aisle to craft legislation that will help people in communities across our country, especially those adversely affected by disasters,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair DeFazio (D-OR). “This is exemplary of the kind of the work the T&I Committee is doing every day, and the kind of work that makes a real difference in the lives of the people we represent. I look forward to continuing this work with Ranking Member Graves and all members of the Committee.”
“The Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act will help ensure that disaster victims in North Missouri and across the country are not revictimized by the federal government. Following a disaster, FEMA should not be coming back weeks, months, or years later to take back disaster assistance money because the agency made a mistake,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), the lead sponsor of two bills approved by the Committee today. “The Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act will help deliver airport improvements ahead of schedule, and because time is money, preventing project delays can have the same kind of economic impact as added investment. I want to thank my colleagues that introduced those bills along with me, and the Chairman for working with Republican Members to move all of today’s important legislation.”
Legislation approved today:
- Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 2914, Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2019 (Rep. Espaillat)
- H.R. 4470, to rename the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (Rep. Kaptur)
- H.R. 5756, Resiliency Enhancement Act of 2020 (Rep. Plaskett)
- H.R. 5912, Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2020 (Rep. Graves)
- H.R. 5953, Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act (Reps. Graves, Huffman, LaMalfa, Thompson, Plaskett)
- H. Con. Res. 90, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition (Reps. Titus, Meadows)
In addition, the Committee approved 24 General Service Administration’s Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions; the FY2021 Budget Views and Estimates of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and procedural motions allowing for Rep. Katko (R-NY) to serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, replacing Rep. Meadows (R-NC). Rep. Meadows will continue to be a member of the Subcommittee.
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