The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is backing a sweeping reform package that would elevate the Federal Emergency Management Agency to a cabinet-level post reporting directly to the president.
The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Sept. 3 with bipartisan sponsorship from Chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).
NAMIC said the move would strengthen FEMA’s accountability and improve coordination during disaster response.
The trade group argued that insurers rely on efficient emergency management to support policyholders after catastrophic events.
Insurance is built on the promise of being there for policyholders when they need it most, and sound emergency management is absolutely essential
Jimi Grande, NAMIC’s senior vice president of federal and political affairs
He added the bill would help FEMA prepare for and respond to increasingly severe weather.
The legislation would authorize FEMA to use project-based grants, letting states target resources toward the highest-need initiatives and accelerate recovery timelines.
It also includes provisions to incentivize mitigation investments, establish “rainy day” funds, and encourage greater reliance on private insurance.
Other measures would streamline federal permitting and procurement, create a Recovery Task Force to resolve more than 1,000 unresolved disaster declarations dating back to Hurricane Katrina, and simplify aid applications for survivors.
Updates to notification rules aim to improve how disaster victims receive information, while expanded avenues for nonfederal assistance are intended to broaden recovery resources.
Graves said the bill responds to long-standing frustrations with FEMA’s performance. “The FEMA Act is designed to address one simple fact that we all recognize, especially Americans who have been impacted by disasters: FEMA is not working the way it should for our communities,” he said in a statement.
NAMIC underscored that every $1 invested in mitigation can prevent as much as $13 in future losses, framing the bill as a necessary step to align federal disaster policy with financial and climate realities.
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is first and foremost an advocacy organization.
The association’s work continues to support laws and regulations that protect and promote the opportunity for member companies to contribute to society through a financially sound, competitive, and ethical insurance industry. Achieving such public policy is not only good for NAMIC members, it is ultimately good for insurance consumers.
The best way to advance NAMIC’s public policy priorities is political engagement. It gives us a seat at the table and is one of our most important tools to engage with members of Congress and lawmakers in state houses across the country. There is a lot at stake that will have real-life impacts on insurers and their policyholders, and the best way to impact the political process is by building and enhancing relationships.
