H7268 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2020 Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. will be working to try to fix this, but Madam Speaker, another benefit of this bill Madam Speaker, I yield myself the bal- we don’t fix it when we allow disasters is that it opens up mitigation funds to a new ance of my time. to move forward in the part of our set of eligible folks. Currently, most FEMA Madam Speaker, I do say, first off, I country where disasters are more like- hazard mitigation programs restrict Public As- truly appreciate the words and the pas- ly to affect. They are not most likely sistance mitigation funds if projects may ac- sion from my good friend from the U.S. to take effect in places like the Dis- crue to the benefit of homeowners and busi- Virgin Islands (Ms. PLASKETT). I am trict of Columbia where we just had a nesses—which can create challenges, particu- disappointed to see that this bill came snowstorm and hardly a little bit of larly in rural areas of my Congressional Dis- back from the Senate without the pro- snow. They are far more likely to take trict with lower populations and large areas of visions that we supported on her behalf effect in Ms. PLASKETT’s district in the farmland. The revolving loan fund before us in the committee. Virgin Islands. today is specifically intended to reduce risks Madam Speaker, I, too, would like to Madam Speaker, I pledge with my for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organi- echo to the Senate and to the House as good friend on the other side, with zations and communities. we move into the future: Let’s address whom I have worked closely in the As a matter of process, Madam Speaker, this concern. There is bipartisan sup- past, to do everything I can to make I’m pleased that our bill, like the STORM Act, port for what Ms. PLASKETT is asking sure that all of us, including all of our moved through regular order on the Com- for. territories, not only Puerto Rico, are mittee and attracted bipartisan, unanimous These are the types of bipartisan included in this bill, as the House in- support when it passed the House. Since issues that we usually try and solve in tended. March of this year when the STORM Act was the House, but, unfortunately, we got Madam Speaker, I urge my col- introduced, staff members on the Transpor- this from the Senate. We will let them leagues to support this legislation, not- tation and Infrastructure Committee and Sen- be the ones to admit they screwed this withstanding the issues that both sides ate Homeland Security and Governmental Af- up with a technical error. here in the House have with it, and I fairs Committee worked closely together to But let’s fix it. That is the key. Let’s yield back the balance of my time. iron out technical differences and present a work together to make that happen. Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I rise today in final bill that can be signed into law by the Madam Speaker, in closing, S. 3418 strong support of S. 3418, the Safeguarding President. will help support critical mitigation Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act Throughout the process, we attracted and projects in local communities, includ- or the STORM Act, as amended. maintained the support of a number of groups ing rural communities that are hit and I want to thank Transportation and Infra- that partnered together to build the political will devastated by these natural disasters. structure Committee Chairman PETER DEFA- necessary to pass this bill. In particular, I want This will save lives and prevent dam- ZIO, Subcommittee on Economic Development, to thank the American Council of Engineering age and loss to farmers, businesses, and Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Companies, The American Institute of Archi- homeowners across the country, and it Chair DINA TITUS and Ranking Members SAM tects, American Society of Civil Engineers, is also going to save, long term, bil- GRAVES and JOHN KATKO for their work on this American Society of Landscape Architects, lions upon billions of taxpayer dollars bill to get us to where we are today. City Parks Alliance, Ecological Restoration that are going, time and time again, to I also want to thank fellow T&I Member Business Association, Interstate Council on help communities recover from events RODNEY DAVIS for being a strong partner with Water Policy, Mississippi Rivers Cities and we know are going to happen. me on this from the outset. I am also grateful Towns Initiative, National Recreation and Park Let’s do something on the front end to Majority Leader HOYER for scheduling a Association, The Nature Conservancy and and save taxpayer dollars for the next vote on this bill. U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their support. generation on the back end. Finally, I also want to thank the diligent As part of the Mississippi Rivers Cities and Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if members of the Committee’s staff, particularly Towns Initiative, I want to give special thanks I didn’t thank the staff on both sides of Aaron Davis, for helping us reach this historic to Executive Director Colin Wellenkamp and the aisle for their work to get this bill milestone. I also want to thank a former mem- outgoing Red Wing Mayor Sean Dowse—who to a good place and with the Senate: on ber of my staff, Natalie Martinez, for helping to were also instrumental in this effort. the majority side, Aaron Davis; on our lead the introduction of this bill and my Legis- Madam Speaker, in closing, passage of the own side, Johanna Hardy; and in my of- lative Director Will Mitchell for helping to bring STORM Act will be an important step in mak- fice, Jimmy Ballard. I really appre- the bill across the finish line. ing our towns and cities more resilient. I’m ciate all these folks and what they Madam Speaker, by way of background, the thrilled to be leading the bipartisan effort for have done to help districts like mine. original version of the STORM Act was intro- smart, proactive investments in disaster-resil- I also thank some folks who really duced last July as H.R.3779, the Resilience ient infrastructure. worked hard on this bill, too, that are Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2019 following a The SPEAKER pro tempore. The with me here today from the com- catastrophic spring where Minnesota experi- question is on the motion offered by mittee: Corey Cooke and her number enced one of the most devastating flood sea- the gentlewoman from the District of one fan, her puppy, Coda Cooke; and sons on record. Columbia (Ms. NORTON) that the House also Tara Hupman and her number one In response, I worked closely with local suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. fan, her puppy, Chester Hupman. I cer- mayors in Minnesota dealing with the after- 3418. tainly hope my number one fans, when math of this flooding to develop the concept of The question was taken; and (two- I get home, Rider and Julia Davis, one a resilience fund and establish a low-interest thirds being in the affirmative) the day get a chance to meet theirs. loan program for states to fund pre-disaster rules were suspended and the bill was But it takes people working together mitigation projects which greatly reduce the passed. to get things done, and these are the risks and costs of natural disasters. Revolving A motion to reconsider was laid on types of issues that show our success in fund loans will be available for projects that the table. this institution. minimize the risks of wildfires, earthquakes, Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- floods, storm surges, tornadoes, and other f ance of my time. events deemed catastrophic by FEMA. Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I The revolving fund concept is modeled after FEDERAL ADVANCE CONTRACTS yield myself such time as I may con- similar state revolving funds authorized and ENHANCEMENT ACT sume. funded by Congress for projects that have re- Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I Madam Speaker, first of all, I appre- sulted in a significant increase in the capacity move to suspend the rules and pass the ciate the words of my colleague on the and capabilities of water infrastructure in com- bill (S. 979) to amend the Post-Katrina other side of the aisle with respect to munities across the nation. Emergency Management Reform Act of Ms. PLASKETT’s notion. I don’t know It is our hope that our colleagues on the Ap- 2006 to incorporate the recommenda- why the notion of pennywise and pound propriations Committee will see the wisdom in tions made by the Government Ac- foolish—if that is the reason why this the revolving fund concept and fully capitalize countability Office relating to advance bipartisan bill that was sent to the this program starting in Fiscal Years 2022 and contracts, and for other purposes. Senate was sent back to us absent 2023 so that disaster mitigation can see that The Clerk read the title of the bill. some Americans. I understand they same significant return on investment. The text of the bill is as follows:

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:46 Dec 19, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.011 H18DEPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE December 18, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7269 S. 979 ‘‘(B) adheres to hard copy contract file by Senators RUBIO, PETERS, JOHNSON, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- management requirements in effect to en- and TILLIS, and in the House by Rep- resentatives of the United States of America in sure that the files relating to advance con- resentatives BENNIE THOMPSON, DONALD tracts entered into in accordance with this Congress assembled, PAYNE, Jr., MIKE ROGERS, and PETER SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. section are complete and up to date, whether KING addresses the findings of the Gov- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Ad- the files will be transferred into the Elec- vance Contracts Enhancement Act’’ or the tronic Contract Filing System of the Agency ernment Accountability Office’s report ‘‘FACE Act’’. or remain in hard copy format; titled ‘‘2017 Disaster Contracting: Ac- SEC. 2. FINDINGS. ‘‘(C) notifies contracting officers of the 3- tions Needed to Better Ensure More Ef- Congress finds that— day time frame requirement for entering fective Use and Management of Ad- (1) the Post-Katrina Emergency Manage- completed award documentation into the vance Contracts.’’ ment and Reform Act of 2006 (Public Law contract writing system of the Agency when In its report, GAO found several 109–925; 120 Stat. 1394) required the Federal executing notice to proceed documentation; issues with the Federal Emergency ‘‘(D) not later than 180 days after the date Emergency Management Agency to establish Management Agency’s handling of ad- advance contracts, which are established of enactment of this subsection, revises the prior to disasters and are typically needed to reporting methodology of the Agency to en- vance contracts, including limitations quickly provide life-sustaining goods and sure that all disaster contracts are included in the agency’s use of some advance services in the immediate aftermath of a dis- in each quarterly report submitted to the ap- contracts, Congressional committees aster; propriate congressional committees under being provided with incomplete infor- (2) the catastrophic hurricanes and this section on disaster contract actions; mation in FEMA reports, and coordina- wildfires in the United States in 2017 high- ‘‘(E) identifies a single centralized resource tion with States and localities on the lighted the importance of these advance con- listing advance contracts entered into under use of advance contracts. tracts in disaster response; this section and ensures that source is cur- (3) in a report issued by the Government rent and up to date and includes all available b 1230 Accountability Office entitled ‘‘2017 Disaster advance contracts; and GAO made final recommendations, Contracting: Action Needed to Better Ensure ‘‘(F) communicates complete and up-to- More Effective Use and Management of Ad- date information on available advance con- including that FEMA update its strat- vance Contracts’’, the Government Account- tracts to State and local governments to in- egy and guidance to clarify the use of ability Office identified a number of chal- form their advance contracting efforts. advance contracts, improve the timeli- lenges with advance contracts and rec- ‘‘(2) MASTER ACQUISITION PLANNING SCHED- ness of its acquisition planning activi- ommended actions to improve management ULE.—Not later than 180 days after the date ties, revise its methodology for report- by the Federal Emergency Management of enactment of this subsection, the Admin- ing disaster contracting actions to con- Agency of these contracts for future disas- istrator shall update and implement guid- gressional committees, and provide ters; and ance for program office and acquisition per- more consistent guidance and informa- (4) section 691 of the Post-Katrina Emer- sonnel of the Agency to— gency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 ‘‘(A) identify acquisition planning time tion to contracting officers to coordi- U.S.C. 791) should be amended to incorporate frames and considerations across the entire nate with and encourage States and lo- the recommendations made by the report de- acquisition planning process of the Agency; calities to establish advance contracts. scribed in paragraph (3) to ensure more effec- and FEMA concurred with all of GAO’s tive use and management of advance con- ‘‘(B) clearly communicate the purpose and recommendations. tracts. use of a master acquisition planning sched- Following Hurricane Katrina, Con- SEC. 3. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ule.’’. AGENCY ADVANCE CONTRACTS. gress required FEMA to establish ad- (b) REPORT.—The Administrator of the vance contracts for goods and services (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 691 of the Post- Federal Emergency Management Agency Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act shall regularly update the appropriate com- to enable the Federal Government to of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 791) is amended by adding at mittees of Congress (as defined in section 602 quickly mobilize resources to affected the end the following: of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management areas in the aftermath of a disaster. ‘‘(e) UPDATED REPORT.—Not later than 180 Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 701)) on the This bill allows FEMA to ensure days after the date of enactment of this sub- progress of the Federal Emergency Manage- section, the Administrator shall submit to more effective use and management of ment Agency in implementing the rec- the appropriate committees of Congress an its advance contracts process by incor- ommendations of the Government Account- updated report that contains— porating GAO’s recommendations to ability Office in the report entitled ‘‘2017 ‘‘(1) the information required in the initial ensure that Federal preparedness ac- Disaster Contracting: Action Needed to Bet- report under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of tions are coordinated to prevent gaps subsection (a)(1); and ter Ensure More Effective Use and Manage- ment of Advance Contracts’’, as required in recovery efforts from occurring. ‘‘(2) an updated strategy described in sub- The bill also requires FEMA to regu- section (a)(1)(C) that clearly defines— under section 691 of the Post-Katrina Emer- ‘‘(A) the objectives of advance contracts; gency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 larly update the appropriate commit- ‘‘(B) how advance contracts contribute to U.S.C. 791), as amended by subsection (a). tees of Congress on the progress of the disaster response operations of the Agency; The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- agency’s implementation of these rec- ‘‘(C) how to maximize the award of advance ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from ommendations. contracts to small business concerns, as de- the District of Columbia (Ms. NORTON) Given this year’s unprecedented level fined in section 3 of the Small Business Act and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. of disaster activity, it is critical that (15 U.S.C. 632); and RODNEY DAVIS) each will control 20 Congress enact these reforms ahead of ‘‘(D) whether and how advance contracts minutes. the start of the next disaster season in should be prioritized in relation to new post- disaster contract awards. The Chair recognizes the gentle- order to ensure that both FEMA and ‘‘(f) ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE ADMINIS- woman from the District of Columbia. our States, Tribes, territories, and lo- TRATOR.— GENERAL LEAVE calities are well-prepared and equipped ‘‘(1) HEAD OF CONTRACTING.—The Adminis- Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask for future disasters. trator shall ensure that the head of con- unanimous consent that all Members Madam Speaker, I support S. 979, and tracting activity of the Agency— may have 5 legislative days within I urge my colleagues to do the same. I ‘‘(A) not later than 270 days after the date which to revise and extend their re- reserve the balance of my time. of enactment of this subsection, updates the Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Disaster Contracting Desk Guide of the marks and include extraneous material Agency to provide specific guidance— on S. 979. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such ‘‘(i) on whether and under what cir- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there time as I may consume. cumstances contracting officers should con- objection to the request of the gentle- Madam Speaker, S. 979, the Federal sider using existing advance contracts en- woman from the District of Columbia? Advance Contracts Enhancement Act, tered into in accordance with this section There was no objection. or FACE Act, will improve disaster prior to making new post-disaster contract Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I preparedness and ensure State and awards, and include this guidance in existing yield myself such time as I may con- local governments receive more con- semi-annual training given to contracting sistent guidance from the Federal officers; and sume. ‘‘(ii) for contracting officers to perform Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Emergency Management Agency. outreach to State and local governments on S. 979, the Federal Advance Contracts Following Hurricane Katrina, Con- the potential benefits of establishing their Enhancement Act. This bipartisan and gress directed FEMA to establish ad- own pre-negotiated advance contracts; bicameral bill introduced in the Senate vance contracts ahead of disasters to

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It is the Sense of Congress that: tinue to play an important role in such Following the 2017 hurricanes and (1) Due to the ever-increasing use of Un- efforts. wildfires, the Government Account- manned Aircraft Systems in the agriculture, The Drone Advisory Committee is forestry, and rangeland sectors, as well as ability Office reviewed the use of ad- the inherently different uses in less popu- currently comprised of executives from vance contracts and identified a num- lated parts of the nation, membership of the a cross-section of interested stake- ber of shortcomings, including unclear Drone Advisory Committee established by holders, including academia, drone guidance and inconsistent information the Federal Aviation Administration should, manufacturers and operators, aviation from FEMA on using these advance to the extent practicable, include direct rep- labor, and local governments, among contracts. resentatives from county and tribal govern- others. While drones are increasingly Ultimately, GAO issued nine rec- ment, agriculture, forestry, and rangeland being used in the agriculture, forestry, ommendations, and FEMA has con- interests. and rangeland sectors and by county curred with every single one of them. (2) Full transparency in the work of the and Tribal governments, these stake- Drone Advisory Committee is vital to ensur- This bill would require FEMA to pro- ing the public can effectively participate and holders are not represented adequately vide an updated report on advance con- contribute to the development of sound Fed- in the current committee makeup. tracts, updated its strategy, improve eral policies. The Administrator of the Fed- S. 2730 would, therefore, require the its guidance for FEMA personnel, and eral Aviation Administration should, to the FAA to take appropriate steps to en- regularly report to Congress on maximum extent practicable, ensure the courage the direct representation of progress in addressing GAO’s rec- work of the Drone Advisory Committee is county and Tribal governments, as well ommendations. shared with and easily accessible to the pub- as agriculture, forestry, rangeland sec- These reforms will help improve our lic and shall ensure transparency and open- tors, and other rural interests, on the disaster preparedness and provide clar- ness in the manner in which the affairs of Drone Advisory Committee. The bill the Committee are conducted. ity to States and local communities on will also require the FAA to include SEC. 3. DRONE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER- how to better leverage these useful SHIP. public participation in the process of contracts. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Aviation Ad- nominating individuals for advisory I am proud to stand with my col- ministration shall take appropriate steps to committee membership going forward. league, Ms. NORTON, to support this bill encourage direct representation of county The efforts outlined in S. 2730 will in a bipartisan way because, if there is and tribal governments as well as agri- not only include transparency and one thing that the Federal Government culture, forestry, rangeland sectors, and openness in how the Drone Advisory should do right, it is to help commu- other rural interests on the Drone Advisory Committee’s membership is con- nities recover from disasters they had Committee. structed, but they will also help ensure (2) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—To the max- nothing to do with. the insights of stakeholders, with vast imum extent practicable, the Administrator experience operating drones and per- Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- shall include public participation in the ance of my time. process of nominating individuals for mem- spectives regarding their integration, Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, the bership on the Committee. are reflected in the advisory commit- tee’s important work, ultimately in- gentleman has yielded, and I certainly The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- forming future FAA decisionmaking. concur with him. I am very pleased ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from that this bill comes out now, in the Madam Speaker, I support this legis- the District of Columbia (Ms. NORTON) lation, I urge my colleagues to do the season of climate change, where we and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. have seen increased disasters in our same, and I reserve the balance of my RODNEY DAVIS) each will control 20 time. country. minutes. Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. The Chair recognizes the gentle- Madam Speaker, I yield myself such ance of my time. woman from the District of Columbia. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time as I may consume. GENERAL LEAVE Madam Speaker, I again rise in sup- question is on the motion offered by Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask the gentlewoman from the District of port of another great piece of bipar- unanimous consent that all Members tisan legislation, S. 2730, the Drone Ad- Columbia (Ms. NORTON) that the House may have 5 legislative days in which to visory Committee for the 21st Century suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. revise and extend their remarks and in- 979. Act. clude extraneous material on S. 2730. The Drone Advisory Committee is a The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the long-term advisory committee that objection to the request of the gentle- opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being provides the Federal Aviation Adminis- woman from the District of Columbia? tration with advice on key drone inte- in the affirmative, the ayes have it. There was no objection. Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, on gration issues. Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I S. 2730 directs the FAA to ensure that I demand the yeas and nays. yield myself such time as I may con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- that there is broad participation on sume. ant to section 3 of House Resolution this committee that develops policies Madam Speaker, I rise in support of for unmanned aircraft systems, or 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. S. 2730, the Drone Advisory Committee Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- drones, and their growing uses. for the 21st Century Act, introduced by ther proceedings on this motion will be S. 2730 also directs the FAA to con- Senator PETERS of Michigan. postponed. sider public opinion when nominating The number of unmanned aircraft anyone to serve on the Drone Advisory f systems, or drones, in the United Committee. DRONE ADVISORY COMMITTEE States airspace has grown exponen- Imagine that, a government agency FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ACT tially in recent years. The growth is asking the public, who is intricately Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I expected to continue, as drones are de- involved in issues related to drone move to suspend the rules and pass the ployed for more and more uses each technology and the ability to use bill (S. 2730) to establish and ensure an year. Drones have become important drones in and around our public air- inclusive and transparent Drone Advi- tools to assist with everything from in- space—imagine having public opinion sory Committee. frastructure inspection and lifesaving determine who should be best to serve. The Clerk read the title of the bill. missions to delivering medical supplies This is another example where Re- The text of the bill is as follows: and prescriptions. publicans and Democrats have come to- S. 2730 As the Federal Aviation Administra- gether to offer solutions. It is sad we tion continues its efforts to safely inte- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- have to put them on paper, to put them resentatives of the United States of America in grate drones into the National Air- into legislation sometimes; but here we Congress assembled, space System, the work of the Drone are today, and I am glad it is hap- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Advisory Committee, an FAA advisory pening. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Drone Advi- committee that provides the agency Having committee participation from sory Committee for the 21st Century Act’’. with advice and recommendations on those in rural areas, especially, will

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