As Floridians, we know firsthand the damage that hurricanes and natural disasters bring. We also know how important effective preparation, response, and relief is when tragedy strikes. That’s why I introduced the Fixing Emergency Management for Americas (FEMA) Act of 2025, legislation with bipartisan support that would provide the most robust legislative reform of FEMA and federal disaster assistance programs in decades.
Florida has set the gold standard for disaster mitigation and emergency response, and this legislation builds on that success at the national level. The FEMA Act of 2025 empowers disaster-impacted states like Florida with more direct control and engagement, helps dollars reach communities faster, injects common sense, and cuts red tape that can drag out disaster recovery for decades. One key reform includes replacing the cumbersome rebuilding process with faster, project-based grants. This allows states to set their pace of recovery, reduce their dependence on costly consultants, and prioritize the highest need projects, without having to take out expensive loans or wait years for reimbursement.
The FEMA Act restores FEMA as a cabinet-level agency, making it directly accountable to the President and the American people. It also bans political discrimination in disaster relief, which comes after a FEMA employee under the Biden-Harris Administration was caught directing emergency responders to avoid homes that support President Trump. By streamlining FEMA and cutting red tape, we ensure that federal disaster response is faster, more efficient, and accountable to the American people.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.