Reps. Barragán, Menendez, and McClain Delaney Lead Letter Urging FEMA to Preserve Program Critical to Life-Saving Alert System for Rural and Underserved Communities
Reps. Barragán, Menendez, and McClain Delaney Lead Letter Urging FEMA to Preserve Program Critical to Life-Saving Alert System for Rural and Underserved Communities
Washington D.C. — Today, Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), and April McClain Delaney (MD-06) led a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging the agency to immediately step in to safeguard the future of the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) program, which helps public broadcast stations modernize their equipment so they can serve as lifelines during natural disasters and emergencies.
The letter, addressed to Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson, follows the announcement that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will no longer administer NGWS grants, leaving rural and underserved communities at risk of losing access to life-saving emergency alerts.
Since its creation in 2022, the NGWS program has provided more than $21 million to local stations, strengthening their ability to deliver critical alerts through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The demand for this program has far outstripped available funds, further underlining the significance of the program in meeting the growing public safety needs.
The lawmakers’ letter urges FEMA to:
- Assume full responsibility for disbursing NGWS funds appropriated by Congress;
- Provide a clear public plan for administering these funds and preventing gaps in support; and
- Brief congressional committees of jurisdiction within 14 days on how it will safeguard local alerting capacity, especially in rural and underserved areas.
“Emergency alerts can mean the difference between life and death,” said Rep. Barragán. “Too often, Americans in rural and underserved communities don’t have the same access to the life-saving emergency alert system that helps millions across the country in times of crisis. The NGWS program has already proven essential to closing this gap, and FEMA must act now to ensure that all Americans receive the emergency alerts that can preserve their lives, regardless of where they live.”
“As a New Jerseyan who lived through Superstorm Sandy, I know how important FEMA programs like the Next Generation Warning System are for delivering timely emergency alerts,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “We must protect this program from Republican cuts so local public media stations can continue providing life-saving alerts. Public media is a reliable backbone that keeps communities safe when it matters most—and we should be investing more into it, not less.”
"During the devastating flash floods this past May in my district’s town of Westernport, every minute mattered. Thanks to timely emergency alerts, lives were saved—but we’ve also seen the tragedy that can occur when these systems aren’t in place,” said Rep. McClain Delaney. “Programs like the Next Generation Warning System aren’t just technology—they’re a lifeline for rural families who rely on clear, reliable warnings when disaster strikes. We cannot let gaps in funding put anyone at risk. FEMA must ensure these grants continue, so every community can have that same lifeline when it matters most."
The letter has also been signed by: Reps. Bennie G. Thompson, Timothy M. Kennedy, Doris Matsui, Greg Stanton, Jared Moskowitz, Judy Chu, Cleo Fields, Wesley Bell, Nikema Williams, Kevin Mullin, Debbie Dingell, Dina Titus, Salud Carbajal, Brittany Pettersen, Juan Vargas, Yvette D. Clarke, James P. McGovern, John Garamendi, Shomari Figures, Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Kim Schrier, M.D., Marc A. Veasey, Val Hoyle, Lizzie Fletcher, Jared Huffman, Betty McCollum, Eugene Simon Vindman, André Carson, Jennifer L. McClellan, Gwen S. Moore, Danny K. Davis, Mary Gay Scanlon, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Pramila Jayapal, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Diana DeGette, Jan Schakowsky, Zoe Lofgren, Lloyd Doggett, LaMonica McIver, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Jonathan L. Jackson, Angie Craig, Adam Smith, Robin L. Kelly, Becca Balint, Kathy Castor, Greg Casar, Paul D. Tonko, Nikki Budzinski, Greg Landsman, Sarah McBride, Scott H. Peters, Dwight Evans, Julia Brownley, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott.
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
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