On the recordMay 2, 2017
The purpose of H.R. 1678 is to establish a statute of limitations for FEMA to recover disaster assistance payments. This bill would provide some finality in disaster assistance, and it would minimize administrative costs. This is a bipartisan issue, and I appreciate my colleagues from Florida for their continued leadership on this issue. H.R. 1678 reinstates the 3-year statute of limitations on FEMA's ability to reclaim funds when there is no evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse. In my district, I have seen FEMA tell a community that a project is eligible for funding, allowing the town to move forward to complete a disaster recovery project, only to have FEMA change its mind years later and take the money back. Not only is this devastating to the community and to disaster recovery, but the administrative time and red tape involved in second-guessing is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Again, my thanks to the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Florida for their continued work on this issue and for introducing this bill. The House adopted similar language last year when it passed the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
