H. R. 6249 

One Hundred Eighteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four 

An Act 

To provide for a review and report on the assistance and resources that the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides to individuals 

with disabilities and the families of such individuals that are impacted by major 

disasters, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Think Differently About Emergencies Act’’. 

SEC. 2. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 

the Senate a report describing the assistance and resources that 

the Administrator provides for individuals with intellectual and 

developmental disabilities and the families of such individuals who 

are impacted by major disasters declared under section 401 of 

the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) to the following: 

(1) States. 

(2) Localities. 

(3) Nonprofit organizations. 

(4) Directly to such individuals. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) shall contain— 

(1) a description of the resources and best practices that 

the Administrator makes available to the entities listed in 

paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) that are impacted 

by major disasters declared under section 401 of the Robert 

T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

U.S.C. 5170); 

(2) detail the process the Administrator undertakes to train 

personnel and deploy such personnel into areas to coordinate 

with States, localities, and nonprofit organizations to provide 

assistance and ensure that the needs of individuals with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities and the families of 

such individuals are met following such a disaster; 
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(3) list the number of programs the Administrator administers which support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to prepare for and recover from such disasters, including by provide accommodation to such individuals 

and the families of such individuals; 

(4) description of outreach activities of the Administration 

to State, local, and nonprofit experts on addressing the needs 

of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities 

and the families of such individuals impacted by such disasters; 

and 

(5) report that identifies, with respect to individuals with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities and the families of 

such individuals, areas for improvement in supporting such 

individuals and families to prepare for and recover from such 

disasters. 

SEC. 3. REVIEW OF ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Comptroller General of the United States and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall each— 

(1) conduct a review of assistance and resources the 

Administrator provides to States, localities, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to assist— 

(A) individuals with intellectual and developmental 

disabilities; 

(B) individuals with physical disabilities; and 

(C) the families of the individuals described in subparagraphs (A) and (B); 

(2) identify potential legal impediments to providing such 

assistance and resources; 

(3) provide to Congress recommendations on how the 

Administration can— 

(A) improve such assistance and resources; 

(B) enhance coordination with States, localities, nonprofit organizations in carrying out such assistance and 

providing such resources; and 

(C) streamline the application process and delivery 

of assistance and resources to individuals described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1); and 
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(4) provide to Congress recommendations on any legislative 

reform necessary to improve such assistance and resources. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.