Gluesenkamp Perez, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge DHS to Reinstate Emergency Preparedness Funding, Pacific County Projects
This week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) joined a bipartisan effort led by Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11) to urge the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
Early last month, FEMA announced the termination of the program and the rescission of all grants from FY20 to FY23 that have not yet been distributed. The program was Congressionally authorized and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018.
In Washington state, these actions will affect 13 already-selected projects and $130 million in federal funding for projects like levees that will help protect communities from flooding. Roughly 72 percent of BRIC funding in Washington state supports small towns and rural communities.
Cancelled BRIC awards in Southwest Washington include:
- $12.8 million for the Graveyard Spit Dune Restoration and Community Resilience Project in Pacific County, appealed by the Governor this week.
- $714,000 for Washington State Vertical Evacuation Structure Scoping in Pacific County.
- $160,000 for Ocean Beach School District Tsunami Tower Feasibility in Pacific County.
Additionally, the City of Long Beach was in the process of applying for $24 million from the program to construct a tsunami tower near the Long Beach Elementary School.
“We should always fight for a more effective and efficient government, but ensuring our kids and seniors have a safe space to evacuate nearby isn’t politics or waste – it’s common sense. Our rural communities want predictability in funding, a level playing field when applying for federal grants, and our federal government to honor its commitments,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “The BRIC program has an incredible return on investment not only in dollars saved by preparing for emergencies before they hit, but also in ensuring folks remain out of harm’s way.”
“The BRIC program was established by Congress in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump with bipartisan support. In the years since, this program has catalyzed community investments in resilient infrastructure, saving federal funds by investing in community preparedness before a disaster strikes. According to research, one dollar invested in disaster mitigation can save up to $18 in response and recovery expenditures,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter. “At the same time, we acknowledge that the BRIC program should be evaluated for opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce the complexities for recipients to access the critical resources. The benefits of the program should not be concentrated in or limited to jurisdictions with dedicated offices and the staff necessary to navigate the grant application requirements.”
Full text of the lawmakers’ letter can be found here.