FEMA Act
Latest action · Oct 22, 2007 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13195-13200)
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedOct 22, 2007
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Federal Emergency Management Advancement Act of 2007 or the FEMA Act - Reestablishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Requires FEMA to be headed by a Director appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Designates the Director as the principal advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Homeland Security for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States. Directs the President to designate the Director to serve as a Cabinet member in the event of specified disasters.
Establishes as FEMA's primary mission to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards, including natural and man-made disasters, through a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Prescribes the Director's responsibilities. Provides for 10 regional offices. Requires each Regional Administrator to: (1) establish a Regional Advisory Council; and (2) oversee multi-agency strike teams. Establishes a National Operations Center.
Requires the Director to: (1) establish Area Offices in appropriate Regional Offices; (2) defer to substantiating documentation submitted by states in determining the duration of a major disaster and in establishing the eligibility period for assistance; (3) establish and implement the voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program; (4) ensure that the National Response Plan provides for a clear chain of command to lead and coordinate the federal response to disasters; and (5) enter into a memorandum of understanding with specified individuals to collaborate on developing standards for deployment capabilities.
Transfers specified functions and personnel to FEMA. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to make necessary determinations regarding such functions and incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, and property.
Cosponsors
Members who signed on, in the order they did.
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee | Referred Oct 22, 2007 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Oct 22, 2007Introduced in Senate
- Oct 22, 2007Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13195)
- Oct 22, 2007Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13195-13200)
In the Congressional Record 1
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S13195Text printed S13195–S13200 | James M. Inhofe R-OK (text) | Oct 22, 2007 |
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 1427 | Federal Emergency Management Improvement Act of 2007 | Related bill | May 17, 2007 |
| HR 6147 | FEMA Act | Related bill | Jun 2, 2008 |
Titles 3
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to establish the Federal Emergency Management Agency as an independent agency, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- FEMA Act
- Federal Emergency Management Advancement Act of 2007
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Emergency Management.
- Advice and consent of the Senate
- Cabinet officers
- Congress
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Department of Homeland Security
- Disaster relief
- Emergency Management
- Executive reorganization
- Federal advisory bodies
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Federal employees
- Government Operations and Politics
- Presidential appointments
- Standards
- Terrorism
- Transfer of employees
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Oct 22, 2007Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
