WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., has introduced legislation aimed at easing bureaucratic hurdles that local governments face when working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on disaster recovery projects.
The measure, titled the Streamlining FEMA Procurement Procedures Act, directs the president to take steps allowing local governments to use qualifications-based “Construction Manager at Risk” (CMAR) procurement methods. The approach lets construction managers oversee projects from design through completion, with qualifications weighed more heavily than pricing.
Currently, FEMA rules prioritize cost as the deciding factor for project funding, which has clashed with procurement laws in states such as Florida that require qualifications to take precedence. Steube said this mismatch has caused delays and cancellations of projects needed after natural disasters. His bill would align FEMA’s requirements with local and state practices, enabling smoother access to federal funds.
“FEMA has a responsibility to work with local governments during times of crisis. The last thing survivors of natural disasters want to hear is that the federal government is standing in the way of their neighborhood rebuilding,” Steube said in a statement. “My bill ensures FEMA is fully equipped to meet urgent needs on the local level in a swift and flexible manner.”
The proposal also raises FEMA’s threshold for “simplified procedure” project approvals from $1 million to $3 million. Local officials argue that the current cap forces communities to either accept inadequate funding quickly or endure long waits for larger project approvals. Steube said the higher ceiling would help communities rebuild faster.
The National Association of Counties has endorsed the legislation.
