The Budget for Disasters Act H.R. 4386 would require Congress to find savings elsewhere in federal budget before increasing spending for disaster relief. The bill could save over $100 billion in taxpayer dollars over ten years and would bring greater transparency to federal spending.

Note: Last year, President Obama issued over 240 FEMA disaster declarations, breaking the previous record by over 80. Most disasters – tornadoes, snowstorms, fires, floods - are state and local issues. However, President Obama increased the national debt with his very generous use of “disaster declarations.”

Here's what the following groups are saying about  H.R. 4386:

Heritage Action for America

“Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) has introduced a bill that would end [the disaster funding loophole] gimmick. The Budget for Disasters Act (H.R.4386) would remove that gimmick and ensure that disaster spending is included with the rest of the federal budget. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that this bill could save about $100 billion over ten years. Stopping the wasteful practice of counting certain types of spending outside of budget caps must stop. Congress needs to stop misleading the American people about the amount of money they’re spending and this bill is a step in the right direction toward ensuring honesty in budgeting.”

FreedomWorks

“The Budget for Disasters Act would remove the loopholes in the Budget Control Act to save taxpayers’ money. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the Budget for Disasters Act could save around $100 billion over ten years. Last year, Congress spent about $11 billion over the cap due to the “disaster spending” loophole in the Budget Control Act. Budget gimmicks like this allow Congress to hide how much money they are spending from the American people. The House Budget Committee report has already recommended placing disaster funding under the spending cap. This is a step in the right direction to increase transparency and accountability in the budget process.”

The Madison Project

“In recent years, Congress has been using “disaster spending” to increase the total spending above and beyond the levels set in the annual appropriations bills. Last year, Congress used $11 billion in disaster spending to ensure that not a single penny of spending was cut from the previous year. The Budget for Disasters Act, sponsored by Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO), is very simple. This bill would clarify that all disaster spending is subject to the annual spending caps, thereby forcing Congress to offset disaster spending with cuts from other areas in the budget.”

Let Freedom Ring

“The Budget Control Act’s loophole allowing disaster spending not to be accounted for under the spending caps it established is yet another Washington loophole that is an affront to honest budgeting. The spending caps are too high as is and this very loophole allowed for $11 billion in additional FY 2012 spending above the cap. Removing this loophole, as the Budget for Disasters Act accomplishes, is estimated to save taxpayers over $100 billion over 10 years. We endorse any common-sense spending reforms such as this that put taxpayers first and thus are pleased to encourage your colleagues to support your important legislation.”

# # #