Dan Webster

Thank you, Chair Titus. I want to thank the GSA Administrator and Public Buildings Commissioner for being here today.

But right-sizing the federal real estate portfolio is not only about shrinking space, it's about ensuring we reduce costs.

I hope we can work together to ensure we achieve that.

We must find ways to make sure FEMA works for the communities hit by the disaster, not against them.

It is critical for us to ensure FEMA, the Government lead agency on disasters, is positioned to assist those communities to prepare for, mitigate against, and recover from wildfires.

An all-hazards approach to disasters is critical to ensure the preparedness and clear direction in responding to all the disasters there are.

Floods are more than just water. It is all kinds of things.

Today this House will consider H.R. 3755. To me, this is a heartbreaking piece of legislation. It is an assault on the most fundamental right of a person, and that is the right to life. Wednesday, I was thrilled with the news of the birth…

You don't have to be washing the doorknobs. It is in the air.

Time costs money--the longer it takes communities to rebuild, the higher the costs to both those communities and to the federal taxpayer.

FEMA has played a critical, I might say from my own experience, a very effective leadership position and leadership role in response to COVID-19.

This all-hazards approach is critical to ensuring that we are prepared and the chain of command at the Federal level is clear, effective, and efficient.

Those counties and cities that do that need less time for FEMA to pony up the money that they need.

FEMA has a mission critical to our Nation and my home state of Florida.

In one case, we need more time. In another case, we need less time.

That's probably pretty awesome--well, I've learned something today.

Communities hit by disaster should not have to deal with bureaucratic red tape when they are trying to rebuild their lives.

Ultimately, making it more difficult to access assistance will not reduce the rise in disaster costs--it may actually increase it.

I think that we have such a great opportunity in front of us right now to capitalize on how we learn to do things better and differently that I believe will really make a difference in reaching out to more underserved communities and being…

Congratulations on your new position. I know you do a fantastic job.

FEMA has a critical mission in our Nation and especially in my home State, Florida.

We are all excited on both sides of the aisle about reauthorizing the EDA.

While EDA can and does fund some broadband projects, we must ensure any unnecessary hurdles are addressed so we can help more Americans get connected.

I want to make sure that efforts to achieve this goal do not harm existing rural broadband providers which are often small businesses themselves.

This lack of broadband, in many areas, especially rural areas, is a serious impediment to many facets of American life, including economic development.