Peters Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Federal Disaster Response by Repealing Outdated DHS Contracting Requirements to be Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House has passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to repeal a section of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 that required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prohibit the use of subcontracts for more than 65% of the cost of certain emergency response and recovery contracts. The section conflicts with a provision of the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act that imposed a government-wide limitation to prevent excessive subcontracting. Peters’ bill, the Repeal of Obsolete DHS Contracting Requirements Act, reinforces the government-wide standard and provides greater clarity to federal contractors and DHS employees who are responsible for managing our nation’s federal disaster response. The legislation, which passed the Senate in June, now heads to the President to be signed into law.

“Outdated subcontracting requirements have caused confusion for FEMA officials and hindered effective disaster response efforts needed to help communities in Michigan and across the nation recover from worsening severe weather events including floods, hurricanes, and wildfires,” said Senator Peters. “By removing these conflicting requirements, this legislation will bolster our nation’s ability to respond to extreme weather events, and provide clear guidance for federal contractors responsible for helping with disaster relief efforts.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to strengthen our federal disaster preparedness and response. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of shoreline erosion, extreme flooding, and other natural disasters. Peters also convened a hearing with disaster preparedness and response experts to hear how worsening natural disasters, including flooding, severe storms, and wildfires, continue to threaten lives and livelihoods in Michigan and across the nation. Peters’ bipartisan legislation to protect Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response has passed the Senate.

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