Thank you, Chairman Payne. Thanks for the opportunity to co-chair this hearing with you.

After 10 years of slow correspondence, challenging regulations, and employee turnover, we are seeing local officials that have been given a June 2020 deadline to complete all remaining construction.

I was troubled by your comment that you don't see systemic problems.

You are still a third understaffed, and you have actually lost staff since 2017.

These disasters demonstrate that at a moment's notice FEMA may need to assist thousands of survivors.

FEMA still struggles to utilize advance contracts.

It is as important as ever that the agency take corrective action to better execute its no-fail mission.

Disasters can strike with little to no warning.

A community I serve, the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, has been struggling for more than 10 years to negotiate Federal assistance for extensive flooding that occurred back in 2008.

FEMA cannot prepare for every eventuality. But as the frequency and severity of natural disasters increase, it is as important as ever that the agency take corrective action to better execute its no-fail mission.

I want to touch on FEMA's communication and coordination challenges with State and local governments.