U.S. Congressional Legislation: Disaster Management

A bill (S. 3249) that would renew a grant program designed to help state and local governments prepare for disasters has been approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. To proceed, the measure must now be taken up by the full Senate.

The competitive grant program would provide grants to state and local governments for projects that mitigate damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. A 2007 study of the program by the Congressional Budget Office found that the program is successful. For every $1 spent on the program, the federal government saved $3.