Senator Rick Scott's bipartisan Disaster Contract Improvement Act has successfully passed the House of Representatives and is now awaiting approval from the President to become law. The legislation aims to enhance the disaster contracting process at federal, state, and local levels following natural disasters, with a focus on reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. It seeks to ensure that services are delivered swiftly to victims of natural disasters and that taxpayer funds are utilized effectively for community recovery efforts. Senators Gary Peters and Jacky Rosen supported the bill alongside Representative Nick LaLota, who played a key role in advancing it through the House.
Senator Rick Scott commented on the necessity of this legislation: “This hurricane season brought devastation to families and businesses across the state, but thankfully, Florida is resilient because of the intense preparation that goes into our disaster readiness planning. Sadly, even when we prepare, all too often we have seen waste, fraud and abuse following storms. It hurts our families, local governments, and the American taxpayer. Our bill, the Disaster Contract Improvement Act, will help stop this waste and make sure that every dollar is spent with care, preserving resources for future disaster response efforts."
The act includes several measures aimed at improving oversight:
- Establishing an advisory working group for debris removal oversight comprising representatives from FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, state and local governments, USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service officials as well as experts from the debris services contractor industry.
- Mandating that within one year of enactment, FEMA develops guidance in consultation with this group concerning oversight and costs related to debris removal contracts under public assistance grants.
- Requiring FEMA to conduct training sessions for State, Tribal and Local Governments based on new guidance developed.
- Instructing GAO to study further improvements in Debris Removal Advance Contracting processes to enhance system-wide oversight.
Senator Scott expressed his gratitude towards Representative LaLota for his leadership in the House and his Senate colleagues for supporting its bipartisan passage earlier this Congress. He stated: "The Disaster Contract Improvement Act is a win for American taxpayers and I look forward to President Biden signing it into law.”
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