On the recordDecember 28, 2012
amendment No. 3371 is a good government house cleaning for FEMA. FEMA determines disasters based on a declaration process that is based on a per capita income--or per capita damage indicator. It has not been revised to account for the effects of inflation. Because we have not revised it, the smaller States actually get more benefit from FEMA than the larger States. Oklahoma has had 25 disaster declarations in the last 6 years, more than any other State. So what I am actually proposing will not help my State; it will actually hurt my State. But it is improper for us to continue to use an outmoded number when, in fact, a small State has the same amount of damage as a large State, but the per capita indicator would say it does not meet the requirements. All I am requesting is that FEMA, over the next 4 years, update this. It does not have any application until 2016. It gives them time to update it. Then, through good government, we have a better reflection of when we declare a disaster and when we do not as far as the per capita indicator would tell us. I yield back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana.
