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• Ensuring the Safety of Our Nation's Pipelines: Hearing before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, June 24, 2010 [video]

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  This recorded video feed is from the June 24, 2010 hearing, "Ensuring the Safety of Our Nation's Pipelines," before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security. From John D. Rockefeller IV's opening statement: "Over 2.5 million miles of pipeline transport natural gas, oil, and other materials across our country, supplying energy that helps power our factories, heat our homes, and fuel our cars, trucks, and planes. It is a relatively safe process, but we cannot ignore the fact that the materials are often flammable or toxic, and spills or releases can cause significant injury or even death--not to mention substantial environmental damage. Pipelines sometimes run close to populated communities and through fragile environments--with so much at stake we have a responsibility to make these systems as safe as we possibly can. Over the past month we have seen natural gas pipeline explosions in Texas and oil pipeline spills in Alaska and Utah. These are not insignificant developments…It is enormously important that we continue to look for ways to further improve the safety of pipeline transportation. For example, at least two recent accidents were caused by third party excavation, still the leading cause of serious pipeline incidents that result in a death or injury requiring hospitalization." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John D. Rockefeller IV, Committee Chairman; Frank R. Lautenberg, Subcommittee Chairman; Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member; Mr. Tim Felt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colonial Pipeline Company, representing the Association of Oil Pipelines; Mr. Rocco D'Alessandro, Executive Vice President of Operations, Nicor Gas, representing the American Gas Association; Mr. Gary Sypolt, Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Energy, representing the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America; and Mr. Carl Weimer, Executive Director, the Pipeline Safety Trust.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

  2010-06-24
• Oversight of EPA Authorities and Actions to Control Exposures to Toxic Chemicals: Hearing Before the United States Senate, Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, July 24, 2012

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  This testimony compilation is from the July 19, 2012 hearing, "Oversight of EPA Authorities and Actions to Control Exposures to Toxic Chemicals," before the United States Senate, Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health. From the statement of Barbara Boxer: "The purpose of this hearing is to review the need to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the primary law that regulates chemicals in this country. TSCA, which was enacted in the 1970s, was intended to protect public health and ensure the safety of chemicals that are found in products we use every day. Unfortunately, this law has proven to lack the tools necessary to act swiftly and effectively when dealing with chemicals with potentially toxic effects. The weaknesses in the law were highlighted by a 1991 decision, when a court interpreted TSCA to require a complex process to obtain protections from asbestos, despite its obvious health hazards. It is clear that reforms are needed if the public is to have the protections that it deserves. A good illustration of the critical need to reform our toxics law is the experience with a group of flame retardants, which was intended to protect public safety, but has raised serious concerns about the risk they pose due to the toxic chemicals they contain. We need to reform TSCA to provide incentives and ensure that the safest chemicals are used in our products so that the American public, including the most vulnerable among us -- infants, children, and pregnant women -- are protected from toxic substances. I want to commend Senator Lautenberg for his leadership and hard work to move forward with needed reforms. He has worked tirelessly with stakeholders, including the chemical industry, the public health community, and across the aisle in the Senate, to find common ground in this important effort." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Barbara Boxer, James M. Inhofe, Jim Jones, Hannah Pingree, Heather M. Stapelton, Marshall Moore, William K. Rawson, and Tony Stefani.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works

  2012-07-24
• Ensuring the Safety of Our Nation's Pipelines, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, June 24, 2010

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  From John D. Rockefeller IV's opening statement: "Over 2.5 million miles of pipeline transport natural gas, oil, and other materials across our country, supplying energy that helps power our factories, heat our homes, and fuel our cars, trucks, and planes. It is a relatively safe process, but we cannot ignore the fact that the materials are often flammable or toxic, and spills or releases can cause significant injury or even death--not to mention substantial environmental damage. Pipelines sometimes run close to populated communities and through fragile environments--with so much at stake we have a responsibility to make these systems as safe as we possibly can. Over the past month we have seen natural gas pipeline explosions in Texas and oil pipeline spills in Alaska and Utah. These are not insignificant developments…It is enormously important that we continue to look for ways to further improve the safety of pipeline transportation. For example, at least two recent accidents were caused by third party excavation, still the leading cause of serious pipeline incidents that result in a death or injury requiring hospitalization." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John D. Rockefeller IV, Frank R. Lautenberg, Mike Johannas, John Thune, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Tom Udall, Mark Befich, Mark Pryor, David Vitter, Tim Felt, Rocco D'Alessandro, Nicor Gas, Gary Sypolt, and Carl Weimer.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2010-06-24
• Oil Spills from Non-Tank Vessels: Threats, Risks, and Vulnerabilities, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, December 18, 2007

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  From the opening statement of Frank R. Lautenberg: "We're going to open the hearing, and we are to be addressing this question: we've seen too much of the damage that's created when we have spills and we're today going to be examining a fuller extent of what takes place, including the damage, the costs to repair. We want to prevent it where we can. And when EXXON VALDEZ has spoken, most Americans have an immediate reaction. We remember seeing birds, fish, and other wildlife covered in black, messy oil; 11 million gallons pouring into the sea. I was up there within 3 days of the grounding of the EXXON VALDEZ, and disaster was obvious. And, of course, there were incredible financial costs involved, as well as the damage to the birds and marine life, that existed there. The EXXON VALDEZ spill cost nearly $4 billion to clean up. And believe it or not, Exxon Mobil, which took in $40 million in profits in the year 2006, is still fighting the punitive damage that was awarded in that case. After the spill, we passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which was a landmark rule on spill prevention and response. As a Senator from a coastal state, and a state whose waterways carry lots of oil shipments, I was proud to play a significant role in crafting that bill. Unfortunately, more spills followed." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Daniel K. Inouye, John F. Kerry, Frank R. Lautenberg, Olympia J. Snowe, Ted Stevens, Thad W. Allen, Mike Cooper, William G. Deaver, Dagmar Schmidt Etkin, Susan A. Fleming, Mary M. Glackin, Ronald J. Forest, and Ben Johnson, Jr.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Nuclear Waste, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, July 30, 2013

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  This is from the July 30, 2013 hearing, "Nuclear Waste" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Senator Ron Wyden: "It has now been 3 decades since Congress passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. In many ways the country is no closer to having a permanent solution to these problems than it was then. If anything, there is even less confidence in the government's ability to solve these problems and meet its commitments to utilities and their ratepayers. Our goal with this legislation is to get the permanent repository program back on track and to make sure spent fuel and nuclear waste are handled safely until it is." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ron Wyden, Lisa Murkowski, Ernest Moniz, Sally Young Jameson, Joe Garcia, David C. Boyd, Chuck Smith, Marvin S. Fertel, Geoffrey H. Fettus, and David Lochbaum.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Safety and Security of Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation, Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, September 24, 2008

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  This is the September 24, 2008 hearing on "Safety and Security of Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. From the opening statement of Daniel K. Inouye: "Accomplishing the safe and secure transportation of nuclear waste is one of the more complex challenges facing our government. Spent nuclear fuel is the byproduct of the nuclear power industry that supplies electric energy to millions across the country and also is created by our armed forces. This fuel retains its radioactive qualities for thousands of years and is currently stored at 77 commercial and government sites across the country. We are not here to discuss the merits of the Department of Energy's selection of Yucca Mountain, Nevada as a site for a permanent underground geological repository to store nuclear waste or its current license application. Rather, we must ensure that all shipments of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste are held to the highest safety and security standards. Today nuclear waste is transported by rail, truck, and barge, all of which are under the jurisdiction of this Committee, and the risks of transporting nuclear waste must be fully understood and evaluated and a system of transportation must be designed to fully address these risks." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas R. Carper, John Ensign, Daniel K. Inouye, John Thune, James David Ballard, Kevin D. Crowley, Edward R. Hamberger, Edward W. Pritchard, Harry Reid, Sandra Schubert, Edward F. Sproat, III, Michael Weber, Theodore Wilke, Ken Cook, and Barbara Boxer.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund Program, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, June 22, 2010

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  This is the June 22, 2010 hearing titled, "Oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund Program," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Frank R. Lautenberg, U.S. Senator from New Jersey: "there are hundreds of highly dangerous Superfund sites across the country that sit unabated in our neighborhoods. These sites continue to contaminate the environment, endanger the health of our children, and sabotage communities that want to strengthen their economies. [...] GAO [Government Accountability Office] reports that there are at least 75 Superfund sites that pose [...] unacceptable human exposure. These sites have soil that is poisoned by chemicals, groundwater that is contaminated, or air that is toxic. [...] Birth defects, development disorders, and cancer all have been linked to chemicals found at Superfund sites. [...] Since 2003 funding for Superfund clean ups has depended entirely on taxpayers. In the 1990s, when the fee on oil and chemical companies was in effect, EPA was cleaning up more than 80 sites a year. Last year it cleaned up only 20. And as we will hear from the GAO today, the EPA simply does not have the funding to get the job done." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mathy Stanislaus, John B. Stephenson, Lois Marie Gibbs, Helene M. Pierson, J. Winston Porter, and John E. Stumbo.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Defense [August 2, 2021]

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  From the Document: "[T]he purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the overall status of the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of GAO's [Government Accountability Office] recommendations and to call your personal attention to areas where open recommendations should be given high priority. Many of the recommendations in this letter directly address key challenges that significantly affect DOD's ability to accomplish the department's mission, such as rebuilding readiness, mitigating cyber threats, and controlling costs."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-08-02
• Preparedness Grant Effectiveness Case Study: New York City

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  From the Overview: "In 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a grant effectiveness case study in New York City, NY to understand how the city uses preparedness funds to increase its ability to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks. FEMA also examined New York City's grant allocation and prioritization processes and, throughout the case study, solicited feedback from local officials to inform future improvements to the grant programs. The case study found that terrorist events and the evolving, persistent threat of terrorism over the past two decades have shaped the missions and priorities of New York City's public safety institutions. Specifically, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have become anti-terror agencies in addition to maintaining their traditional first responder roles. This expansion of scope for the Departments is rare across the Nation and reflects the leading role New York City plays in combatting terrorist marketing and ideology. I"

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-03
• Private Health Coverage: Results of Covert Testing for Selected Sales Representatives Listed on Healthcare.gov

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  From the Document: "Since 2014, millions of consumers have purchased individual market health insurance plans through the health insurance exchanges--or marketplaces--established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). PPACA directed each state to establish an exchange--referred to as a state-based exchange--or elect to use the federally facilitated exchange established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Each year the exchanges offer an open enrollment period during which eligible consumers may enroll in or change their coverage. Consumers enroll in the federally facilitated exchange through HHS's healthcare.gov [hyperlink] website, and some state-based exchanges have chosen to also use this website for enrollment. [...] You requested that we perform additional work to obtain insights on the marketing and sales practices of sales representatives who are listed on healthcare.gov [hyperlink]. In this report, we describe the results of covert tests we conducted involving selected sales representatives listed on healthcare.gov [hyperlink] when contacted by our undercover investigators stating that they had preexisting conditions."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-08-10
• Oversight Review of the National Flood Insurance Program, Hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, One Hundred and Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 23, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation from the June 23, 2014 hearing on "Oversight Review of the National Flood Insurance Program" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: "The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairswill meet in Open Session to conduct a briefing by the Majority investigative staff of the Committee to discuss the findings of their oversight review of the National Flood Insurance Program."

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

  2015-06-23
• National Flood Insurance Program: Reviewing the Recommendation of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council's 2015 Annual Report, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, on Examining the Testimony Related to the Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program as Well as the Recommendations in the Technical Mapping Advisory Council's Annual Report, September 13, 2016

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  This is the September 13, 2016 hearing on "The National Flood Insurance Program: Reviewing the Recommendation of the Technical Mapping Advisory Council's 2015 Annual Report," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the opening statement of Richard C. Shelby: "This year's report includes recommendations on how FEMA can better communicate flood risk which can form the basis for more accurate flood insurance rates. Flood insurance not only helps homeowners recover in the event of a flood; it also enables communities to reduce flood risk through the adoption of floodplain management standards. However, the program cannot be successful without accurate mapping and flood risk modeling. For years, right here I have advocated for a Flood Insurance Program that uses the best science and data to map properties so that both the Government and the homeowners fully understand the risk of flooding. Today, most homeowners do not understand the true flood risk to their property. This is due in part to the fact that FEMA's rate model was-and still is-based on limited data from the early 1970s and nearly half of FEMA's maps remain out of date." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Roy E. Wright, John Dorman, and Scott K. Edelman.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Flood Control Infrastructure: Safety Questions Raised by Current Event, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 1, 2017

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  This is the March 1, 2017 hearing on "Flood Control Infrastructure: Safety Questions Raised by Current Event," held before the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of John Barrasso: "The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has sweeping jurisdiction over our Nation's infrastructure. Our last hearing focused on highways and roads, and the needs of rural water systems, all of which are within this Committee's purview. Recent natural weather events in the last month in California and in other western States are highlighting the need to focus our attention on our levees and our dams and other structures that prevent catastrophic flooding in both rural and urban communities. Earlier this month, more than 180,000 people were evacuated in California because storms caused serious damage to the Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States. The potential threat of dam failure is a serious concern, a concern to State officials and to people living downstream of Oroville. Any future severe weather event could make the situation even more critical, and it is raising questions about the readiness of our flood prevention infrastructure." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Todd Lieutenant, Ron Corbett, Terry Wolf, John Laird, and Larry A. Larson.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• National Water Hazards & Vulnerabilities: Improved Forecasting for Response & Mitigation, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, April 4, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the April 4, 2017 hearing on "National Water Hazards & Vulnerabilities: Improved Forecasting for Response & Mitigation" before the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. From the opening statement of Richard Shelby: "Severe flooding, extended droughts, and dangerous storm surges, among others, threaten communities across our nation. In 2015 and 2016, property damage caused by flooding alone resulted in 105 deaths and an estimated $20.6 billion in losses. Over the same time-period, losses due to drought amounted to $8.1 billion. Improving our ability to predict and forecast these events will help save lives and protect property by allowing emergency managers to better prepare and respond to extreme weather incidents. Collecting water-related data and distributing it in a useable form is an invaluable task--one that takes a collective effort by the federal government, states, and the private sector. Cutting-edge research is needed to advance our current prediction and modeling capabilities. One example of a recent advancement spurred by university research is the unveiling of the National Water Model, which is a predictive tool that simulates water flow across the continental United States. The National Water Model is the product of collaboration between federal agencies and universities to solve a complex problem: tracking water flow across the country to aid local communities and emergency managers in responding to water-related threats." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Louis Uccellini, Antonio Busalacchi, Mary Glackin, and Bryan Koon.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations

  2017-04-04
• Flood Control Infrastructure: Safety Questions Raised by Current Events, to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 1, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the March 1, 2017 hearing, "Flood Control Infrastructure: Safety Questions Raised by Current Events" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the statement of Todd T. Semonite: "I am pleased to be here today to discuss the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in dam and levee safety. Generally, our objective in this area is to reduce risks to public safety associated with dams and levees. Our efforts in this area are part of a larger system of management practices by the Corps, aimed at ensuring that our Nation is positioned to deliver a greater objective: to safely provide a range of water resources benefits to the Nation. For dam and levee safety, the Corps uses a risk-informed approach to assure that this objective is met in a transparent and disciplined manner. Water plays a central role in the economy, the health of our communities, and the diversity of our ecosystems and natural landscapes. Unfortunately, many in our Nation have also experienced what happens when we have too little or too much water, or water that is not fit to sustain natural habitats. In many ways, the decisions that we have made as a Nation in developing, managing, and protecting our water resources have influenced how the Nation developed and where its people now live. The Nation's water resources infrastructure includes dams and levees built by the Federal government, states, local authorities, and the private sector over many years. Sustaining the benefits that these structures provide, where warranted, requires the proper management of the risks that come with those benefits." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Todd T. Semonite, Terry Wolf, Ron Corbett, John Laird, and Larry A. Larson.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works

  2017-03-01
• Examination of the Federal Response and Resources for Louisiana Flood Victims, Hearing Before the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, September 15, 2016

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  This hearing compilation is from the September 15, 2016 hearing "An Examination of the Federal Response and Resources for Louisiana Flood Victims" before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. From the statement of Chairman David Vitter: "This hearing is an important step to highlight the magnitude of this disaster in the Senate. It is unfortunate, but the reality is that this event was severely underreported across the country. To put it in perspective, over the course of 36 hours, severe storms generated up to 30 inches of rain, which triggered a thousand-year flood event, according to FEMA. State officials estimate this caused nearly $8.7 billion in damages. Shortly after the flood, President Obama declared a major disaster declaration for 22 parishes in South Louisiana. So far, there have been over 142,000 registrations with FEMA for individual household assistance. This compares to a very significant flood event in Northern and Central Louisiana last March, which had 40,000 registrations. It also surpasses the serious flooding in South Carolina last year that had over 26,000 registrations. Compared to Hurricane Ike in 2008, which saw over 120,000 registrations, over $532 million in individual household programs claims that were approved, and cost $29 billion in property damage - the cost the Louisiana flooding in August has already exceeded those numbers. [...] The Louisiana people deserve better from FEMA and deserve to have the Administrator's attention. This hearing would have been a great opportunity to make things right and show people that FEMA is sincere about managing emergencies and to explain in detail the struggle that many hardworking Louisianians are going through after one of America's worst natural disasters since Hurricane Sandy." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Vitter, Patrick Mulhearn, Ron Erickson Sr., and Clay Schnexnayder.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

  2016-09-15
• Fiscal Year 2013 Field Hearings, Hearings Before the Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, April 3-5, 2012

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  This is the April 3-5, 2012 series, "Fiscal Year 2013 Field Hearings," before the Senate Committee on the Budget. The April 3rd Hearing, "Rebuilding After a Disaster: the Role of Community Development Block Grants" focused on Federal assistance provisions to disaster-stricken areas of the U.S. Witnesses from North Dakota were in attendance to give testimony of a flooding emergency that occurred in 2011. The April 4th Hearing, "Devil's Lake Flood Response: Next Steps" covered the budgetary response for rebuilding infrastructure and farmland that was affected by the Devil's Lake Flood in North Dakota. The April 5th Hearing, "Multi-Year Surface Transportation Bill: Key to Infrastructure Investments" discussed transportation infrastructure funding for North Dakota. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kent Conrad, Ryan Ackerman, Rick Berg, Joe Belford, Jack Dalrymple, Paul Diederich, Shirley Dykshoorn, John Elsperger, John Fjeldahl, Odell Flaagan, Don Frye, Clarence Green, Richard Johnson, L. John MacMartin, Dale Marks, Mark Motis, Dennis Walaker, Francis Ziegler, Curt Zimbelman, and John Hoeven.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, on Examining the Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, March 14 and May 4, 2017

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  This is from the March 14 and May 4, 2017 hearing "Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program," before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. From the statement of Roy E. Wright: "Good morning Chairman Crapo, Ranking Member Brown, and Members of the Committee. My name is Roy Wright and I am the Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation -- responsible for directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) risk management, mitigation, and flood insurance programs. Thank you for the opportunity to testify about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including FEMA's efforts to transform the program in recent years and to request considerations for Congress' reauthorization of the NFIP before it expires in September 2017. Flooding is the most frequent and expensive disaster in the United States; 90 percent of natural disasters in the United States involve a flood. Homeowners insurance does not typically include coverage in the event of flooding, and historically flood insurance was not widely available. If it was, it was very expensive. Congress established the NFIP in 1968, which FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) administers." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Roy E. Wright, Steve Ellis, Michael Hecht, and Larry Larson.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act of 2012: One Year After Enactment, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Economic Policy of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, September 18, 2013

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  This is the September 18, 2013 hearing on the "Implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act of 2012" held before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Policy. This hearing focuses on the National Flood Insurance Program, the agency that provides flood insurance, and FEMA's responsibilities in managing the program It also discusses how the Act has affected property owners, which includes flood maps and levees, flood damage, and increased tax rates. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Vitter, Mary L. Landrieu, Alicia P. Cackley, Christine Shirley, Stephen Ellis, and Birny Birnbaum.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Oversight Hearing on Repeated Flooding Events in Ellicott City, MD: Reviewing the Federal Role in Preventing Future Events, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, August 20, 2018

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  This is the August 20, 2018 field hearing titled "Oversight Hearing on Repeated Flooding Events in Ellicott City, MD: Reviewing the Federal Role in Preventing Future Events," held before the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. From the opening statement of Benjamin L. Cardin: "We talk about Team Maryland. We talk about Team Maryland responding to the priorities of our State. In regards to the floods in Ellicott City, our captain was the County Exec, and he worked very well with Governor Hogan and the State team and with our Federal congressional delegation from the beginning to see what we could get done. Only concern was the safety of the people here in Ellicott City and the future of Ellicott City. And it was a pleasure to work with you on this issue, and Team Maryland couldn't be more proud of the manner in which we used all the resources of our State in order to deal with these horrific floods." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Elijah E. Cummings, Cecil Rodriguez, John T. Litz, Mark DeLuca, Jon Weinstein, Grace Kubofcik, and Matthew H. Fleming.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2018
• First Responder's Toolbox: Chemical and Biological Threats to Food Retailers [May 6, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Point-of-sale food retailers nationwide, such as supermarkets, supercenters, warehouse groceries, and club, gourmet, and convenience stores, may be vulnerable to attacks with chemical or biological materials, although overall interest in such attack methods remains low. Both domestic and international terrorists have promoted attacks against soft targets, including the US food industry at retail locations. Although we have yet to observe a sustained interest in targeting retail food establishments, they may be an attractive target because of their accessibility and the potential for an attack to create significant harm. Violent extremists, possibly to stoke fear, have advocated through online platforms for people to poison or tamper with food in grocery stores[.]"

  National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.)

  Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team

  2020-05-06
• U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund: Estimated Lump Sum Catch-Up Payments

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  From the Document: "The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in the deaths and injuries of thousands of people. In 2015, the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act (Terrorism Act) was enacted, which established the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (Fund) to provide compensation for persons injured in acts of international state-sponsored terrorism. In May 2016, the Attorney General appointed a Special Master to administer the Fund. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel support the Fund. To date, the Fund has allocated approximately $3.3 billion in three payment rounds, which began in 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2019, the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund Clarification Act (Clarification Act) amended the groups of individuals who were eligible to claim payments from the Fund. [...] The Sudan Claims Resolution Act includes provisions for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to (1) estimate lump sum catch-up payments to eligible 9/11 victims, spouses, and dependents that would result in the percentage of claims received from the Fund being equal to the percentage of claims of 9/11 family members received from the Fund; and (2) estimate amounts of lump sum catch-up payments for 9/11 victims, spouses, and dependents. [...] In summary, we [GAO] estimated that lump sum catch-up payments to 5,364 9/11 victims, spouses, and dependents in our population would total about $2.7 billion."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-08-11
• Grant Effectiveness Case Study: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

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  From the Overview: "In 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a grant effectiveness case study with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to understand how the Tribe uses grant funds to increase its emergency management capabilities for both all-hazards response and preventing terrorist attacks. To inform this case study, FEMA personnel conducted a site visit to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reservation in Barnstable County in August 2019 to meet with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Management Department (MWTEMD). During this visit, FEMA discussed the Tribe's management and use of preparedness grant dollars. FEMA collected information in this case study with the cooperation and participation of the MWTEMD."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2020-04-29
• Texas Innovative Practice - Arkema

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  From the Summary: "During Hurricane Harvey, flooding at the Arkema Chemical Plant caused trailers to leak dangerous chemicals. The Houston Police Department used a helicopter equipped with night vision video capabilities and data downlink software to reveal an unstable condition as chemicals began to react. This provided first responders real-time, detailed visual information that possibly saved the lives of sixteen responders who would have otherwise entered a dangerous situation."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-02-11
• Project Safe Haven: Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Systems on Washington State's Pacific Coast

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  From the Summary: "Washington State's Pacific coast faces the threat of large-scale earthquakes and tsunamis. To mitigate the risk, Washington is providing technical assistance to cities, counties, and tribes for construction of the Nation's first vertical evacuation structures capable of withstanding 9.0+ magnitude earthquakes and 30-foot waves. The project provides residents and visitors in coastal population centers a means of seeking safety without having to travel considerable distance to natural high ground."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-02-11
• Texas Innovative Practice - County Radio Systems

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  From the Summary: "The City of Houston, Harris County and Montgomery County built a fully interoperable emergency management communication network. Montgomery County's network was built independently of the Houston/Harris County network, and all three governments coordinated to ensure that networks were interoperable and continue to rely on one another for increased operational effectiveness. Previous networks required responders to carry multiple radios to communicate across jurisdictional lines; otherwise, responders were unable to communicate outside of their jurisdiction. Responders believe these upgraded operational communication capabilities saved countless lives during Hurricane Harvey."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-02-11
• Washington - Northwest Regional Aviation: Protecting the Puget Sound

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  From the Summary: "The Seattle Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) established Northwest Regional Aviation (NWRA)--an aviation consortium that protects the Puget Sound area from terrorism and responds to large-scale disasters. The NWRA saved 12 survivors during the first three hours of the Snohomish County mudslide on March 22, 2014."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-06-29
• Oklahoma's Regional Response System

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  From the Summary: "Oklahoma created the Regional Response System (RRS)--a collection of specialized units and equipment--to provide all-hazards response throughout the state within two hours of an incident. RRS units have responded to dozens of incidents, including the May 20, 2013 tornado near Oklahoma City."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-02-11
• Oklahoma's School Safety Initiatives

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  From the Summary: "Oklahoma developed two programs--Safe Schools 101 and the Oklahoma School Security Institute (OSSI)--to protect students from natural and manmade hazards. Together, these programs protect schools from the dangers of tornadoes and enhance school security and response plans."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-02-11
• Texas Innovative Practice - Finance

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  From the Summary: "This Texas-funded innovative program trains jurisdictions to address disaster-related financial topics such as how to track time and labor, overtime charges, and travel cost processing. Local jurisdictions reported better capabilities in handling Hurricane Harvey-related finances after completing the training."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2021-02-11