In an effort to increase transparency and accountability in federal disaster relief spending, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) has joined a bipartisan coalition to reintroduce the Disclosing Aid Spent to Ensure Relief (DISASTER) Act. The legislation aims to provide Congress and taxpayers with a clearer picture of how federal disaster funds are allocated.
The DISASTER Act, spearheaded by Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA), would mandate the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to produce an annual estimate of federal disaster spending.
This report would detail how disaster relief appropriations from Congress are utilized. The bill previously passed the House in 2019 via voice vote.
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“Disasters are getting larger, more widespread, and more expensive,” Congressman Moskowitz stated. “It’s critical that we fully fund the preparation, response, and recovery for these disasters, but it’s also critical that Congress knows where these targeted funds are going. By passing the DISASTER Act, we can take a commonsense step towards transparency, ensuring that taxpayers and their representatives in Washington have a more comprehensive account of how federal disaster-related assistance is allocated.”
The urgency of the legislation stems from the increasing frequency and cost of natural disasters. Since 1980, the United States has experienced over 400 weather and climate disasters with damages exceeding $1 billion each.
Despite the significant federal expenditures, there is currently no comprehensive report on how these funds are spent. The DISASTER Act seeks to rectify this by utilizing existing data from the Budget Control Act to produce a detailed spending report, thereby enhancing congressional oversight.
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Moskowitz, who previously served as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management, has been a vocal advocate for improving federal emergency response. His experience managing major events like the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Michael underscores his commitment to efficient and transparent disaster management.
In addition to the DISASTER Act, Moskowitz has also reintroduced the FEMA Independence Act alongside Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19).
This legislation proposes removing FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and establishing it as an independent, Cabinet-level agency reporting directly to the President. Advocates argue that this reorganization would streamline operations, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and allow FEMA to focus on its core mission of emergency response.
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