Human Services & Education Policy Steering Committee

Two overlapping disaster recovery efforts are now unfolding in Washington: a sweeping executive-branch review of FEMA and a bipartisan legislative push to reform the agency through Congress. County officials should understand both tracks, what they could mean for local governments and where each stands today.

Counties that suffer major damage during natural disasters would benefit dramatically from a FEMA Act proposal to do away with reimbursement and instead offer counties recovery grants up front.

Participants in NACo's Public Health Leadership Academy focused on building trust between public health professionals and elected leaders.

As FEMA resumes and restructures its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, counties are reassessing projects that were put in limbo during its cancellation and creating new hazard mitigation gameplans ahead of its upcoming funding cycle. 

From flood protection and public safety to pest control and water infrastructure, mobile tours at NACo's Annual Conference in Orleans Paris, La. offer a firsthand look at local government in action — and plenty of inspiration to bring back home to your county.

On June 10, Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) reintroduced the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act (S.4737), bipartisan legislation that would help qualified volunteer first responders access affordable housing.