MALDEN, Wash. — The state of Washington is once again coming out of a fire season that that ravaged multiple communities in our region, but Malden continues to recover from its disaster three years ago.
In both cases, federal help has been slow, but now two Washington lawmakers are working to change that.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senator Maria Cantwell are working together and re-introducing the “Malden Act.”
“We are moving along fairly rapidly,” Mayor Dan Harwood of Malden said.
Throughout Malden—you can hear construction—from all directions. Crews are working to rebuild the town that was destroyed, 60+ homes and all the city’s infrastructure gone, 3 years ago.
“When you get up in the morning and you’re looking at a black dead tree—it brings you back to that day, each and every time,” Harwood said.
The pain in the small rural community still fresh and after another devastating wildfire season in Eastern Washington, the town feels for their neighbors.
“My heart goes out to the folks in the Gray and Oregon fire they are facing the same challenges we were facing three years ago,” Harwood said.
Late Wednesday before the house adjourned, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers re-introduced the “Malden Act,” and Senator Maria Cantwell’s office tells us, they will introduce parallel legislation in the Senate.
“This legislation is focused on improving that coordination and response, being more proactive so these communities don’t have to wait months,” Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said, “Obviously we’ll have parallel bills working their way through regular order.”
The bipartisanship is helpful, and with their positions in their respective chambers, this gives the piece of legislation that much more gumption in moving across the finish line.
How will the bill work, if it becomes law?
It will serve as a bridge and requiring FEMA resources to hit the ground running, day one following a natural disaster.
Allowing for interim assistance before the approval of the major disaster declaration, something that can take weeks.
The legislation will require the President to address requests for aid within 30 days.
Something that didn’t happen during the Malden recovery, as then President Donald Trump withheld aid over a political spat with Washington Governor Jay Inslee.
“The holdup now is the relationship between the president and Gov. Inslee,” said the [Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers] Spokane Republican’s aide, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. As reported by the Spokesman Review in 2021.
It will also require FEMA teams to work with states to dispense resources quicker, like case workers and non-monetary resources.
With the goal of ensuring what happened in Malden — won’t happen anywhere else.
“We are rebuilding our self, we are the newest town in the state of Washington,” Harwood said.
For a small town on the Palouse, a new community center, town hall, fire station and clerk and recorder’s office will be massive.
But the namesake legislation would serve as a legacy and reminder, protecting hundreds of other towns across the country.
“After a disaster towns and individuals have to make a choice, whether they are going to be swallowed and disappear or if they are going to continue and go forward as a town, and I’m very proud to say that Malden has made that decision,” Harwood.
KHQ will track the bill as it moves forward
