Missouri and Illinois combined will receive nearly $19.8 million in federal grants this month to improve hospital preparedness and emergency response.
SUGAR CREEK, Mo. -- Thick smoke filled the air near the BP refinery in Sugar Creek on Saturday morning after three tanker cars exploded overnight.
Legislative Issues
Legislative Updates
To reach our Legislative Tracking Team, email legislation@momepa.org.
New... HOT BUTTON ISSUE...
NATIONAL LEGISLATION!
From: Martha Braddock
Policy Advisor
International Association of Emergency Managers
Subject: Senate Committee Action on PreDisaster Mitigation Reauthorization
Date: April 28, 2010
Today the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs considered and ordered reported S 3249, the PreDisaster Hazard Mitigation Act of 2010.
The bill authorizes $180 million for 2011; $190 million for 2012; and $200 million for 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Amendment accepted on earmarks
An amendment by Senator Coburn(R-OK) and co-sponsored by Senators McCain (R-AZ) McCaskill (D-MO), and Collins (R-ME) was accepted which states that none of the funds may be used for Congressionally directed spending (earmarks). If grants were awarded using procedures other than competitive, the FEMA Administrator would need to report to Congress on why competitive procedures were not used
Amendment offered and withdrawn on flood control projects (levees)
Senator Pryor (D-AR) offered and withdrew an amendment to add flood control projects as eligible. He commented that FEMA would not pay for levee protection, but the issues regarding it are not resolved. He would like to work with Chairman Lieberman and Collins on some resolution. Senator Tester (D-MT) mentioned the issue raised by Sen. Pryor was critically important. He indicated that many states are impacted by FEMA remapping and it is an unfunded mandate which needs to be addressed.
Amendment offered and withdrawn to limit authorization to one year
Senator Coburn offered but withdrew an amendment to limit the reauthorization to one year and have the authorization level at $100 million. He wanted a one year authorization so that they could see whether the anti earmark amendment was ignored by the Appropriations Committee.
Need for Reauthorization
If the program is not reauthorized it will sunset on September 30, 2010. For the last two years a PDM reauthorization bill has not passed the Senate, but the Committee on Appropriations included a 1 year authorization as part of the General Provisions of the FY 2009 and FY 2010 DHS Appropriations bills.
House Action
The House passed HR 1746 on April 27, 2009. The bill is very similar to S. 3249 but with different authorization levels.
Attachments: S. 3249 as introduced; Coburn amendment on earmarks as accepted; HR 1746 as passed the House in April 2009.
Click on the link above to view public safety related legislative issues.
Senate Bill No. 680 (Missouri Spill Bill) Hearing set for 4/13/2010 at 1:30 p.m. in the Senate Lounge at the State Capitol. MEPA will have representation. Let your regional MEPA Boardmember know your concerns so they can be voiced in Jefferson City!
Senate Bill No. 680 (Missouri Spill Bill)
Senate Bill No. 680 had it's first committee hearing on February 16th before the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee. Susan Green was present to represent MEPA.
Senate Bill No. 680 is Sponsored by Senator Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau.
Bill Summary:
SB 680 - Under current law, when more than 50 gallons of petroleum, natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquified natural gas, or synthetic gas are spilled or released, it is considered a hazardous substance emergency. This act changes the minimum threshold to 3,000 gallons.Under current law, crude oil is a reportable substance if released or spilled. This act eliminates the requirement for crude oil or any fraction thereof to be reported.
Under current law, if a political subdivision or volunteer fire protection district provides services in response to a hazardous substance emergency, the person who controls the hazardous substance is liable for reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the political subdivision or fire protection district. This act limits the person's liability to 25% of the reasonable and necessary costs.
The act is identical to SB 462 (2009).
MEPA as an organization was opposed to this same Bill (SB 462) last year and continues it's opposition. Click on the link below to find a generic letter in opposition to SB 680. We would like to encourage our membership to formulate an opinion on this Bill and if applicable send a letter to Senator Crowell and other legislators opposing this measure.
MEPA Membership Letter - Opposition to SB 680 (Sample letter to send to your legislators)
Contact Senator Jason Crowell:
201 W Capitol Ave., Rm. 323
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Capitol Office: (573) 751-2459
FAX: (573) 522-9289
Here is the latest legislative updates from MEPA for you, the membership!...
Memorandum to Emergency Managers
From: Martha Braddock
Policy Advisor
International Association of Emergency Managers
Subject: Budget Memo 1
Highlights of President's Budget Request for FY 2011 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Date: February 1, 2010
The President's Budget request for FY 2011 was released at 10 am this morning. The information below is based on the budget documents provided by the Office of Management and Budget, particularly the Budget Appendix and some clarifying discussion. I will be providing additional information after a thorough review of the Congressional justification and further discussions with FEMA.
2010/02/02 1027
House lawmakers seek to remove FEMA from Homeland Security. On November 5 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the Homeland Security Department and return it to independent, Cabinet-level status. The 2009 FEMA Independence Act (H.R. 1174) was first introduced in February by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., and has 29 co-sponsors. The idea of returning FEMA to the independent status it held in the 1990s, before the formation of Homeland Security in 2003, gained traction after the government's bungled response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "Putting FEMA in DHS hasn't worked," said the committee's ranking member. "The department has bled FEMA dry of resources, personnel and the authority to manage a large disaster. Elevating FEMA as an independent agency will ensure a clear and direct chain of command from the president." It's not clear if the full House will act on the legislation this session, and it faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfmarticleid=43991&dcn=todaysnews
The files are in PDF Format for ease of viewing.
1. Legislative Update Cover Page
2. Legislative Summary
3. Shelter for Life Draft Legislation
For questions on legislative issues, please email Legislative Committee Chair Larry Woods at lwoods@greenecountymo.org.
2010/04/22 0731
