Bresnahan Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Funding for Community Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) announced the introduction of the Save BRIC Act,legislation requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to disburse funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to help states prepare against natural disasters. This bipartisan bill, which he introduced with Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-04), would protect the program from elimination.

"The BRIC program is a hand-up, not a hand-out, to at-risk communities who have suffered catastrophic weather events" said Rep. Bresnahan. "In cases where our communities cannot bear the full cost of keeping people safe, it is our responsibility to lend assistance. We must ensure this critical program continues to provide the infrastructure assistance and pre-disaster support to those who need it most."

Last month, acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton wrote in an agency memo that the Administration would not allocate the $750 million that was planned this year for BRIC grants. Specifically, the city of Scranton, PA, was awaiting funding for buy-outs of flood-prone properties that were destroyed by flash floods on September 9, 2023. Without the support from the BRIC program, the city will be forced to come up with an additional $2.5 million in funding in order to create floodplain restoration and infrastructure, which is important to city public safety and future cost savings.

"Defunding this common-sense, bipartisan grant program puts lives, property, and public safety at unnecessary risk" said Rep. Stanton. "BRIC grants are a small up-front investment in resilience to save lives and taxpayer dollars long-term. Arizona communities are counting on these funds-dollars that Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis. Now the Trump administration needs to fulfill that promise."

Specifically, the BRIC program supports states, local and territorial governments and Tribal Nations as they work to reduce their hazard risk. The program aims to support communities as they build capability and capacity. BRIC also encourages and aids innovation. It helps partnerships grow; supports infrastructure projects; and fosters flexibility and consistency. Research has proven that every $1 invested in pre-disaster mitigation saves up to $13 in disaster recovery costs.

The BRIC program was authorized and signed into law by President Trump in 2018.

You can read the full text of the legislation here.

###