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Government Affairs

Groups USA Committees Government Affairs

IAEM-USA Government Affairs Committee

U.S. Capitol Dome (photo: Architect of the Capitol)

Committee Chair
Brad Gilbert, OCEM
GovAffairs@iaem.com

Committee Vice Chair(s)
Nick Crossley, CEM
Travis L. Cryan, CEM

Board Liaison
Justin Kates, CEM
USA1stVP@iaem.com

Government Affairs Director & Staff Liaison:
Thad Huguley, thad@iaem.com

EMPG Call to Action | Purpose Statement | Documents & Links | News

IAEM-USA members interested in participating in this committee should email the committee staff liaison and tell them how you can contribute to or learn from this committee's important work.

Purpose Statement

Monitor proposed legislation at the federal, state and/or local level which may impact emergency management activities or the goals of the association, or may set a precedent for the future legal implications.

 

2023 Legislative Priorities

The Legislative Priorities for 2023 were approved by the U.S. Board on April 18, 2023. Download the 2023 Legislative Priorities.

 

2023 EMPG Report Issued

IAEM and NEMA on March 24, 2023, released a joint report entitled "Emergency Management Performance Grant: An Evaluation of the Nation's Return on Investment." This report is developed by IAEM and NEMA by surveying state, local, territorial, and tribal governments regarding the previous year's grant uses and successes. It is shared with lawmakers and regulators and helps demonstrate that commitment to investment in mitigation and resilience in advance continues to build greater capacity at the local level. 

Download the Report

Read the highlights in the press release.

 

U.S. Government Affairs Documents & Links

  • Subscribe to the IAEM-USA Government Affairs Update: IAEM members can subscribe to this free, added member service and receive periodic email updates focusing on legislative and regulatory news impacting the emergency management profession. Log into your IAEM member profile, scroll to the bottom of the page, and check the box next to "Subscribe to the IAEM-USA Government Affairs Update.”

U.S. Government Affairs News

  • IAEM-USA will present Testimony on Feb. 16 on FEMA Priorities for 2022  (15 Feb 2022)IAEM-USA President Carolyn Harshman will testify on Feb. 16, 2022, on behalf of IAEM before the U.S. House of Representative's Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. The hearing is on "FEMA Priorities for 2022: Stakeholder Perspectives."  Read the testimony.
  • IAEM-USA Submits Letter for House Science Committee Hearing Regarding National Weather Service (12 Oct. 2021) IAEM-USA President Judd Freed submitted a letter to the House Science Committee to be included in the record for the Oct. 14 hearing entitled, “The Future of Forecasting: Building a Weather-Ready Nation on All Fronts.”  Read the letter.

  • State and Local Stakeholder Coalition in Opposition to Proposed Changes to Disaster Declaration Factor (05 Mar 2021)

  • IAEM-USA Sends Letter to U.S. Senate Leaders of Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Regarding Support of Deanne Criswell as FEMA Administrator (04 Mar 2021) IAEM-USA strongly supports the nomination and confirmation of Deanne Criswell to be the next FEMA Administrator, as expressed in a letter sent Mar. 4 by IAEM-USA President Judson Freed, CEM, to Chair Gary Peters and Ranking Member Rob Portman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ms. Criswell has sterling credentials as an emergency management professional, with more than 25 years of leadership experience assisting and supporting local and state governments as they build robust emergency management programs to support risk threat and management. She also understands and respects the symbiotic relationship between state and local emergency managers and the role each plays in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. In her current position as Commissioner of the New York City Emergency Management Department, Ms. Criswell is tasked with managing one of the most demanding and complex emergency management operations in the profession. She has thrived in that role and has proven she is capable and ready to step up and take charge at FEMA. Of great importance to IAEM-USA, Ms. Criswell recognizes the value of all emergency preparedness, response, and mitigation grants administered by FEMA in building capacity at the state and local levels. She recognizes that creating a culture of preparedness falls on state and local emergency managers and requires federal support if implementation of that goal is going to be successful. In short, Ms. Criswell understands and respects the role of FEMA as a partner with state and local stakeholders.
     
  • DHS Announces Funding Opportunity for $1.87 Billion in Preparedness Grants (25 Feb 2021)
     
  • IAEM-USA Signed on to a Coalition Letter Sent to Congress to Support Flexing Funding to State and Local Communities (16 Feb 2021) IAEM-USA supports a coalition of 300 diverse stakeholder organizations, by signing on to a joint coalition letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The letter offered our endorsement of the budget reconciliation language providing $350 billion in flexible aid for our states, cities, counties, tribes, and territories. The coalition encourages the House and Senate to swiftly pass this urgently needed aid. Many states and localities have seen their revenues plummet as a result of the pandemic, even as costs have risen sharply to fight the virus and to help millions of struggling people and businesses. State revenues are down some 7 percent compared to before the pandemic even as the need for state services has skyrocketed with one in three adults struggling to meet household expenses. Meanwhile, many cities and counties have been hit even harder. The average city with falling revenues has seen collections drop by 21 percent, even as costs have soared, and counties face similar conditions. Download the letter here.

  • IAEM-USA Comments to FEMA on a Proposed Revision to the Proposed Revision to the Disaster Declaration Factor (05 Feb 2021)
     
  • IAEM-USA Letter of Support of the Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas for DHS Secretary (12 Jan 2021) IAEM-USA President Judson M. Freed, CEM, sent a letter of support to Senator Gary Peters, Incoming Chairman, and Senator Rob Portman, incoming ranking member, of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, on Jan. 12, 2021. The IAEM-USA Council strongly supports the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Having served with distinction as the deputy secretary of DHS (2013-2016), and previously as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (2009-2013), Alejandro Mayorkas is uniquely qualified to lead the Department of Homeland Security,” stated Freed. “While his skill set has not been focused specifically on emergency management, we have no doubt he understands the vital role that DHS, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), plays in supporting state and local emergency management professionals in keeping our communities safe in times of disaster.” 
     
  • IAEM Recommendations to the Biden Transition Team (08 Dec 2020) The USA Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA) has submitted its recommendations to the Biden Transition Team, titled "IAEM Recommendations for Action During the First 100 Days of the Administration of President-Elect Biden." The report addresses three critical activities for FEMA and the nationwide emergency management enterprise: 
  • The President-Elect should announce his nominee for FEMA Administrator before the end of this year. This person must possess impeccable credentials and experience in comprehensive emergency management at the local and state levels. The President must announce that this person will be THE person responsible for coordinating the ongoing COVID-19 response AND all hazards Incident Coordination across the federal government.
  • Eliminate parallel response and recovery structures within the federal government, including the White House, that duplicate effort and confuse response and recovery at all levels of government in the nation. Upon assuming office in January, the President should formally designate FEMA as THE lead agency for all hazards Incident Coordination across the federal government enterprise to include Stafford Act and non-Stafford Act events.
  • Advise the FEMA Administrator to meet quarterly with the IAEM-USA President to maintain an open line of communication with the organization representing all facets of the emergency management profession at the local level, where disaster plans are executed.

IAEM's report to President-Elect Biden's Transition Team also presents the association's recommendations in regard to ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery, including: clearly define roles of HHS, public health “emergency preparedness” agencies, FEMA, and state and local emergency management during this pandemic and all future public health emergencies; assure funding for state and local government response and recovery efforts; and reinstate the Administrator of FEMA as a designated member of the President’s cabinet as provided for in PL 109-295. Additional "first actions" also are addressed. Download the full report here.

  • IAEM-USA Signs on to Coalition Letter Supporting the FEMA Assistance Act (29 Sept 2020) IAEM-USA joined a coalition of 10 stakeholder organizations in support of the H.R. 8266, the FEMA Assistance Act, in a Sept. 19 letter urging swift passage of this legislation in the House as it will make timely changes to assistance provided during an unparalleled 2020 disaster season. This legislation would make a critical change to FEMA assistance by adjusting the FEMA cost share for all emergencies and major disasters declared in calendar year 2020 to not less than 90 percent federal and 10 percent non-federal. From hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and myriad other events, this will provide much needed relief to state and local governments that are struggling with a pandemic, higher-than-usual unemployment, and economic recovery. Download the coalition letter for details. 
  • IAEM-USA Addresses Support for PPE and Disinfectants to Remain Covered Under Public Assistance for COVID-19 (31 Aug 2020) The International Association of Emergency Managers USA Council (IAEM-USA) President Teri Smith, CEM, CPM, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Pete Gaynor on Aug. 31, expressing IAEM-USA concerns about reports that FEMA intends to eliminate personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfectants as eligible reimbursable expenses under Public Assistance for COVID-19. Supporting a previous Aug. 25 letter from other emergency management related organizations, the IAEM-USA letter states that “PPE is a fundamental need for all COVID-19 related operations and is the definition of an ‘emergency protective measure.’ Shifting policy guidance in the middle of a pandemic is impractical, causes confusion, and disrupts operations in states and localities. It also imposes significant bureaucratic and administrative burdens at a time when state and local resources are critically strained. IAEM-USA maintains its long-standing request that FEMA waive the state cost share for COVID-19 assistance, which has not been addressed.” The association called on FEMA to retain its current guidance on emergency protective measures, while requesting clear guidance on eligibility of funding streams across the federal government.
     
  • IAEM-USA Signed On to Letter to Senate Leaders Advocating for Support for State and Local Governments (29 June 2020) A letter was to Senate Majority and Minority Leaders advocating on behalf of immediate financial support for state and local governments, "without which our nation's recovery from pandemic-induced recession will suffer and millions of Americans will be harmed." IAEM joined 175+ stakeholder organizations in signing on to the letter. Download letter to U.S. Senate Majority and Minority Leaders.

  • IAEM-USA Signed On to 3DEP Coalition Letters Signed by 52 Organizations Supportive of USGS 3DEP funding in FY 2021 (24 Apr 2020) The letters were sent today to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The requests state: "As you develop FY 2021 appropriations, we ask for your support for the USGS recommendation to provide $146 million to 3DEP, as requested by John Palatiello, on behalf of the 3DEP Coalition, in his testimony before the Subcommittee on February 6, 2020."

  • Letter to the House Appropriations Committee
  • Letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee 
          
  • IAEM-USA Signed on to Flood Map Coalition Letter to Senate and House Appropriations Leaders (23 Apr 2020) IAEM-USA signed on to the Flood Map Coalition letter sent Apr. 23 to Senate and House Appropriations Committee leaders, strongly supporting at least maintaining FY 2020 appropriated levels ($262.5 million) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Hazard and Risk Analysis Program. The coalition, which represents a diverse group of partners, stakeholders and interests, noted in the letter that “Appropriations as close as possible to the full authorization level of $400 million would help move the nation to better coverage with up-to-date flood maps more quickly.” The reasons for the coalition’s request include: Flooding is responsible for more loss of life and property than any other natural disaster in the United States; current and accurate flood mapping is the key to minimizing future losses; both taxpayers and policyholders benefit from flood mapping; flood mapping is a cost-effective taxpayer investment; and mapping also reduces National Flood Insurance Program borrowing from the Treasury.
     
  • IAEM-USA Joined 10 Other Stakeholders in Requesting Delay of Implementation on New Grant Requirements for One Year (06 Apr 2020) On April 3, IAEM and 10 other organizations sent a letter to DHS and FEMA requesting a one-year delay on recently-issued, new guidance for FY 2020 preparedness grants. The new guidance would require grantees to obligate 20% of grant funds to comply with core DHS priorities. IAEM does not oppose the new guidance, but feels the COVID 19 response is creating unprecedented challenges that make an implementation delay prudent. Download the letter to acting DHS secretary and FEMA administrator here.

  • IAEM-USA Joined NACo, NEMA, and BCEM in a Letter to House Appropriations Committee Leaders Requesting Supplemental Funding for COVID-19 (04 Mar 2020) The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA Council), the National Association of Counties, the National Emergency Management Association, and the Big City Emergency Managers sent a joint letter to the leaders of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee (Nita Lowey, Chairwoman, and Kay Granger, Ranking Member). The letter requests the committee's consideration of supplemental funding for the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) by including $100 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Download the letter here.
     
  • Local and tribal emergency managers are needed to complete the EMPG funding survey for IAEM and NEMA by Jan. 31 (08 Jan 2020) IAEM-USA is conducting the 13th annual survey seeking information from U.S. local government and tribal emergency management offices about Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding. This is a joint effort with the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA). NEMA is using a separate survey monkey for state directors to report on state activities. IAEM is seeking input from local and tribal jurisdictions. NEMA will analyze the state data, and IAEM-USA will analyze the local and tribal data. Once the data has been compiled, IAEM and NEMA will write a joint report to be distributed to key policy makers on Capitol Hill and within the Trump Administration. The narrative questions in the survey are of particular importance. Examples of how EMPG was directly related to an emergency response or emergency management program activity, help “paint the picture” of the importance of EMPG. The survey is available here. To help gather the data needed to complete the survey, a PDF-version of the survey is available here. The deadline to complete the survey is 6:00 p.m. EST, Jan. 31.  Should you need to exit the survey prior to completing it, you may return to your survey from the same computer before the deadline to finish by following the survey link. If you have any technical problems or questions with the survey, please contact Kyler Bartee at kbartee@iaem.com. If you have any questions about the survey questions, please contact Thad Huguley at thad@iaem.com.
     
  • IAEM Supports $25 Million Increase for EMPG (25 Oct 2019) IAEM and NEMA coordinated a group letter sent to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of the $25 million increase for EMPG in the House version. Supporters included International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), National Association of Counties (NACo), U.S. Conference of Mayors, Council of State Governments, Big City Emergency Managers, and National League of Cities. 
     
  • IAEM-USA Provides Testimony for Congressional Hearing on Disaster Preparedness (22 May 2019) IAEM-USA Past President Nick Crossley, CEM, CPM, director, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Hamilton, County, Ohio, provided a written statement and delivered oral testimony before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, U.S. House of Representatives, on May 22, 2019, in Washington, D.C. The subcommittee was holding a hearing on “Disaster Preparedness: DRAA Implementation and FEMA Readiness.”

  • USGS Briefing on ED Elevation Program (06 May 2019) On May 1, Kevin Gallagher with the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a briefing on the status and future of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) to the 3DEP Coalition and Flood Map Coalition. The presentation slides can be viewed here.
  • DHS Announces Release of FY 2019 Notice of Funding Opportunities (16 Apr 2019) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the release of FY 2019 Notice of Funding Opportunities for eight DHS preparedness grant programs totaling more than $1.7 billion. On Apr. 17, the DHS Office of Partnership and Engagement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grants Programs Directorate will host a conference call with State Administrative Agency Partners to discuss the grant program rollout. The conference call is set for Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The call-in number is 877-414-2195, or use the Adobe Connect Link. The presentation slide deck can be downloaded here. DHS asks that you start dialing in 15 minutes before the start of the call; identify yourself, title, and the agency you are representing to the operator when you call in. The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, to improve the nation’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. Questions should be directed to (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.
  • IAEM-USA UCC Urges Support of Funding Request for National Center for Campus Public Safety (29 Mar 2019) The International Association of Emergency Managers USA Council (IAEM-USA) – University and College Caucus (IAEM-UCC) urges the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies to include the $2 million funding request proposed by Representative Bobby Scott for the National Center for Campus Public Safety (NCCPS). The IAEM-UCC is comprised of more than 300 members who serve more than 150 institutions of higher education and more than 3.5 million students. Our members are found in 41 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces. Download letter. 
     
  • IAEM Signs onto Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of Senate Action on the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (22 Mar 2019) IAEM, along with 70 other stakeholder organizations - representing public health, healthcare providers, emergency managers, environmental health, biotechnology innovators, and researchers - signed and sent a letter to House and Senate leadership urging Senate action on the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness & Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAL, H.R. 269). The Bill overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in January, but the path forward in the Senate is unclear. IAEM's Healthcare Caucus supports H.R. 269, and the Government Affairs Committee is advocating for the legislation on Capitol Hill.
     
  • IAEM and NEMA Release 2019 Report on Return on Investment of EMPG (20 Mar 2019) Each year, IAEM and NEMA work together to report on the return on investment of the Emergency Management Performance Grants (part of FEMA’s suite of grants). The 2019 edition, released Mar. 20, 2019, represents input from 46 states, two territories, and 1,042 local emergency management agencies. One of the key data points in this report each year is the fact that state and local emergency managers respond to thousands of events which never reach the level of a Federal disaster declaration.  In 2019, there were 23,331 such events.  The report also provides data on planning, training, and exercise efforts, public outreach campaigns, communications systems, and maintaining thousands of mutual aid agreements. Please direct questions to Thad Huguley, IAEM-USA Government Affairs director, at thad@iaem.com. Download the report here.
     
  • IAEM-USA Signs onto Letter from Stakeholders to Support Increased Investment in NOAA in FY2020 (15 Nov 2018) IAEM-USA and a group of stakeholders on Nov. 13 sent a letter to Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., secretary, Department of Commerce; Mick Mulvaney, director, Office of Management and Budget; and Michael J. Kratsios, Deputy U.S. chief technology officer, urging increased investment in the National Oceania and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Fiscal Year 2010. The letter stated that the science, technology and stewardship provided by NOAA is essential for U.S. health, security and economic prosperity. For example, NOAA provides weather and drought forecasts that farmers use to plan crops, sea state conditions to bring super tankers safely into port, water quality information to detect harmful algae blooms that threaten public health and much more. The federal NOAA investment is part of a broader government effort to provide essential, high-quality data and observations, along with a better understanding of the underlying science which are necessary to many planning, strategy, and investment decisions in both the private and public sectors, including national security. The letter makes the case that increased investment in NOAA will provide a significant return to the U.S. economy. Read the stakeholder letter online.

  • Emergency Managers Urge Congress to Pass Disaster Reforms
    IAEM Press Release, Sept. 25, 2018

  • IAEM Urges FCC to Allow Use of Multimedia in Wireless Alerts (29 May 2018) IAEM, in coordination with Big City Emergency Managers and the National Emergency Management Association, sent a letter on May 29 to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the FCC to allow the inclusion of multimedia in wireless alerts, a long over-due and desperately needed update to the WEA system. Download letter.


IAEM-USA member, Mary Jo Flynn, met May 29, 2018, on Capitol Hill with staff from the Senate
Commerce Committee to discuss the use and operation of autonomous vehicles during a mass
evacuation, an issue of interest to IAEM-USA's Emerging Technology Caucus.

  • IAEM, NEMA, and NACO Submit a Joint Statement for the Record to the Senate Homeland Security Committee (17 Apr 2018) In conjunction with their hearing last week entitled “FEMA: Prioritizing a Culture of Preparedness,” the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee individually asked the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and IAEM to submit a statement for the record. To demonstrate a united front to Capitol Hill, all three organizations opted to submit a joint statement to the Committee. Download the joint statement here.

  • IAEM-USA and NEMA Release 7th Annual Report on "Emergency Management Performance Grants: Providing Returns on a Nation’s Investment" (06 Mar 2018) Without a robust emergency management system, the responses to many disasters would falter or require federal support. Capabilities afforded through Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) allow these events to be managed without additional federal expenditures. As demonstrated in this report, local, tribal, and state governments managed 57,673 events without federal assistance in Fiscal Year 2017. While disasters remain unpredictable, and no investment can completely eliminate risk, supporting the development of nationwide capabilities continues minimizing disaster effects. This report represents a mere glimpse into how EMPG impacts the disaster preparedness and response landscape. However, there is so much more happening across the country that cannot be expressed on paper. EMPG stands as a beacon of Congressional support, and both IAEM-USA and NEMA remain appreciative of the support. We hope such support continues as emergency managers put these funds to good use and work tirelessly to demonstrate the return on the nation’s investment.

  • FEMA Seeks Public Feedback by Feb. 5 for an Update of NIMS Implementation Objectives (16 Jan 2018) FEMA’s National Integration Center is seeking public feedback for an update of the state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation Objectives for SLTT organizations and jurisdictions. The national engagement period opened on Jan. 16, 2018, and will conclude on Feb. 5, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. National engagement provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the draft implementation objectives, to ensure that they are relevant for all implementing partners. FEMA most recently revised the NIMS Implementation Objectives in 2009 and is now updating them to ensure they are consistent with the Third Edition of NIMS, to incorporate stakeholder input, and to make them a more useful tool for organizations as they implement NIMS. FEMA will host three webinars to discuss the proposed SLTT NIMS Implementation Objectives and answer related questions. For more information on the webinars and to review the draft objectives, visit the FEMA website. To provide comments on the draft, complete the feedback form and submit it to FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA will host a series of webinars to discuss the proposed SLTT NIMS Implementation Objectives and answer related objectives (Federal departments and agencies use a separate set of Implementation Objectives). Advance registration for the webinars is required due to space limitations. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. To register, click on your preferred webinar session from the list below:

Webinar 1: Thursday, January 18, 2:00 pm EDT
Webinar 2: Monday, January 22, 5:00 pm EDT
Webinar 3: Tuesday, January 23, 12:00 pm EDT
For more information on the webinars, visit the FEMA website.

  • IAEM-USA and Other National Public Safety Organizations Call for Improvements in the Wireless Emergency Alert System (05 Jan 2018) IAEM-USA, along with NEMA, Big City Emergency Managers, US Conference of Mayors, and the National Emergency Number Association sent a letter to the FCC today urging expeditious implementation of much-needed improvements to the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. Download letter.

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