Skip to main content

Newhouse Backs Legislation to Expedite Disaster Assistance to Rural Communities

June 16, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sponsored Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' (WA-05) Making Aid for Local Disasters Equal Now Act (MALDEN Act) to expedite the deployment of disaster assistance to rural communities impacted by a natural disaster. The bill is named after the town of Malden, Washington, which was devastated by the Babb Road Fire in 2020.

"The people of Central Washington and across the West understand the challenges of rebuilding after a natural disaster like a catastrophic wildfire," said Rep. Newhouse. "Like Malden, communities in our district have been directly impacted by delays in disaster declarations from the federal government as recently as this year, and don't deserve to be left at the mercy of bureaucrats in D.C. I'm proud to sponsor this legislation to ensure that families, homeowners, businesses, and farmers can get the help they need, when it matters most."

Click here to read the full text of the bill.

Background:

The MALDEN Act would amend the Stafford Act to:

  • Require the president to approve or deny a disaster declaration request within 30 days. If the request is not denied within 30 days, then it is approved.
  • Ensure rural communities receive recovery assistance by requiring FEMA to work in coordination with state leadership to provide guidance to local emergency managers on developing a recovery team. They must also assist in identifying short and long-term recovery resources, including resources to prevent secondary natural disasters like flooding, mudslides and rockslides.
  • Instruct FEMA to work with the state emergency management agency to make disaster case workers available for rural communities in the event that a request for Individual Assistance is made and denied.

###