I thank you for the work that FEMA has done under your leadership.

The BIL made great progress in making our Nation more resilient by providing nearly $7 billion to help communities proactively prepare for disasters.

I remain concerned with the Government Accountability Office's finding that a 35-percent staffing gap exists across different positions at FEMA.

Diversity is important because it will improve program delivery and the Agency's understanding of challenges faced by disaster survivors across the Nation.

There is never enough money from the Federal Government when it comes to transportation funding.

DOT has risen to the occasion to get this money into the hands of communities by issuing nearly 90 Notices of Funding Opportunity.

Congress provided 30 percent of this amount, about $196 billion, to be distributed through 72 competitive grant programs.

Thank you, Chair Graves, for holding this hearing to explore how competitive grant funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are providing opportunities and delivering results.

I would be remiss if I didn't raise my continued concern with the Federal Highway Administration's final rule to require a greenhouse gas performance measure forcing State DOTs and MPOs to set declining targets for carbon dioxide emissions stemming from transportation on the National Highway System.

We are that good.

The law provides record-breaking funding for critical infrastructure projects.