Two members of Michigan's Congressional delegation are pushing to cut red tape for aid to communities impacted by natural disasters.
A bill proposed by U.S. House Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) and Republican John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia) would expedite the timeline for federal disaster reimbursements.
Moolenaar represents all of Gladwin County and portions of Midland County as part of Michigan's 2nd Congressional District. Large parts of counties were pummeled after multiple dams broke in May of 2020, causing widespread flooding and billions of dollars in damages. McDonald Rivet now represents the the city of Midland as part of Michigan's 8th Congressional District.
The bill, if passed, would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to disburse emergency relief funds within 120 days of validating 90% of associated costs.
McDonald Rivet says while the Midland area has received over $1 million in aid, many still have not been made whole.
"Across Midland County, we are still waiting on nearly $2 million,” the Congresswoman said at a committee hearing. “Small sum for the federal government, enormous amount of money in my community."
In a statement, Moolenaar called the bill a "common sense, bipartisan proposal," that would help victims of disasters.
“For over five years, the residents of Midland and Gladwin counties have worked to rebuild their homes and businesses,” he said. “FEMA’s burdensome red tape has kept critical funding from the area to assist with its recovery.”
Moolenaar and McDonald Rivet wrote a joint letter in may to Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem saying FEMA reimbursements were needed for those impacted by the mid-Michigan flooding.
The bill passed through the House Committee Transportation and Infrastructure.
Roughly 2,000 mid-Michigan residents who were impacted by the flood are suing the state of Michigan in civil court. They argue state agencies knew the dams were not structurally sound, a charge the state denies.
