When disaster strikes in Indian Country, that’s when the waiting begins. Unlike state emergency officials, tribal leaders have to wait on another bureaucracy before they can request and distribute federal funds to disaster survivors—the wait for a state governor to request a presidential disaster declaration.

There is hope, though, that tribes may soon have a more direct line to federal emergency funds. The Federal Emergency Management Agency last week released a statement in strong support of amending the Stafford Act to allow tribal governments to make federal disaster declaration requests directly.

FEMA regulations already allow tribal governments to be direct grantees of its Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs. But without the legislative change, they can't apply for those grants until a state governor has obtained a federal disaster declaration which includes their area.

The agency’s endorsement was first delivered at the 2011 Tribal Nations Conference, held December 2.

“Amending the law would enhance FEMA’s working relationship with tribal governments and improve emergency and disaster responsiveness throughout Indian Country,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate stated.

Tribal leaders have pressed for change for at least a decade, saying the present system wastes valuable response time, according to an article from the Indian Country Today Media Network. Even in best-case scenarios, the system is cumbersome. And in some cases, there might not be much political interest for a state governor to help a tribe.

“We don't really have treaties with the state of Montana,” Bum Stiffarm, chief administrator for the Fort Belknap Indian Community, told the Great Falls Tribune. “Our trust responsibilities lie with the federal government.”

Earlier this year, the Fort Belknap community had to wait more than three weeks after flooding that destroyed roads, bridges, and homes to receive a federal disaster declaration, Stiffarm told the Tribune. Although FEMA liaisons were on the reservation within a week, they weren’t able to help immediately.

“The state was very slow in declaring a disaster area,” he said. “We had to wait and wait until the governor did that in order for FEMA to come back. Once this legislation goes through, we won't have to wait for the state of Montana, and FEMA can work directly with us.”

The key to achieving that happy state will be when the legislation goes through. Although the bill has the support of several states' Representatives, the National Congress of American Indians, and at least one Senator, it’s seen very little action in the last seven months. H.R. 1953 was introduced in the House on May 24th and referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management on May 25th. Since then, it hasn’t moved. There is no corresponding bill in the Senate.

“We’ve got work to do,” Fugate told Indian Country Today. “We don’t have an immediate timeframe on this, but it is something that we would like to work with Congress—and if there is an ability…we would like to see this done soonest.”