Video & Transcript Research : 'declared disaster'
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TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
89th Legislative Session - Second Called Session Aug 18th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- HB 2 by King relating to the disaster preparedness response and recovery, including required training
- , refer to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select.
- on Disaster Preparedness and flooding Select.
- programs, and the disaster relief and prevention account for the Committee on Disaster Preparedness
- Disaster preparedness and flooding select.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
89th Legislative Session - Second Called Session Aug 18th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Communications systems for the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
- , referred to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
- to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
- This is referred to the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
- matching and the disaster relief and prevention account for the Committee on Disaster Preparedness and
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (04/22/2025)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- , economic-related employment disasters, like North Carolina comes to mind.
- uh economic related employment disasters uh economic related employment<02:50:59.840>
disasters - like North Carolina employment disasters like North Carolina comes<02:51:01.359>
to <02:51:01.520- Anytime we reached out to him for anything, he was very responsive. the system because it was a disaster
- He the system because it was a disaster.
- like North Carolina employment disasters like North Carolina comes<02:51:01.359>
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, June 5, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Pursuant to clause 12A of rule one, the Chair declares the House in recess until noon.
- Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the
- Persuant to clause 12A of rule<03:18:51.279>
one, <03:18:51.520>declare <03:18:52.000>- the house the chair rule one, declare the house the chair declares<03:18:53.520>
the <03:18:53.680- the house in recess subject to declares the house in recess subject to the<03:18:55.840>
call - the house the chair rule one, declare the house the chair declares<03:18:53.520>
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Labor and Employment and Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The feds have their disaster unemployment. We are going to be hit by disasters. We have seen them.
- relief and disaster rebuild.
- relief and disaster rebuild.
- Each one has a unique role in this disaster.
- We learned from our last disaster.
Summary:
The joint Senate and Assembly labor committees held a hearing on the Los Angeles wildfires and their impact on workers, employers, and recovery efforts. Chairs and members emphasized that rebuilding should prioritize worker safety, equity, local hiring, and strong labor standards rather than simply moving quickly or relying on the lowest bidder. They also stressed the need to learn from past disasters and to create a more coordinated state response for future emergencies.
Worker advocates described how domestic workers, day laborers, firefighters, and other frontline workers were affected by the fires. Testimony focused on workers being trapped in evacuation zones, lacking timely information in Spanish, losing jobs and income, and facing exposure to toxic debris without adequate PPE. Speakers called for expanded outreach and education, stronger Cal/OSHA enforcement, broader occupational safety coverage for domestic workers and day laborers, recall and transfer rights, childcare and transportation support, and a centralized disaster relief system that can quickly deliver cash aid and equipment regardless of immigration status.
Firefighter Derek Irwin said California firefighters face serious carcinogenic exposure and urged continued funding for the firefighter cancer prevention and research program, along with a long-term state health monitoring and research effort similar to the World Trade Center Health Program. Building trades and labor representatives argued that cleanup and rebuilding should be done through community workforce agreements, prevailing wage, apprenticeship requirements, and local hire provisions, and said the state already has trained workers available. They also said federal debris-removal work through the Army Corps has limited the state’s ability to impose some standards, but that state and local funding or subsidies should trigger labor requirements.
Employer and business representatives described major losses to property, inventory, revenue, and jobs, especially in Altadena and nearby areas. The Altadena Chamber said it is coordinating recovery resources, while a construction business owner said small local firms are being shut out of disaster contracts and proposed a more accessible procurement process for local and minority businesses. LAEDC presented preliminary estimates of billions in property damage and business disruption, tens of thousands of potential job losses, and a recovery timeline of five to ten years, warning that low-income communities will be disproportionately affected and that workforce retraining and upskilling will be needed alongside the broader economic recovery.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- AARP in general supports legislation which will help kūpuna during the disaster and after disaster.
- kūpuna recover from the disaster, we support.
- Going on to HB 1296 relating to the major disaster fund.
- flexible in a emergency or in a disaster flexible in a emergency or in a disaster so<00:32:02.760
- Act 10 was primarily for the Lahaina disaster.
Summary:
The Committee on Public Safety heard testimony on several bills. HB 628 HD1, relating to education, would reinstate a prior law allowing veterans whose high school education was interrupted by wartime to receive a diploma. Testimony was generally supportive from the Office of Veterans Services, the Department of Education, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and an individual testifier, with one person in opposition. The committee later recommended passage of HB 628 HD1 as is, and the motion was adopted.
The committee also heard HB 1158 HD1 and HB 1159 HD1, both relating to commercial harbors. HB 1158 HD1 concerns firefighting at commercial harbors and drew support from the Department of Transportation; the committee recommended passage as is and adopted the recommendation. HB 1159 HD1 would require masters or persons in charge of vessels to comply with a Harbor Master’s order to evacuate a commercial harbor during emergencies. Testimony included support from Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, and comments from the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. Members raised concerns about small boat operators and safety, and the committee passed the bill with reservations.
The committee then discussed HB 1262, relating to the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, and HB 1296, relating to the major disaster fund. Supporters of HB 1262 included the Climate Advisory Team and AARP Hawaii, while the Department of Budget and Finance cautioned about duplication of benefits with federal disaster aid and the need to preserve the fund’s primary purpose. Members questioned how the bill would interact with federal assistance and whether the fund could be used more broadly; no vote was taken, and the bill was deferred to decision-making. On HB 1296, HEMA and Budget and Finance opposed the measure, citing the need for flexibility in emergencies and concerns that added reporting requirements could hinder response efforts, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii noted the major disaster fund is much smaller than the EBF. The committee likewise deferred HB 1296 to decision-making, and the meeting adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 6th, 2026 at 04:27 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- First, it clearly defines which disaster funds may be used for natural versus non-natural disasters.
- First, it clearly defines which disaster funds may be used for natural versus non-natural disasters.
- Chair, what is a disaster that's not a natural disaster?
- What is a disaster that's not a natural disaster, Mr. Chair?
- , like, one natural disaster sort of incident?
Keywords:
general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Has to do with background checks, paid leave when there is a declared emergency, state and county natural
- paid leave when there is a declared paid leave when there is a declared emergency,<02:47:41.279>
- 47:42.319>
natural emergency, state and county natural emergency, state and county natural disaster - 43.920>
funding <02:47:44.319>for <02:47:44.560>them <02:47:45.760>and disaster - relief funding for them and disaster relief funding for them and having<02:47:46.399>
their <02
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Taylor declared a conflict of interest on House Bill 1707 and did not participate in the
- Senator Berry declared a conflict of interest on House Bill 1720 and did not participate in the vote
- Senator Berry declared a conflict of interest on House Bill 1720 and did not participate in the vote
- It was driven disaster in human history.
- Representative Hunt, Kofal, Hill, and Boyd declared a conflict and did not vote.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Mon Jan 6, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We are continuing to address the ongoing recovery efforts for the Maui wildfire disaster.
- ma the on going recovery efforts for the ma Maui<01:40:55.760>
Wildfire <01:40:56.400>disaster - <01:40:57.400>
we <01:40:57.520>want <01:40:57.679>to Maui Wildfire disaster - we want to Maui Wildfire disaster we want to continue<01:40:58.320>
increasing <01:40:58.840>< - <01:58:35.560>
uh <01:58:35.679>the 27 and based upon the Declaration uh the 27 and
Summary:
The Committee on Finance held its first informational briefing for 2025, beginning with member introductions and then hearing an economic outlook presentation from Dr. Eugene Tian of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Dr. Tian said Hawaii’s economy was in relatively good shape in several areas, especially construction, which he described as at a historical high, with construction employment above 40,000 monthly and building permit values and contracting tax base both up sharply. He also noted real estate sales had rebounded in 2024, the labor market had stabilized with unemployment around 2.9%, and initial unemployment claims were below 2019 levels. At the same time, he highlighted challenges including inflation running above the national rate, a shrinking labor force, lower employment compared with 2023, and continued weakness in visitor spending and arrivals. He said future growth would likely come from health care, professional services, construction, tourism recovery, and diversified sectors such as renewable energy, aquaculture, creative industries, and technology.
Dr. Tian also discussed Hawaii’s economic structure and recovery, saying the state remains more concentrated in a few industries than the U.S. overall, with government and hospitality making up larger shares of the economy. He said non-tourism sectors had recovered, but tourism-related jobs and output were still below pre-pandemic levels, with Maui and the visitor industry still affected by the wildfire and COVID-19 impacts. He projected tourism and non-agricultural wage and salary jobs would not fully recover until 2027, and said population trends remain a concern because of aging, the likelihood of deaths outpacing births in coming years, and reliance on in-migration. After his presentation, the chair said questions would be taken later and the committee took a short break.
After the break, Dr. Carano of the Hawaii Executive Director’s office presented a second outlook, saying Hawaii’s economy in 2025 looked better than 2024 overall, though he emphasized substantial uncertainty tied to the incoming federal administration. He said possible changes to tariffs, tax policy, immigration, and federal spending could raise inflation and keep interest rates higher than previously expected, which would affect housing, consumer debt, the dollar, and Hawaii’s visitor industry. He noted that U.S. visitors account for roughly three-quarters of visitor spending in the state, making federal policy especially important. He also said deregulation could be a long-term positive but would not likely have much effect in 2025 or 2026. As an additional risk, he pointed to bird flu and its effect on livestock, poultry, and egg prices. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PBS Info Briefing - Mon Aug 18, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- largest in the nation after a disaster. largest in the nation after a disaster.
- <00:44:49.760>
We're affected by the disaster. Right? We're affected by the disaster. - of disasters, launched a blueprint for women and disasters.
- of the the disaster. of the the disaster.
- against future disasters. against future disasters.
Summary:
The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on the second anniversary of the Maui wildfires, with Chair Dela Alani framing the discussion around emergency preparedness, recovery, and lessons for future disasters. The main presentation came from researchers involved in the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, who described the project as a grassroots academic-community partnership that has enrolled more than 2,000 adults and children for health screenings, social assessments, and biomonitoring. They said the study has documented elevated mental and physical health conditions, housing instability, unemployment, barriers to care, and exposure to heavy metals and other toxicants, while also noting some modest improvement in adult mental health and self-rated health compared with the prior year.
The presenters emphasized that wildfire impacts remain severe two years later. They reported that about half of adult participants had worsening health since the fires, roughly 40% had direct or frequent fire exposure, and many adults showed chronic disease burdens such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory impairment. They also said about half of adult survivors reported depressive symptoms, about a quarter had moderate to severe anxiety, more than 4% had considered suicide in the prior month, and nearly one in four had PTSD. A clinician from the Lahaina Certified Community Behavioral Health Center described the clinic’s no-turn-away model, with case management, therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for anyone who needs it, and urged lawmakers to fund and expand that approach.
The researchers also highlighted environmental findings, saying urine testing of more than 1,200 adults found heavy metal signatures that differed between burn-zone residents and those on the perimeter, with higher levels associated with displacement and ash re-exposure. They said about 20% of participants had higher-than-expected heavy metal levels 6 to 12 months after the fires, and cited a negative association between nickel levels and lung function. They argued for long-term monitoring, better cleanup methods, and a centralized health surveillance system tied to community outreach. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the briefing; the chair said the presentation materials and related reports would be posted for public access, and members were invited to ask questions after the presentation.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, May 14, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:12:53.600>
relief routinely helps with disaster relief routinely helps with disaster relief - Speaker, disasters do not But, Mr.
- underlying vulnerabilities this disaster underlying vulnerabilities this disaster has<01:19:21.199
- Cashless bail policies have proven to be a disaster.
- Soft on crime to be a disaster.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, in any of these major disasters, it's a controlled chaos situation.
- . any natural disaster.
- First of all, we work to prepare well in advance for any disaster.
- When a disaster becomes a As a parent, obviously it depends a little bit on the type of disaster we're
- And that, again, will be determined by the type of disaster.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kelly Loeffler, of Georgia, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Jan 29th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- . its disaster loan account, resulting in a shortfall lasting 66 days.
- The President strongly supports disaster relief.
- But we have recent disasters.
- We should not be politicizing our disaster response.
- works currently in taking care of communities who've experienced disasters.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, The agency also assists with man-made disasters.
- Since 1903, we've seen a lot of disasters across the state of Texas.
- Just briefly, you know what our role is as an industry in disaster.
- A disaster becomes apparent, obviously it depends a little bit on the type of disaster we're talking
- That disaster recovery took a very long time.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Oct 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And let you know, when disaster strikes your community, I'm probably one of the first ones to check in
- Speaker and body, there is nothing in our pledge, in our declaration in our Constitution that defines
- of chronic diseases, aging populations, decreased resources, and as of late, you can also add in disaster
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- probably the prudent thing to do so that we're not – something happens. happens, COVID, natural disaster
- their parks, I think what we've been doing. here in Texas and nationally has been just a mitigated disaster
- language, or remove those doing business with those entities that have declared open warfare and I want
Keywords:
budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits
Summary:
The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It's the only state in the union that has its own constitution and its own declaration of independence
- You know, again, if we look at the ROI, it's somewhat of a disaster.
- Well, let me say this again, you know, we're... ...of a disaster.
Bills:
SB 1
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken.
The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information.
The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee May 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Disasters are local, and they move to larger.
- BRIC funding was intended to prevent future disasters around communities.
- What they said to me is wildfires are not just a natural disaster. They're financial...
- What they said to me is wildfires are not just a natural disaster.
- as well as prepare to mitigate future disasters.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Emergency Management met to consider Assembly Joint Resolution 11, which urges the President and Congress to restore funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. Chair Rhodesia Ransom and Assembly Member Lisa Calderon described the resolution as a bipartisan effort to preserve funding for hazard mitigation projects that help communities prevent disasters rather than simply recover from them. They cited major California impacts from the program’s cancellation, including losses for wildfire mitigation, seismic retrofits, and dam safety projects in several counties and districts.
Support testimony came from Catherine Freeman of the California State Association of Counties and Robin Finning of Cal OES. Freeman said counties rely on BRIC for flexible, proactive disaster-prevention funding and warned that canceling the program would set back years of resilience work. Finning said 49 communities had contacted Cal OES after the cancellation announcement and that the agency had been working closely with them on next steps. Stephanie Stevens of the California Residential Mitigation Program also testified in support, noting the loss of more than $40 million for earthquake soft-story retrofit grants.
Members expressed support and noted the importance of the affected district projects. There was no opposition testimony. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt AJR 11 and refer it to third reading, with all members present voting aye. The meeting was then adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of William Briggs, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator, and Casey Mulligan, of Illinois, to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, both of the Small Business Administration. Mar 12th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The other important feature of that is the disaster response.
- That should not be the focus of the agency when it comes to disaster relief.
- in SBA's disaster program or any potential shortfalls?
- We'll talk a little bit about disaster field training.
- and equipped to help disaster victims access SBA assistance?
Keywords:
SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support
Summary:
The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.