Date: 2012-06-26
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I might say that this should not be a surprise bill to anybody. This is actually a part of the authorization bill that we already worked on. It has come about as a result of the fact of complaints from local jurisdictions that they were unable to utilize funds in a way that they thought was most effective. This bill would simply permit recipients of certain FEMA grants to use this funding for training and exercises conducted in conjunction with a national lab or Federal research facility. Theres no additional cost. The CBO report shows theres no additional cost. In other words. the bill expands the allowable use of FEMA grants and ensures that emergency managers. first responders. and local governments can use these grant dollars to leverage the expertise of our national labs and research facilities. We have had plenty of hearings on the viability of our national labs and research facilities and the fact that we need to leverage more. in these tough budget times. their expertise to help us come up with solutions and prepare. among others. first responders to the challenges that we face in these times. With fewer grant dollars available. its important that State and local governments be able to use them for the greatest public benefit. As we all know. State and local governments everywhere are also operating under severe budget limitations. and increasing the allowable use of FEMA grants helps these cashstrapped governments to address their emergency needs. Using our existing national assets for training and research is another way to efficiently leverage the scientific expertise available at these facilities. I just want to correct the record. This is not just cosponsored by two other Members. both of whom are Republicans. It is cosponsored by Representative STARK from California and Representative LUJAN from New Mexico. In addition. on the Republican side. Mr. TURNER from New York. Mr. LONG from Missouri. Mr. MARINO from Pennsylvania. Mr. BILIRAKIS from Florida. and Mr. KING from New York. We have heard not only from entities in the State of California. but I believe also in New York and New Jersey about concerns that they were unable to use their grants in the most efficient way. and absent a clarification of statutory language. FEMA was not going to allow them to participate in this way. Now. some would ask what examples might we have of how these funds might be used. I will just use my home State of California. The Naval Postgraduate School. which is a Federal entity in Monterey. provides unique training to State and local officials through its Center for Homeland Defense and Security. The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is a governmentowned. contract -operated facility managed through a contract between the Laboratory Board of Governors and DOEs National Nuclear Security Administration. These national labs can provide a myriad of research and technical support to programs that support State and local emergency responders. things such as risk analysis and security systems evaluation. And just another example. the Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego has substantial capability and interest in helping emergency responders with communications and nuclear detention. So we are responding in as quick a fashion as we can to complaints that weve heard from local jurisdictions that they were unable to use their FEMA grants in the most effective way in leveraging. as I say. the expertise. the unique expertise of national labs and Federal research facilities. That is the purpose of this legislation. It is a very simple. a onesentence clarification of the underlying statute. I would hope that we have unanimous support for this bill.