Consolidation of Federal Assistance Resources Will Enhance the Federal/State Emergency Management Effort
GGD-83-92
Published: Aug 30, 1983. Publicly Released: Aug 30, 1983.
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Highlights
GAO discussed the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) need for consolidation of federal assistance resources for emergency management and reviewed the agency's Comprehensive Cooperative Agreement (CCA) initiative.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | The Director, FEMA, should prepare a legislative proposal to remove statutory restrictions which currently prevent or complicate the consolidation of related planning and preparedness programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
FEMA has decided not to prepare a legislative proposal. It is satisfied that the administrative consolidation has accomplished what it wants. Legislative change would cause too many political problems with congressional committees.
|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | Pending preparation and approval of a legislative consolidation proposal, the Director, FEMA, should reinforce the administrative consolidation initiative by seeking congressional approval for limited exemption from reprogramming restrictions; and by identifying and, to the extent practicable, consolidating related programs presently unconstrained by statutory requirements into one budget program element. |
Closed – Implemented
Limited exemption was not sought to the reprogramming restriction. In addition, several formerly separate programs were consolidated for budget purposes.
|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | To further reinforce the administrative consolidation and in preparation for the more fundamental legislative consolidation, the Director, FEMA, should also enhance the agency's capacity to implement a more results-oriented approach to holding states accountable for achieving federal objectives by: (1) specifying in measurable terms all program objectives and evaluation criteria; (2) improving monitoring and evaluation of state performance in achieving program objectives; and (3) developing and communicating to the states a realistic sanction system. |
Closed – Implemented
FEMA developed measurable objectives and a realistic sanction system as part of CCA.
|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | The Director, FEMA, should also require each state, in its application for consolidated assistance, to specify how federal emergency management programs funded by other federal agencies relate to CCA and, when implemented, the consolidated FEMA program. |
Closed – Implemented
The FY 1985 CCA applications require states to identify other federal programs funding the objectives of FEMA programs and explain the relationships between these programs and FEMA assistance programs.
|
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Agency missionsAppropriated fundsCivil defenseComprehensive emergency managementEmergency managementEmergency preparednessFederal aid programsstate relationsIntergovernmental fiscal relationsProgram evaluationProgram management