Authorizations for the Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) were approved by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Wednesday.
“The Committee acted to approve legislation for two critical agencies charged with protecting Americans and our infrastructure,” said committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).
Shuster said, “The Coast Guard deserves the funding necessary to carry out its essential missions to protect our shores and facilitate maritime commerce, and we must provide FEMA the authorities to facilitate their critical work to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards.”
Ranking member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) said the “bipartisan, common-sense legislation will allow the Coast Guard and FEMA to carry out their core missions and protect the American people.”
“The FEMA legislation will help communities and our first responders plan and prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies,” He said, noting, “Our Coast Guard legislation guarantees that the Coast Guard has the resources and assets necessary to protect our ports, waterways and coastal communities, and respond to disasters or emergencies affecting our mariners, fishermen and the general public. In addition, we passed a bipartisan authorization of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), which will provide the FMC with additional enforcement authority to help address concerns raised by recent consolidation in the ocean shipping industry.”
The Committee approved the following measures:
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017 (HR 2518) is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize, strengthen and support the Coast Guard in its critical missions to save lives, safeguard the nation’s shores, protect living marine resources and help ensure a 21st century maritime transportation system for America.
HR 2548, The FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2017, would address the rising costs of disasters in the United States, reduce the toll of future losses and reauthorize FEMA for the first time in the agency’s history.
The Disaster Support for Communities and Homeowners Act (HR 1684) would require the FEMA Administrator to provide recommendations on how common areas of condominiums and housing cooperatives may be eligible for disaster assistance.
The Federal Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 2017 (HR 2593) would authorize funding for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019, and provide reforms to Commission authorities.
