FEMA Announcement
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:40 am
Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory
December 7, 2011
FEMA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO ALLOW TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO DIRECTLY APPLY FOR FEDERAL DISASTER AID
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate announced today the Administration’s support for a legislative change to the Stafford Act to permit federally recognized Tribal governments to make disaster declaration requests directly to the President.
Currently, only States through their Governors can request a major disaster or emergency declaration from the President under the Stafford Act. Federally recognized Tribes are excluded from making such a direct request for a Presidential declaration and are forced to make a request through the State in which they are geographically located. A change to the law would acknowledge the sovereignty of federally recognized Tribes and enhance FEMA’s working relationship with tribal governments. Such an amendment, if passed, will enhance the President’s and FEMA’s ability to directly respond to Tribal governments’ declaration requests regardless of State or county boundaries or jurisdictions. Such a legislative change to the Stafford Act would allow a Tribal government to choose whether to directly request a separate declaration or to receive assistance, as they do presently, under a declaration for a State.
Changing the Stafford Act will require Congressional action. FEMA looks forward to working with Congress as it considers this important legislative change to the Stafford Act.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Richard Flores at 202-646-4663
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens 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
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December 7, 2011
FEMA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO ALLOW TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO DIRECTLY APPLY FOR FEDERAL DISASTER AID
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate announced today the Administration’s support for a legislative change to the Stafford Act to permit federally recognized Tribal governments to make disaster declaration requests directly to the President.
Currently, only States through their Governors can request a major disaster or emergency declaration from the President under the Stafford Act. Federally recognized Tribes are excluded from making such a direct request for a Presidential declaration and are forced to make a request through the State in which they are geographically located. A change to the law would acknowledge the sovereignty of federally recognized Tribes and enhance FEMA’s working relationship with tribal governments. Such an amendment, if passed, will enhance the President’s and FEMA’s ability to directly respond to Tribal governments’ declaration requests regardless of State or county boundaries or jurisdictions. Such a legislative change to the Stafford Act would allow a Tribal government to choose whether to directly request a separate declaration or to receive assistance, as they do presently, under a declaration for a State.
Changing the Stafford Act will require Congressional action. FEMA looks forward to working with Congress as it considers this important legislative change to the Stafford Act.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Richard Flores at 202-646-4663
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens 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
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