PRINTER'S NO. 2352

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

271

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY HOGAN, PICKETT, KAZEEM, DONAHUE, CIRESI AND

GILLEN, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY

which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can direct,

coordinate, manage and fund eligible response and recovery

efforts associated with domestic major disasters and emergencies

that overwhelm state resources; and

WHEREAS, The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency

Assistance Act (Stafford Act) authorizes the President to issue

major disaster or emergency declarations in response to

catastrophes that overwhelm state and local governments; and

WHEREAS, Congress appropriates money to the Disaster Relief

Fund for disaster assistance authorized by the Stafford Act,

providing emergency protection and debris removal; and

WHEREAS, The Disaster Relief Fund also results in the

distribution of a wide range of Federal aid for the repair and

restoration of qualifying disaster-damaged public

infrastructure, hazard mitigation initiatives, financial

assistance to eligible disaster survivors and Fire Management

Assistance Grants for qualifying large forest or grassland

wildfires; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has received FEMA disaster relief

funding on multiple occasions, including Pennsylvania Remnants

of Hurricane Ida (4618-DR-PA), Pennsylvania Covid-19 Pandemic

billion-dollar weather disasters, which have put a strain on

FEMA's resources; and

WHEREAS, The agency has tallied 15 weather-related disasters

that have each exceeded $1 billion in damages; and

WHEREAS, Congress has given $16 billion in funding to the

Disaster Relief Fund under a 45-day continuing resolution on

September 30, 2023; and

WHEREAS, The Disaster Relief Fund remains in desperate need

of funding since prior to the enactment of the continuing

resolution FEMA projected a deficit of several billion dollars;

WHEREAS, The stress on the Disaster Relief Fund will remain

even as the Federal Government continues to respond to the

devastating fires in Hawaii and faces an ongoing hurricane

season; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the continuing resolution, FEMA was forced

to restrict disaster spending due to low funds and available

funding could only be used for "critical response efforts" and

not rebuilding; and

WHEREAS, The Disaster Relief Fund could conceivably face

exhaustion despite the supplemental funding added in the

continuing resolution and the restrictions may still be

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania requires and depends on equal access

and opportunity to the Disaster Relief Fund following a declared

disaster; and

WHEREAS, The Disaster Relief Fund also plays a crucial role

in providing financial assistance to this Commonwealth during

times of disaster; and

WHEREAS, It has been instrumental in Pennsylvania's efforts

to rebuild, repair and sustain infrastructure; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the presiding officers of each house of Congress, each member of

Congress from Pennsylvania, the Governor of Pennsylvania and to

the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.