The legislation would require FEMA to fully fund the Congressionally-created Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, program
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congressmen Greg Stanton and Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (R-PA) introduced legislation requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency to disburse funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to help states prepare against natural disasters.
Earlier this month, acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton wrote in an agency memo that the Administration would not allocate the $750 million that was planned this year for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants. This includes more than $60 million in previously-approved grants to Arizona communities that would protect families from wildfires, flash flooding, extreme heat, prolonged drought and other natural disasters.
“Defunding this common-sense, bipartisan grant program puts lives, property, and public safety at unnecessary risk” said Rep. Stanton. “BRIC grants are a small up-front investment in resilience to save lives and taxpayer dollars long-term. Arizona communities are counting on these funds—dollars that Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis. Now the Trump administration needs to fulfill that promise.”
“The BRIC program is a hand-up, not a hand-out, to at-risk communities who have suffered catastrophic weather events” said Rep. Bresnahan. “In cases where our communities cannot bear the full cost of keeping people safe, it is our responsibility to lend assistance. We must ensure this critical program continues to provide the infrastructure assistance and pre-disaster support to those who need it most.”
Background
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program supports states, local and territorial governments and Tribal Nations as they work to reduce their hazard risk. The program aims to support communities as they build capability and capacity. BRIC also encourages and aids innovation. It helps partnerships grow; supports infrastructure projects; and fosters flexibility and consistency. Research has proven that every $1 invested in pre-disaster mitigation saves up to $13 in disaster recovery costs.
The BRIC program was authorized and signed into law by President Trump in 2018.
Full text of the legislation is HERE.