Publisher's Synopsis
Past hearings, including the one this Committee, the Committee on Indian Affairs, held on natural disasters three years ago, laid out the landscape of disaster response needs in Indian Country. In response to those needs, an amendment to the Stafford Act authorized tribes to request a disasters declaration directly from the President. Before the amendment, tribes had to work through States to request a disaster declaration. It was slow, uncertain, and altogether an unacceptable solution for some tribes. In this hearing, we want to explore what has happened since the Stafford Act amendment. The ability to make direct requests for disaster declaration is all well and good, but we need to ensure that authority is translating into appropriate and timely Federal assistance. Are tribes getting more response and assistance now than they were before the amendment or are the implementation processes the same? When disaster strikes Indian Country, tribal leaders need direct government to government communications and resources to help their people.
