The Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development held a hearing, “Recovering from Superstorm Sandy: Assessing the Progress, Continuing Needs, and Rebuilding Strategy,” on September 18. Witnesses were HUD Secretary and Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Taskforce Chair Shaun Donovan and Federal Transportation Administration Administrator Peter Rogoff.Secretary Donovan said in his testimony that as of August 2013, federal agencies have obligated $9.9 billion in Disaster Relief Appropriations Act funds, including $5.4 billion from HUD in first round funding for Sandy Disaster Community Development Block Grants (d-CDBG), and an additional $580 million for other state and local government efforts to address major disasters from 2011, 2012, and 2013. The supplemental appropriations bill provides in total $16 billion in d-CDBG funds. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) asked Secretary Donovan why some Sandy victims are still awaiting reimbursement from the government, and why all Sandy d-CDBG funds have not yet been released. Subcommittee Chair Robert Menendez (D-NJ) also expressed concern with the fact that only a portion of d-CDBG has been disbursed to date. Secretary Donovan responded that part of the challenge is the very large number of applications has slowed the process. Secretary Donovan said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did a “very good job” of getting FEMA assistance out the door, but that “it’s not enough.” Senator Schumer asked Secretary Donovan how the government could expedite the environmental review process for projects that are to use d-CDBG funds for repairs that will not change the original design of the damaged structures. Secretary Donovan noted that the government has been making a great deal of progress with the assistance of Senator Schumer, and said that for the next disbursement of funds the government, an environmental review conducted by any federal agency will be sufficient for any project, irrespective if it is funded by the Agency that did the initial review.Secretary Donovan said in his testimony that “the Task Force authored a Rebuilding Strategy document that was released in August that establishes recommendations that will help guide tens of billions of dollars in funding from the Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Act that continue to flow to the region.” Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said she was pleased to see the recommendations listed in the August Rebuilding Strategy document, and asked Secretary Donovan how agencies will be monitored and held accountable for compliance with the recommendations, given that the full Sandy Rebuilding Task Force is scheduled to be disbanded in coming months. Senator Menendez later said that he was concerned that it is not currently the right moment to disband the Task Force, as there are still “a lot of resources to go out.”Secretary Donovan said he, in conjunction with FEMA Director Craig Fugate, will be in charge of oversight, and that he and Director Fugate will be meeting on a monthly basis to review progress and compliance on the part of federal agencies, and that an existing interagency group, headed by Secretary Donovan, will be able to take over Task Force functions. The Secretary added that while the transition will not be perfect, it will be facilitated by the fact that there is an existing structure in place to take over Task Force functions. Secretary Donovan added that agencies are required to report on a monthly basis progress on expending the Super Sandy emergency supplemental funds. Senator Warren then said that while New York and New Jersey received the brunt of Super Storm Sandy, coastal states like Massachusetts also experienced Sandy-related flooding and asked how the government can work to mitigate the impact of future storms.Secretary Donovan said the place to start is to “make sure communities have the science they need to make the right decisions” and added that the government is now not only looking at current flood risk, but future flood risk as well. Senator Warren asked if Secretary Donovan has considered a coastal state strategy for mitigation. Secretary Donovan responded affirmatively and said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a flood risk and mitigation study that encompasses coastal states between Virginia and Maine.Access archived hearing webcast and all witness testimony at: http://1.usa.gov/16x6BCR The Sandy Rebuilding Strategy document is available at: http://1.usa.gov/17XXpHz