Committee advances bill to improve FEMA outreach and technical assistance for preparedness grants

The House Committee on Homeland Security advanced HR 4058, the Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act, which would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide continuous outreach, education, and technical assistance to recipients of the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).

Representative Dan Goldman introduced the bill and said it was intended to address recurring coordination problems that impede local and state recipients from accessing and using preparedness grants effectively. Goldman told the committee the bill would improve coordination between FEMA and local and state agencies, make grant programs “far more efficient, far more successful, and far more effective,” and would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on FEMA’s outreach and support efforts for these grant programs.

Ranking members and several committee members described the grants as critical for first responders and communities facing elevated risks; the ranking member also expressed disappointment that Congress had not included a clean extension of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 in the markup, noting its imminent sunset on Sept. 30 and urging the chair to prioritize extension.

Committee members agreed the bill would primarily improve outreach and technical assistance rather than create new grant programs. The bill was reported favorably by voice vote; the chair announced “the ayes have it.” If enacted, the measure would direct FEMA to enhance stakeholder engagement and would require GAO review of FEMA’s outreach effectiveness for SHSP and UASI.