Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022
Bill: S.3502 | Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022
This bill establishes an Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The office shall be responsible for
The bill defines underserved community to mean an historically disadvantaged community, including the Native American, African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and North African, and rural communities, as well as low-income and disability communities.
The bill establishes within the office a Disability Coordinator to ensure that the needs of disabled individuals are being addressed in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
The office shall develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of its activities aimed at reducing disparities in services provided to underserved communities.
During the period of time for which there is a major disaster or emergency declared by the President with respect to COVID-19, the office shall regularly consult with state, local, territorial, and tribal government officials and community-based organizations from underserved communities that it identifies as disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

To establish an Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion 
  at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Achieving Equity in 
Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY 
              INCLUSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 529. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY 
              INCLUSION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the term `appropriate committees of 
        Congress' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
                and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure, the Committee on Oversight and Reform, 
                and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
                Representatives;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community 
        Inclusion;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the term `disaster assistance' means 
        assistance provided under titles IV and V of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170 et seq.);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) the term `Office' means the Office of Civil 
        Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) the term `underserved community' means--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the Native American and Alaskan 
                Native community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the African-American 
                community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the Asian community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) the Hispanic (including persons of 
                Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South 
                American origin) community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) the Pacific Islander 
                community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) the Middle Eastern and North African 
                community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) a rural community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) a low-income community;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) the disability community; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(J) any other historically disadvantaged 
                community, as determined by the Director.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community 
Inclusion.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Office of Equal Rights of 
        the Agency shall, on and after the date of enactment of the 
        Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience 
        Act of 2022, be known as the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, 
        and Community Inclusion.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) References.--Any reference to the Office of 
        Equal Rights of the Agency in any law, regulation, map, 
        document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be 
        deemed to be a reference to the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, 
        and Community Inclusion.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Director.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by a 
        Director, who shall report to the Administrator.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Requirement.--The Director shall have 
        documented experience and expertise in civil rights, 
        underserved community inclusion research, disaster 
        preparedness, or resilience disparities elimination.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office is to--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) improve underserved community access to 
        disaster assistance;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) improve the quality of disaster assistance 
        received by underserved communities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) eliminate racial, ethnic, and other 
        underserved community disparities in the delivery of disaster 
        assistance; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) carry out such other responsibilities of the 
        Office of Equal Rights as in effect on the day before the date 
        of enactment of the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, 
        Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, as determined appropriate 
        by the Administrator.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Authorities and Duties.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Director shall be 
        responsible for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) improving--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) underserved community access 
                        to disaster assistance before and after a 
                        disaster; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the quality of Agency 
                        assistance underserved communities 
                        receive;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) reviewing preparedness, response, 
                and recovery programs and activities of the Agency to 
                ensure the elimination of underserved community 
                disparities in the delivery of such programs and 
                activities; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) carrying out such other 
                responsibilities of the Office of Equal Rights as in 
                effect on the day before the date of enactment of the 
                Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and 
                Resilience Act of 2022, as determined appropriate by 
                the Administrator.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Reducing disparities in preparedness, 
        response, and recovery.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall 
                develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
                activities of program offices in the Agency and the 
                activities of recipients aimed at reducing disparities 
                in the services provided to underserved 
                communities.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Requirement.--The measures developed 
                under subparagraph (A) shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) evaluate community outreach 
                        activities, language services, workforce 
                        cultural competence, historical assistance for 
                        grants and loans provided to individuals, 
                        State, local, tribal, and territorial 
                        governments, the effects of disaster 
                        declaration thresholds on underserved 
                        communities, the percentage of contracts 
                        awarded to underserved and minority-owned 
                        businesses, historical barriers to equitable 
                        assistance across race and class during and 
                        after disasters, and other areas, as determined 
                        by the Director; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) identify the communities 
                        implicated in the evaluations conducted under 
                        clause (i).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Coordination with other offices.--In 
                carrying out this section, the Director shall--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) participate in scenario-
                        based disaster response exercises at the 
                        Agency;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) coordinate with the Office 
                        of Minority Health of the Department of Health 
                        and Human Services;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) coordinate with the Office 
                        of Civil Rights of the Department of 
                        Agriculture;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) as appropriate, coordinate 
                        with other relevant offices across the Federal 
                        Government, including by leading a voluntary 
                        task force to address disaster response needs 
                        of underserved communities;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) coordinate with the Office 
                        for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the 
                        Department; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) investigate allegations of 
                        unequal disaster assistance based on race or 
                        ethnic origin or refer those allegations to the 
                        appropriate office.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Grants and Contracts.--In carrying out this section, 
to further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities 
throughout preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation and to 
eliminate racial, ethnic, and other underserved community disparities 
in the delivery of disaster assistance, as described in subsection (d), 
the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) administer and evaluate Agency programs and 
        activities, including the programs and activities of recipients 
        of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation grants and 
        contracts, to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) further inclusion and engagement of 
                underserved communities and underserved and minority-
                owned businesses; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) improve outcomes for underserved 
                communities tied to Agency programs and activities; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) establish an underserved community 
        initiative to award grants to, and enter into cooperative 
        agreements and contracts with, nonprofit entities.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Disability Coordinator.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--There shall be within the 
        Office a Disability Coordinator to ensure that the needs of 
        individuals with disabilities are being properly addressed by 
        proactively engaging with disability and underserved 
        communities and State, local, and tribal governments in 
        emergency preparedness and disaster relief.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Disability 
        Coordinator shall be responsible for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) providing guidance and coordination 
                on matters relating to individuals with disabilities in 
                emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in 
                the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or 
                other man-made disaster;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) interacting with the staff of the 
                Agency, the National Council on Disability, the 
                Interagency Coordinating Council on Preparedness and 
                Individuals with Disabilities established under 
                Executive Order 13347 (6 U.S.C. 314 note; relating to 
                individuals with disabilities in emergency 
                preparedness), other agencies of the Federal 
                Government, and State, local, and tribal government 
                authorities relating to the needs of individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency planning requirements and 
                relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act 
                of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) consulting with stakeholders that 
                represent the interests and rights of individuals with 
                disabilities about the needs of individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency planning requirements and 
                relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act 
                of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) ensuring the coordination and 
                dissemination of best practices and model evacuation 
                plans and sheltering for individuals with 
                disabilities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) ensuring the development of training 
                materials and a curriculum for training emergency 
                response providers, State, local, and tribal government 
                officials, and others on the needs of individuals with 
                disabilities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) promoting the accessibility of 
                telephone hotlines and websites relating to emergency 
                preparedness, evacuations, and disaster 
                relief;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) working to ensure that video 
                programming distributors, including broadcasters, cable 
                operators, and satellite television services, make 
                emergency information accessible to individuals with 
                hearing and vision disabilities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) providing guidance to State, local, 
                and tribal government officials and other individuals, 
                and implementing policies, relating to the availability 
                of accessible transportation options for individuals 
                with disabilities in the event of an 
                evacuation;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) providing guidance and implementing 
                policies to external stakeholders to ensure that the 
                rights and wishes of individuals with disabilities 
                regarding post-evacuation residency and relocation are 
                respected;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(J) ensuring that meeting the needs of 
                individuals with disabilities is a component of the 
                national preparedness system established under section 
                644 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act 
                of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 744);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(K) coordinate technical assistance for 
                Agency programs based on input from underserved 
                communities through a designee of the Director; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(L) any other duties assigned by the 
                Director.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Reports.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, 
        Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, and biennially 
        thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress a report describing the activities 
        carried out under this section during the period for which the 
        report is being prepared.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Contents.--Each report submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a narrative on activities conducted 
                by the Office, including a description of outreach and 
                consultation efforts with advocacy organizations and 
                human resource providers;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the results of the measures 
                developed to evaluate the effectiveness of activities 
                aimed at reducing preparedness, response, and recovery 
                disparities; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) the number and types of allegations 
                of unequal disaster assistance investigated by the 
                Director or referred to other appropriate 
                offices.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
this section.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Office of Disability Coordinator.--Title V of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by 
striking section 513 (6 U.S.C. 321b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of 
contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public 
Law 107-296; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking the item relating to section 513 
        (6 U.S.C. 321b); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after the item relating to 
        section 528 the following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``Sec. 529. Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community 
                            Inclusion.''.
<DELETED>    (d) COVID-19 Response.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--During the period of time for 
        which there is a major disaster or emergency declared by the 
        President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170, 5191) declared with respect to COVID-19, the 
        Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community 
        Inclusion shall regularly consult with State, local, 
        territorial, and Tribal government officials and community-
        based organizations from underserved communities the Office of 
        Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion identifies as 
        disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) FACA applicability.--The Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to any 
        consultation conducted under paragraph (1).</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Achieving Equity in Disaster 
Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION.

    (a) In General.--Section 513 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 321b) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 513. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure, the Committee on Oversight and Reform, 
                and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
                Representatives;
            ``(2) the term `Director' means the Director of the Office 
        of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion;
            ``(3) the term `disaster assistance' means assistance 
        provided under titles IV and V of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et 
        seq.);
            ``(4) the term `Office' means the Office of Civil Rights, 
        Equity, and Community Inclusion; and
            ``(5) the term `underserved community' means--
                    ``(A) the Native American and Alaskan Native 
                community;
                    ``(B) the African-American community;
                    ``(C) the Asian community;
                    ``(D) the Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, 
                Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American 
                origin) community;
                    ``(E) the Pacific Islander community;
                    ``(F) the Middle Eastern and North African 
                community;
                    ``(G) a rural community;
                    ``(H) a low-income community;
                    ``(I) the disability community; and
                    ``(J) any other historically disadvantaged 
                community, as determined by the Director.
    ``(b) Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Office of Equal Rights of the Agency 
        shall, on and after the date of enactment of the Achieving 
        Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 
        2022, be known as the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and 
        Community Inclusion.
            ``(2) References.--Any reference to the Office of Equal 
        Rights of the Agency in any law, regulation, map, document, 
        record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to 
        be a reference to the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and 
        Community Inclusion.
    ``(c) Director.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by a 
        Director, who shall report to the Administrator.
            ``(2) Requirement.--The Director shall have documented 
        experience and expertise in civil rights, underserved community 
        inclusion research, disaster preparedness, or resilience 
        disparities elimination.
    ``(d) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office is to--
            ``(1) improve underserved community access to disaster 
        assistance;
            ``(2) improve the quality of disaster assistance received 
        by underserved communities;
            ``(3) eliminate racial, ethnic, and other underserved 
        community disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance; 
        and
            ``(4) carry out such other responsibilities of the Office 
        of Equal Rights as in effect on the day before the date of 
        enactment of the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, 
        Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, as determined appropriate 
        by the Administrator.
    ``(e) Authorities and Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall be responsible for--
                    ``(A) improving--
                            ``(i) underserved community access to 
                        disaster assistance before and after a 
                        disaster; and
                            ``(ii) the quality of Agency assistance 
                        underserved communities receive;
                    ``(B) reviewing preparedness, response, and 
                recovery programs and activities of the Agency to 
                ensure the elimination of underserved community 
                disparities in the delivery of such programs and 
                activities; and
                    ``(C) carrying out such other responsibilities of 
                the Office of Equal Rights as in effect on the day 
                before the date of enactment of the Achieving Equity in 
                Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 
                2022, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.
            ``(2) Reducing disparities in preparedness, response, and 
        recovery.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall develop 
                measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
                activities of program offices in the Agency and the 
                activities of recipients aimed at reducing disparities 
                in the services provided to underserved communities.
                    ``(B) Requirement.--The measures developed under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) evaluate community outreach 
                        activities, language services, workforce 
                        cultural competence, historical assistance for 
                        grants and loans provided to individuals and 
                        State, local, tribal, and territorial 
                        governments, the effects of disaster 
                        declaration thresholds on underserved 
                        communities, the percentage of contracts 
                        awarded to underserved and minority-owned 
                        businesses, historical barriers to equitable 
                        assistance across race and class during and 
                        after disasters, and other areas, as determined 
                        by the Director; and
                            ``(ii) identify the communities implicated 
                        in the evaluations conducted under clause (i).
                    ``(C) Coordination with other offices.--In carrying 
                out this section, the Director shall--
                            ``(i) participate in scenario-based 
                        disaster response exercises at the Agency;
                            ``(ii) coordinate with the Office of 
                        Minority Health of the Department of Health and 
                        Human Services;
                            ``(iii) coordinate with the Office of Civil 
                        Rights of the Department of Agriculture;
                            ``(iv) as appropriate, coordinate with 
                        other relevant offices across the Federal 
                        Government, including by leading a voluntary 
                        task force to address disaster response needs 
                        of underserved communities;
                            ``(v) coordinate with the Office for Civil 
                        Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department; 
                        and
                            ``(vi) investigate allegations of unequal 
                        disaster assistance based on race or ethnic 
                        origin or refer those allegations to the 
                        appropriate office.
    ``(f) Grants and Contracts.--In carrying out this section, to 
further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities throughout 
preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation and to eliminate 
racial, ethnic, and other underserved community disparities in the 
delivery of disaster assistance, as described in subsection (d), the 
Administrator shall--
            ``(1) administer and evaluate Agency programs and 
        activities, including the programs and activities of recipients 
        of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation grants and 
        contracts, to--
                    ``(A) further inclusion and engagement of 
                underserved communities and underserved and minority-
                owned businesses; and
                    ``(B) improve outcomes for underserved communities 
                tied to Agency programs and activities; and
            ``(2) establish an underserved community initiative to 
        award grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements and 
        contracts with, nonprofit entities.
    ``(g) Disability Coordinator.--
            ``(1) In general.--There shall be within the Office a 
        Disability Coordinator to ensure that the needs of individuals 
        with disabilities are being properly addressed by proactively 
        engaging with disability and underserved communities and State, 
        local, and tribal governments in emergency preparedness and 
        disaster relief.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Disability Coordinator shall 
        be responsible for--
                    ``(A) providing guidance and coordination on 
                matters relating to individuals with disabilities in 
                emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in 
                the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or 
                other man-made disaster;
                    ``(B) interacting with the staff of the Agency, the 
                National Council on Disability, the Interagency 
                Coordinating Council on Preparedness and Individuals 
                with Disabilities established under Executive Order 
                13347 (6 U.S.C. 314 note; relating to individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency preparedness), other agencies 
                of the Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal 
                government authorities relating to the needs of 
                individuals with disabilities in emergency planning 
                requirements and relief efforts in the event of a 
                natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made 
                disaster;
                    ``(C) consulting with stakeholders that represent 
                the interests and rights of individuals with 
                disabilities about the needs of individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency planning requirements and 
                relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act 
                of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
                    ``(D) ensuring the coordination and dissemination 
                of best practices and model evacuation plans and 
                sheltering for individuals with disabilities;
                    ``(E) ensuring the development of training 
                materials and a curriculum for training emergency 
                response providers, State, local, and tribal government 
                officials, and others on the needs of individuals with 
                disabilities;
                    ``(F) promoting the accessibility of telephone 
                hotlines and websites relating to emergency 
                preparedness, evacuations, and disaster relief;
                    ``(G) working to ensure that video programming 
                distributors, including broadcasters, cable operators, 
                and satellite television services, make emergency 
                information accessible to individuals with hearing and 
                vision disabilities;
                    ``(H) providing guidance to State, local, and 
                tribal government officials and other individuals, and 
                implementing policies, relating to the availability of 
                accessible transportation options for individuals with 
                disabilities in the event of an evacuation;
                    ``(I) providing guidance and implementing policies 
                to external stakeholders to ensure that the rights and 
                wishes of individuals with disabilities regarding post-
                evacuation residency and relocation are respected;
                    ``(J) ensuring that meeting the needs of 
                individuals with disabilities is a component of the 
                national preparedness system established under section 
                644 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act 
                of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 744);
                    ``(K) coordinate technical assistance for Agency 
                programs based on input from underserved communities 
                through a designee of the Director; and
                    ``(L) any other duties assigned by the Director.
    ``(h) Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, 
        Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, and biennially 
        thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress a report describing the activities 
        carried out under this section during the period for which the 
        report is being prepared.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) a narrative on activities conducted by the 
                Office, including a description of outreach and 
                consultation efforts with advocacy organizations and 
                human resource providers;
                    ``(B) the results of the measures developed to 
                evaluate the effectiveness of activities aimed at 
                reducing preparedness, response, and recovery 
                disparities; and
                    ``(C) the number and types of allegations of 
                unequal disaster assistance investigated by the 
                Director or referred to other appropriate offices.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296; 
116 Stat. 2135) is amended by striking the item relating to section 513 
(6 U.S.C. 321b) and inserting the following:

``Sec. 513. Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion.''.
    (c) COVID-19 Response.--
            (1) In general.--During the period of time for which there 
        is a major disaster or emergency declared by the President 
        under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170, 5191) declared with respect to COVID-19, the 
        Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community 
        Inclusion shall regularly consult with State, local, 
        territorial, and Tribal government officials and community-
        based organizations from underserved communities the Office of 
        Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion identifies as 
        disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
            (2) FACA applicability.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
        (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to any consultation conducted 
        under paragraph (1).
                                                       Calendar No. 450

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3502

                          [Report No. 117-133]

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