SEC. 202. EQUITY ENTERPRISE STEERING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Agency a steering group to advise the Administrator on 
how to ensure equity in the provision of Federal assistance 
and throughout all programs and policies of the Agency. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the steering group established under this section 
shall— 
(1) review and, as appropriate, recommend 
changes to Agency-wide policies, procedures, plans, 
and guidance; 
(2) support the development and implementa-
tion of the processes and criteria developed under 
title I; and 
(3) monitor the integration and establishment 
of metrics developed under section 103. 
(c) COMPOSITION.—The Administrator shall appoint 
the following individuals as members of the steering group 
established under subsection (a): 
(1) Representatives from each of the following 
offices of the Agency: 
(A) The Office of Equal Rights. 
(B) The Office of Response and Recovery. 
(C) FEMA Resilience. 
(D) The Office of Disability Integration 
and Coordination. 
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(E) The United States Fire Administra-
tion. 
(F) The mission support office of the 
Agency. 
(G) The Office of Chief Counsel. 
(H) The Office of the Chief Financial Offi-
cer. 
(I) The Office of Policy and Program 
Analysis. 
(J) The Office of External Affairs. 
(2) The administrator of each Regional Office, 
or his or her designee. 
(3) The equity advisor, as designated by the 
Administrator under section 201. 
(4) A representative from the Office for Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of 
Homeland Security. 
(5) The Superintendent of the Emergency Man-
agement Institute. 
(6) The National Tribal Affairs Advisor of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
(7) Any other official of the Agency the Admin-
istrator determines appropriate. 
(d) LEADERSHIP.—The Administrator shall des-
ignate one or more members of the steering group estab-
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lished under subsection (a) to serve as chair of the steering 
group. 
SEC. 203. GAO REVIEW OF EQUITY REFORMS. 
Not later than three years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall issue a report to evaluate the implementation 
of this title and title I. 
TITLE III—GAO REVIEW OF FAC-
TORS TO DETERMINE ASSIST-
ANCE 
SEC. 301. GAO REVIEW OF FACTORS TO DETERMINE AS-
SISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall issue a report describing the 
factors the Agency considers when evaluating a request 
from a Governor to declare that a major disaster or emer-
gency exists and to authorize assistance under sections 
402, 403, 406, 407, 408, 428, and 502 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5170a et seq.). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report issued under subsection 
(a) shall include— 
(1) an assessment of— 
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(A) the degree to which the factors the 
Agency considers when evaluating a request for 
a major disaster or emergency declaration— 
(i) affect equity for underserved com-
munities, particularly with respect to 
major disaster and emergency declaration 
requests, approvals of such requests, and 
the authorization of assistance described in 
subsection (a); and 
(ii) are designed to deliver equitable 
outcomes; 
(B) how the Agency utilizes such factors or 
monitors whether such factors result in equi-
table outcomes; 
(C) the extent to which major disaster and 
emergency declaration requests, approvals of 
such requests, and the authorization of assist-
ance described in subsection (a), are more high-
ly correlated with high-income counties com-
pared to lower-income counties; 
(D) whether the process and administra-
tive steps for conducting preliminary damage 
assessments are equitable; and 
(E) to the extent practicable, whether such 
factors may deter a Governor from seeking a 
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major disaster or emergency declaration for po-
tentially eligible counties; and 
(2) a consideration of the extent to which such 
factors affect underserved communities— 
(A) of varying size; 
(B) with varying population density and 
demographic characteristics; 
(C) with limited emergency management 
staff and resources; and 
(D) located in urban or rural areas. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Comptroller General 
shall include in the report issued under subsection (a) any 
recommendations for changes to the factors the Agency 
considers when evaluating a request for a major disaster 
or emergency declaration to account for underserved com-
munities. 
Æ 
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