from the desk of Representative Byron Donalds

A Q1 Legislative Update From Congressman Byron Donalds

In the 119th Congress, my office has been hard at work on your behalf, writing and co-leading commonsense, solutions-oriented legislation. Among the 15+ pieces of legislation that my office has worked to introduce and pass through the U.S. House of Representatives so far, below are four bills that will directly benefit our Southwest Florida community, our great Sunshine State, and the nation:

H.R. 1786 – The Harmful Algal Bloom Disaster Relief Act:

This bipartisan legislation led by Congressman Donalds seeks to ensure that communities affected by catastrophic Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “Major Disaster” relief funding. H.R. 1786 is co-led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and specifically amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster.

H.R. 1676 – The Make SWAPs Efficient Act:

This bipartisan legislation led by Congressman Donalds seeks to ensure government efficiency in conservation. State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) are developed and submitted by states to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to identify nongame species of greatest conservation need, so they don’t become threatened or endangered. Currently, there is no deadline for FWS to approve a complete SWAP once submitted by a state, and in most cases, approval can take over 18 months. 45 states have SWAPs due this year alone. H.R. 1676 is co-led by Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and specifically directs the Secretary of the Interior to approve a state’s SWAP within 180 days. Under the legislation, if the Department of Interior fails to approve a state’s
SWAP within 180 days, the SWAP is “deemed approved.”

H.R. 2308 – The FEMA Independence Act:

This transformative, bipartisan legislation co-led by Congressman Donalds seeks to remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supervision and to restore it as an independent, Cabinet level agency reporting directly to the President. Led by Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), H.R. 2308 reforms federal emergency management procedures and improves efficiency in federal emergency response efforts. This legislation would also stipulate that FEMA’s Senate-confirmed leader must have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” across the public and private sectors.

H.R. 2422 – The Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently at Canaveral Act (CAPE Canaveral Act):

This bipartisan, bicameral legislation led by Congressman Donalds seeks to move the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters from Washington, D.C. to the Sunshine State. Specifically, the “CAPE Canaveral Act” requires the transfer of NASA Headquarters to Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida within one year of enactment and is the U.S. House of Representatives companion bill to Sen. Ashley Moody’s (R-FL) S. 1013 – “CAPE Canaveral Act,” co-led by Sen. Rick Scott (RFL).

In the U.S. House of Representatives, the Donalds “CAPE Canaveral Act” is co-led by Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), and has also received the support of Representatives Aaron Bean (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL),
John Rutherford (R-FL), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).