Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3502
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2022-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Disability assistance
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Racial and ethnic relations
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2022-01-13
text: 

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
 
 
improving underserved community access to disaster assistance and improving the quality of assistance such communities receive;
 
reviewing FEMA preparedness, response, and recovery programs and activities to ensure the elimination of disparities in the delivery of such programs and activities to underserved communities; and 
 
 carrying out responsibilities of the previous Office of Equal Rights.
 
 
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.

action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

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
 
 
improving underserved community access to disaster assistance and improving the quality of assistance such communities receive;
 
reviewing FEMA preparedness, response, and recovery programs and activities to ensure the elimination of disparities in the delivery of such programs and activities to underserved communities; and 
 
 carrying out responsibilities of the previous Office of Equal Rights.
 
 
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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 450.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-133.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-133.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2022-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate