Strengthening FEMA to Better Serve the CNMI
On Wednesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669), the most comprehensive reform of FEMA in decades. I spoke in support of the bill which includes my provision directing FEMA to study disaster workforce retention and recovery challenges in noncontiguous areas of the United States, with a case study specifically on Super Typhoon Yutu, which devastated Saipan and Tinian in 2018. That storm forever changed our islands, and the federal government must understand the unique challenges our communities face in recovery. By learning from these lessons, FEMA can improve recovery efforts not just for the Marianas, but for all U.S. territories and noncontiguous regions. H.R. 4669 cuts red tape, speeds up disaster recovery, and makes FEMA more accountable so communities get the help they need without delay.