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 On Tuesday (June 29) the US Senate passed legislation to renew a grant program to help prevent disaster-related damage before it happens.
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) reauthorization bill provides grants to state and local governments for projects to mitigate the risk of hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.
The bill codifies the PDM program as a competitive grant program to ensure funds are spent wisely. Without the reauthorization, the program would expire.
In 2008, HSGAC reported out a PDM reauthorization bill for Fiscal Year 2011. Although the measure never passed the full Senate, funding was extended for 2009 and 2010 through the annual Department of Homeland Security appropriations process.
In 2007, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that future losses are reduced by about $3 for each $1 spent on the program. CBO also found that PDM-funded projects could lower the need for federal post-disaster assistance, meaning the PDM investment would save taxpayers money.
The House passed similar legislation in April 2009.
Source: http://hsgac.senate.gov
•Date: 1st July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Public sector
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