Disasters are increasing in frequency and severity – wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, floods, and severe storms are devastating more communities each year. Yet survivors often face confusing paperwork, long delays, and inequitable access to aid. Faith-based partners aim to fill the gap between what the federal government can provide and what makes people “whole” again. This gap is widening. The UCC is committed to living into our vision, “United in Christ’s love, a just world for all”.  

The FEMA Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669) takes long-overdue steps to strengthen and modernize federal disaster management. This legislation can help keep all Americans safe by:  

1. Elevates FEMA to a cabinet-level independent agency, restoring accountability to the president. This improves coordination, speeds decision-making, and ensures that FEMA’s mission to serve survivors remains its central focus without being conflated with the mission of the broader Department of Homeland Security 
2. Simplifies disaster aid applications through a universal assistance form. This makes aid more accessible to low-income families, seniors, and others often excluded by complex systems. 
3. Streamlines funding for pre- and post-disaster mitigation and creates incentives for proactive projects. This helps communities build back stronger, reduce long-term suffering, and build resiliency toward future disasters.  
4. Creates a public dashboard to track aid delivery and requires Government Accountability Office (GAO) oversight of FEMA operations and reforms. This builds trust and accountability. 

The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 8:14, “Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” After disasters occur, these communities need our support. By effectively supporting communities after disasters occur, we are helping to build more resilient communities.  

Bureaucratic slowdowns harm disaster survivors and their ability to become “whole again”. Necessary reforms like the FEMA Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669), will allow communities to recover quicker with more reliable support.  

Tell Congress to support disaster recovery through these two disaster-related bills to provide support for disaster-impacted communities across the country.