Press Releases

Today, House of Representative members Frederica Wilson (FL-24) and Nick LaLota (NY-01) introduced the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act. This bill would hold the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accountable for the case management staff turnover rate and require FEMA to provide information on what they are doing to improve retention rates.

"As a proud South Florida native, our resilient community has weathered decades of natural disasters, forging a close partnership with FEMA as they help support Floridians recovering from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and much more. During times of uncertainty, it is essential that FEMA provides disaster assistance to families who have endured unimaginable losses, offering them the relief they need to recover without the fear of their cases getting lost in the bureaucratic shuffle, particularly in the face of high staff turnover," said Congresswoman Wilson. “I’m proud to join Representative LaLota in co-introducing the FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act, which marks a significant stride in ensuring FEMA's commitment to accountability concerning the turnover rate among its case management staff. We must guarantee that this vital agency not only responds promptly to disaster survivors but also works to improve staff retention and provide the critical support families need to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of these devastating events."

“My constituents are incredibly familiar with FEMA given our history of natural disasters and storms, especially the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. FEMA has one of the higher turnover rates of any federal agency, which is troubling given the important work they do with victims of natural disasters to help get lives back on track,” said LaLota, a member of the Homeland Security Committee. “My FEMA Caseworker Accountability Act would ensure cases, disaster relief, and recovery funding do not fall through the cracks when a new caseworker comes on. We must ensure we have a transparent government which works for the people, not against them.”

To read the full text of the resolution, click HERE.

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