Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) reintroduced the bipartisan Strengthening The Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground Act (STRONG Act) to help communities better prepare for, withstand, and recover from natural disasters like wildfires, tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes by aggregating best practices on disaster readiness and response. It establishes a central agency and information center to combine the expertise of local, state, and federal agencies in developing short- and long-term resiliency strategies for communities. The bill was introduced on the sixth anniversary of Congress passing the Sandy supplemental bill which provided $50.5 billion for disaster relief for communities following Superstorm Sandy, which caused $72 billion in damage.

“In San Diego, we know the cost of wildfires all too well, and northern California just experienced the worst wildfires in state history. Americans across the country are also experiencing disasters with increasing frequency and strength. This bill will give communities the tools to plan ahead and increase their resiliency, which will save lives and reduce costs in the long-run. We know that for every dollar invested in preparedness and resiliency, six are saved in restoration following a disaster,” said Rep. Peters.

“The devastation that communities experience due to natural disasters is heartbreaking, and the time for action is now – not after the storms hit. It is common sense to allow at-risk communities to have access to the best possible resources in order to plan for extreme weather events proactively, instead of reactively. I’m proud to co-lead this life-saving bill,” said Rep. Stefanik.

Rep. Peters has introduced the STRONG Act every term he has been in Congress—in 2013, 2015, and 2017. He continues to seek innovative ways to save taxpayer dollars that better prepare communities across the country for whatever disaster their community may face.