U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to ensure post-disaster services are delivered timely and taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, cutting down on waste and fraud. The legislation is a companion bill to S. 310, which was introduced by Senators Rick Scott (FL), Gary Peters (MI), and Jacky Rosen (NV).

The Disaster Contract Improvement Act would establish oversight on debris removal through the creation of an Advisory Working Group and tasks the Federal Emergency Management Office (FEMA) Administrator with implementing guidance and procedures for debris removal contracts.

“Natural disasters exact costly damage on infrastructure and threaten the well-being of Granite Staters,” said Congressman Pappas. “In recent weeks, New Hampshire has experienced several extreme weather events, from heavy snowstorms across the state to severe flooding on the Seacoast. This bipartisan legislation would greatly improve FEMA’s ability to efficiently respond to natural disasters and provide needed supplies and services to those affected. I’m pleased to partner with Congressman LaLota on this important bill to ensure communities can recover quickly from these disasters.”

“All the preparation and focus on recovery efforts can, unfortunately, allow for misuse of taxpayer dollars. By reducing waste, fraud, and abuse of disaster relief funds, we can improve local, state, and federal agencies’ ability to help our communities prepare for major storms,” said Congressman LaLota. “My Disaster Contract Improvement Act will ensure our citizens’ precious taxes help prepare for the next disaster rather than go to waste, fraud, or abuse. This bill is supported by members of both parties in both chambers and I am pleased to reach across the aisle to partner with Congressman Pappas to introduce this commonsense bill in the House.”

The Advisory Working Group this bill would create would be composed of representatives from FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, State, Tribal, and Local governments, the USDA natural resources and Conservation Service, as well as experts, including those in the debris services contractor industry. The FEMA Administrator, working with this new group, would have one year after the bill’s enactment to develop and implement guidance and procedures associated with the debris removal contracts.

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