{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-supports-bill-increase-fema-contribution-derecho-recovery", "Finkenauer Supports Bill to Increase FEMA Contribution for Derecho Recovery", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Abby Finkenauer", "F000467", "finkenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman AbbyFinkenauer(IA-01)helped introducetheFEMA Assistance Relief Actto increase the Federal Emergency Management Agency's(FEMA)cost shareand reduce the local financial burden forrecovery efforts incommunities impacted by natural disasters in 2020.\nThis legislation, the FEMA Assistance Relief Act, would help ease financial burdens on states, as well as local and tribal communities that have been granted Stafford Act Emergency and Major Disaster declarations this year.\nUnder thelegislation,Iowa communities impacted by last month's derecho would be required to fund 10percentof disaster recoverycosts,instead of the 25 percent local sharenow mandated by federal law.\n\"Communitiesacross eastern Iowaareworking to recover from theAugust derechowhile still contending with thepublic health crisis and economic fallout of theongoing Coronavirus pandemic,\"Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer said.\"This legislationrepresents a necessary financial lifeline to ourstate and ourcommunities, reducing the financial burden on our state and local governmentsand aidingourlong-term recovery.\"\nThe bill is authored byHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ChairmanPeter DeFazio (D-OR).Finkenaueralso serves asa member of thecommittee.\nThe legislation would:\n Adjust the FEMA cost share for all disasters declared incalendar year2020to not less than 90percent federaland10percentnon-federalup fromthe current75-percentfederalcost share;\n\tAdjust the FEMA cost share for all COVID-related declarations to 100 percent federal;and\n\tClarify to FEMA that under the COVID declaration, Congress expects the agencytocover certain expenses for reimbursementincluding PPE, disinfectionand other servicesfor public schools, public transit and courts. This addresses criticism of FEMA's recent Public Assistance policy clarification from earlier this month, which excluded PPE and disinfecting for these groups.\n The legislation follows a letter in whichFinkenauerrequested that the administration waivethe 25percentlocal cost sharefor Iowa communities impacted by the derecho.\nFinkenauer'sOngoing Derecho Relief Efforts:\nThe rare derecho storm affected more than 20 counties across Iowa, producing straight-line winds that exceeded 100 mph in several locations. Much of the damage took place in counties included in the First District. 550,000 homes were left without power and the total estimated damage is more than $3.9 billion.\nOn Friday, 9/11,Finkenauerreleased a statementon the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) approval of the Meskwaki Nation's Major Disaster Declaration request.\nOn Wednesday,9/9,Finkenauer brought representativesfrom the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies together with local elected officials to ensure Iowa communities impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho have all necessary information and resources on storm recovery and disaster aid.\nOn Friday, 9/4,Finkenauerhosted a forumallowing legislative, county, and local officials from Linn County to meet with federal disaster relief officials about ongoing derecho recovery efforts.\nOn Tuesday, 9/1,Finkenauerissued a statementregardingFEMA's approval of individual disaster assistancefor10 additional Iowa counties affected by the Aug. 10Derecho, including Benton, Marshall,PoweshiekandTamain the First District.\nOn Friday, 8/21,Finkenauerwas joined bySenators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Friday in calling on President Donald Trump to approve federal disaster aid for the Meskwaki Nation.\nOn Friday, 8/21,sent a letterto U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue seeking information on potential USDA relief for farmers and producers affected by the derecho disaster.\nOn Thursday, 8/20,Finkenauerreleased astatementon theAdministration's approval of Individual Assistance for Linn County residentsimpacted by thederecho.\nOn Thursday, 8/20,Finkenauervisited the Meskwaki Nation in Tamato meet with tribal leaders and view damage from the derecho.Finkenaueralsosent a letterto President Donald Trump on Thursday imploring him to approve the tribe's request for federal disaster aid.\nOn Wednesday, 8/19,Finkenauerreleased aDisaster Resource Guidefor constituents. \nOn Wednesday, 8/19,Finkenauerwrote to President Trumpurging him to fully approve Iowa's request for an expedited major disaster declaration, which includes individual assistance, and urged a waiver of local cost match.\nOn Monday, 8/17,Finkenauertook part in an electric restoration briefing with Alliant Energy.\nOn Monday, 8/17,Finkenauervisited Benton County to hear about local storm damagefromlocal leaders andemergencymanagement officials, and visited the Iowa Veterans Home.\nOn Sunday, 8/16,Finkenauerjoined the full Iowa federal delegationin sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to accept Governor Kim Reynolds' request for an expedited presidential major disaster declaration.\nOn Friday, 8/14,Finkenauer visited storm damage in Marshalltown, including the Iowa Veterans Home.\nOn Thursday, 8/13,Finkenauerhosted a briefing with Iowa Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Joyce Flinn.\nOn Thursday, 8/13,Finkenauerurged Reynoldsto call for an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration andjoined Cedar Rapids city officialsat a press conference to call for expedited federal aid and additional state resources as Cedar Rapids and communities across Iowa work to recover from Monday's derecho storm.\nOn Wednesday, 8/12, sheattended a briefing with Cedar Rapids emergency officials.\nOn Tuesday, 8/11,Finkenauersent a letterto Governor Kim Reynolds seeking information and offering assistancein the wake ofMonday'sstormsthat knocked out power and caused widespread damage across eastern Iowa.\nIf you need or someone you know has been affected by the storm and needs help, call1-800-RED-CROSS.For information about state aid for food and health assistance,click here. To volunteer through the United Way of East Central Iowa,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://finkenauer.house.gov/media/press-releases/finkenauer-supports-bill-increase-fema-contribution-derecho-recovery"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6440938450396061, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}