H.R. 4992 — FEMA Critical Staffing Act

This section states congressional findings that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supports communities before, during, and after disasters—including through risk preparation, public assistance, recovery centers, recovery support, and hazard mitigation—and works year-round due to frequent climate change-fueled disasters such as winter wildfires, hail from thunderstorms, and hurricanes.

This section directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use appropriated funds, notwithstanding any other law, to reinstate within 30 days of enactment each individual involuntarily separated from FEMA service between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment who elects reinstatement.

This section requires the FEMA Administrator to continue all programs with appropriated funds that support state and local preparation for and response to extreme weather events and prohibits changes to congressionally mandated programs that reduce access to extreme weather resources. In doing so, the Administrator must (1) immediately reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program—established under the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5133(i)) to fund state, local, and tribal hazard mitigation projects—and carry out any projects with available funds; and (2) immediately reinstate the Flood Mitigation Assistance program—authorized under the National Flood Insurance Act (42 U.S.C. 4104c) to provide grants from the National Flood Mitigation Fund to states, communities, and property owners for planning and activities reducing flood damage to National Flood Insurance Program-insured structures, including severe repetitive loss properties—and carry out any projects with available funds.