Sovereign States Emergency Management Act

This bill would end the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) two years after it becomes law and move FEMA’s duties and staff to the President’s office. It would also create a new disaster relief block grant program run by the Treasury Department that gives money to states. States could use the funds to train and equip for disasters, respond and recover after events, and reduce future risks.

Grant amounts would be set by a formula that looks at population, past disasters over 20 years, geographic risks (like flood plains or earthquake zones), and economic need. States could spend up to 5% on their administrative costs, and they would only get funds after Treasury approves an annual emergency plan. Each year, states must submit their plan by April 1 and later report results within 90 days after the fiscal year ends. The program bars duplicate funding from other federal sources and requires yearly audits; 10% of funds go to run the program and another 10% to audits. The grant program would end four years after Treasury issues the allocation rule.

• Who is affected: States; plans must show coordination with local governments and Tribal authorities.
• What changes: FEMA would be abolished and its functions shifted to the President; a Treasury-run block grant would fund preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
• When: FEMA ends two years after enactment; state plans due by April 1 each year; annual reports due within 90 days after the fiscal year; the grant program ends four years after Treasury issues its funding rule.