[Page S8579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 3403. A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act to require the President to provide assistance 
for predisaster hazard mitigation measures and adjust the Federal cost 
share for certain building resilient infrastructure and communities 
projects, and for other projects; to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Building 
Resilience and Stronger Communities Act, along with Senator Murkowski 
of Alaska. Our bipartisan bill would reinstate the Building Resilient 
Infrastructure and Communities, BRIC Program at the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, FEMA, and protect it against elimination in the 
future. It would also make it easier for smaller communities to access 
funding by increasing the Federal cost-share for small projects and for 
projects that protect critical facilities, and it would ensure that 
Tribes will be able to access funding under the program.
  Established by Congress in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and 
signed into law by President Trump in 2018, BRIC serves as FEMA's 
primary predisaster mitigation program. Since 2020, FEMA has awarded 
more than $4.5 billion in BRIC funding to help communities across the 
country strengthen their resilience efforts. Through BRIC, local 
governments have been able to carry out essential projects such as 
elevating at-risk infrastructure, reinforcing bridges, or improving 
drainage systems. These projects not only protect vital infrastructure 
and in turn, homes and businesses but also create jobs and ensure that 
communities can continue to function in the aftermath of natural 
disasters.
  Rather than waiting for costly recovery efforts after a disaster, the 
BRIC Program helps communities prepare in advance--reducing disaster 
impacts, promoting long-term safety, and saving taxpayer dollars 
through proactive investment. Indeed, various studies have found that 
for every $1 spent on resilience and preparedness, communities save 
between $13 and $18 in damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact.
  Despite the BRIC Program's demonstrated benefits under both 
Democratic and Republican administrations, the Trump administration 
abruptly canceled the program in April 2025, claiming it was ``wasteful 
and ineffective.'' Regrettably, FEMA did not take steps to improve the 
program or reinstate funding. Our bill addresses these issues by 
reestablishing the program, opening it to a broader array of mitigation 
projects in smaller and Tribal communities, and making it easier to 
access funds to protect critical facilities--including healthcare 
facilities, police and fire stations, schools, and power stations. 
These are commonsense reforms that will help improve BRIC and save 
taxpayers billions of dollars in disaster recovery payments in the 
future.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this bipartisan 
legislation.

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