Spencer Bachus introduces bills to save storm shelters at tornado-damaged Alabama schools

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama 
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus introduced legislation today that would prevent four Alabama communities from having to pay the federal government a premium if they want to keep new storm shelters that are being installed at schools hit by April's tornadoes.
The bill is in response to Federal Emergency Management Agency policies that some school officials have said encouraged the demolition of the much-needed storm shelters. Affected schools are in DeKalb, Franklin, Marion and Tuscaloosa counties.
FEMA is paying most of the $1.5 million cost to install the shelters to protect students while they are in mobile classrooms because of the storm damage. But once the campuses are repaired or rebuilt, the schools must either buy the shelters at a fair-market price, find someone else to buy them at that rate, or have them torn down at FEMA's expense.
"It is an example of regulation from Washington gone amok," Bachus said in a statement after introducing the "Community Shelter Protection Act." "Taxpayers have spent money to build these shelters and it would be ridiculous to spend more taxpayer money to tear them down."
Other members in Alabama's congressional delegation are co-sponsoring the bill, including U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell, Mike Rogers, Mo Brooks, Jo Bonner and Robert Aderholt. 
Aderholt's district includes most of the schools affected by the FEMA policy, and he is chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which gives him considerable sway with regard to FEMA.
Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said Wednesday he had spoken with FEMA Director Craig Fugate, and "he acknowledges the problem with this particular situation."
"Over the next thirty days, I'll be working with him and my delegation colleagues to find a solution," Aderholt said. "Hopefully this will not take an act of Congress to ensure we get this done and get it done right."