MEDIA ADVISORY AND PRESS RELEASE

Congressman Al Green Introduces the House Companion to the Senate
Reforming Disaster Recovery Act to Authorize a Needed Permanent           Disaster Relief Program

(Washington, D.C.) — On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Congressman Al Green re-introduced the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act – legislation that would permanently authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program. This bill will improve disaster recovery efforts by creating consistency and transparency in the federal response to disasters. The legislation was first introduced in the Senate by Senator Brian Schatz on May 18, 2023.

This legislation would establish the Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency at HUD to oversee disaster relief efforts and coordinate with other federal agencies. It would also establish a long-term disaster recovery fund at HUD, which would allow the department to more quickly respond to the recovery needs of impacted communities. Importantly, this bill authorizes HUD to issue regulations for the CDBG-DR program to ensure that it works in the most effective manner possible given the particular needs of impacted communities.

“I am grateful to Senator Schatz for introducing this legislation in the Senate and for fighting to improve the federal government’s response to disasters,” said Congressman Green. “Senator Schatz has consistently sought to ensure that our most vulnerable communities are not left stranded in the wake of major disasters, and I am grateful to partner with him once again on this important legislation.”

“Right now, communities in crisis are forced to wait for Congress to pass a disaster funding bill before HUD can help. This bill changes the law, so they no longer have to wait. As soon as a disaster strikes, communities can begin the process of recovery,” said Senator Brian Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development.

Congressman Al Green stated, “In a world where natural disasters are unpreventable, this legislation will serve as an essential resource for communities to rebuild and recover, providing much-needed food, clothing, and shelter after disaster strikes.”