FEMA’s waiver was accepted, meaning 2021 grantees will not be required to follow the BABAA requirements until January 2023
On Nov. 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). The latter Act strengthens so-called “Made in America Laws.” Specifically, the Act requires that no later than May 14, 2022 (180 days after its enactment), the head of each federal agency must ensure that “none of the funds made available for a federal financial assistance program for infrastructure, including each deficient program, may be obligated for a project unless all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.”
Twenty-three of FEMA’s grant programs are subject to the Build America, Buy America Act provisions. These financial assistance programs include the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S)grants and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. Not subject to the BABAA provisions are 26 FEMA financial assistance programs, including the Fire Management Assistance Grant and the State Fire Training Systems Grant. Read More…