Issue Brief 13-30
October 25, 2013
Summary 

Before the Patriot Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-56), state and local governments relied on three main grants targeted to preparedness. Over the next 11 years, that number grew to 27 in fiscal year (FY) 2008 and has since been reduced to 15 in FY 2013. Along with the duplicative nature of some of these grants, there has been broad-based concern with the grant application process, grant flexibility, and deadlines for risk assessments. There has also been a significant decrease in the amount of non-disaster preparedness funding since FY 2009 (-44%). Under the constraint of budget cuts and managing numerous grant programs, state groups have called for comprehensive grant reform. This Issue Brief provides a summary of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appropriations, explains changes in funding between FY 2003 and FY 2013 for non-disaster preparedness grants, and highlights reform proposals.