,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #fai #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cfeh ,report ,no4 #aaf-caf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #g1 #bjbj,mr4 ,peters 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 and ,ms4 ,harris7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,december #ad1 #bjbj,reported by ,mr4 ,johnson1 with an amendment,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,a ,,bill ,to establish an ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion at the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,achieving ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion 7a7 ,in general ,title ,v of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #caa et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ebi4 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform1 and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#b7 the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion2 7#c7 the term ,office means the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion2 and 7#d7 the term underserved community means-- 7,a7 the ,native ,american community2 7,b7 the ,african-,american community2 7,c7 the ,hispanic 7including persons of ,mexican1 ,puerto ,rican1 ,cuban1 and ,central or ,south ,american origin7 community2 7,d7 the ,pacific ,islander community2 7,e7 the ,middle ,eastern and ,north ,african community2 7,f7 a rural community2 and 7,g7 any other historically disadvantaged community4 7b7 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,office of ,equal ,rights of the ,agency shall1 on and after the date of enactment of the ,achieving ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj1 be known as the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion4 7#b7 ,references ,any reference to the ,office of ,equal ,rights of the ,agency in any law1 regulation1 map1 document1 record1 or other paper of the ,united ,states shall be deemed to be a reference to the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion4 7c7 ,director 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,office shall be headed by a ,director1 who shall report to the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,requirement ,the ,director shall have documented experience and expertise in underserved community inclusion research and disaster preparedness and resilience disparities elimination4 7d7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,office is to-- 7#a7 improve underserved community access to disaster assistance2 7#b7 improve the quality of disaster assistance received by underserved communities2 7#c7 eliminate racial1 ethnic1 and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance2 and 7#d7 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 ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7e7 ,authorities and duties 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall be responsible for-- 7,a7 improving-- 7i7 underserved community access to disaster assistance2 and 7ii7 the quality of assistance underserved communities receive2 7,b7 eliminating racial1 ethnic1 and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of various preparedness1 response1 and recovery assistance2 and 7,c7 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 ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,grants and contracts ,in carrying out this section1 to assure improved disaster resilience of underserved communities1 the ,director may-- 7,a7 award grants and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with local nonprofit entities1 national nonprofit organizations with experience administering multi-,state programs in not less than #aj ,states1 and nonprofit organizations that are indigenous human resource providers in underserved communities2 and 7,b7 enter into memoranda of understanding with ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial government agencies4 7#c7 ,reducing disparities in preparedness1 response1 and recovery 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities of the ,office aimed at reducing disparities in preparedness1 response1 and recovery4 7,b7 ,requirement ,the measures developed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 evaluate community outreach activities1 language services1 workforce cultural competence1 historical assistance for grants and loans provided to individuals1 ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial governments1 the effects of disaster declaration thresholds on underserved communities1 historical barriers to equitable assistance across race and class during and after disasters1 and other areas as determined by the ,director2 and 7ii7 identify the communities implicated in the evaluations conducted under clause 7i74 7,c7 ,coordination with other offices ,in carrying out this section1 the ,director shall-- 7i7 participate in scenario-based disaster response exercises at the ,agency2 7ii7 coordinate with the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services2 7iii7 coordinate with the ,office of ,disability ,integration and ,coordination of the ,agency2 7iv7 as appropriate1 coordinate with other relevant offices across the ,federal ,government1 including by leading a voluntary task force to address disaster response needs of underserved communities2 and 7v7 investigate allegations of unequal disaster assistance based on race or ethnic origin or refer such allegations to the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties of the ,department and assist the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties with investigations of such allegations4 7f7 ,reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,achieving ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj1 and biennially thereafter1 the ,administrator shall prepare and 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 prepared4 7#b7 ,contents ,each report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a narrative on activities conducted by the ,office1 including a description of outreach and consultation efforts with advocacy organizations and human resource providers2 7,b7 the results of the measures developed to evaluate the effectiveness of activities aimed at reducing preparedness1 response1 and recovery disparities2 and 7,c7 the number and types of allegations investigated or referred to the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties under subsection 7e77#c77;,d77v74 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7,public ,law #ajg-bif2 #aaf ,stat4 #bace7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #ebh the following3 ,sec4 #ebi4 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion4 4 7c7 ,,covid-#ai response 7#a7 ,in general ,during the period of time for which there is a major disaster or emergency declared by the ,president under section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj1 #eaia7 declared with respect to ,,covid-#ai1 the ,director of the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion shall regularly consult with ,state1 local1 territorial1 and ,tribal government officials and community-based organizations from underserved communities the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion identifies as disproportionately impacted by ,,covid-#ai4 7#b7 ,,faca ,applicability ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to any consultation conducted under paragraph 7#a74 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,achieving ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion 7a7 ,in general ,title ,v of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #caa et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ebi4 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform1 and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#b7 the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion2 7#c7 the term disaster assistance means assistance provided under titles ,,iv and ,v of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj et seq472 7#d7 the term ,office means the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion2 and 7#e7 the term underserved community means-- 7,a7 the ,native ,american community2 7,b7 the ,african-,american community2 7,c7 the ,asian community2 7,d7 the ,hispanic 7including persons of ,mexican1 ,puerto ,rican1 ,cuban1 and ,central or ,south ,american origin7 community2 7,e7 the ,pacific ,islander community2 7,f7 the ,middle ,eastern and ,north ,african community2 7,g7 a rural community2 7,h7 the low-income community2 7,i7 the disability community2 and 7,j7 any other historically disadvantaged community1 as determined by the ,director4 7b7 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,office of ,equal ,rights of the ,agency shall1 on and after the date of enactment of the ,achieving ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj1 be known as the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion4 7#b7 ,references ,any reference to the ,office of ,equal ,rights of the ,agency in any law1 regulation1 map1 document1 record1 or other paper of the ,united ,states shall be deemed to be a reference to the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion4 7c7 ,director 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,office shall be headed by a ,director1 who shall report to the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,requirement ,the ,director shall have documented experience and expertise in underserved community inclusion research1 disaster preparedness1 or resilience disparities elimination4 7d7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,office is to-- 7#a7 improve underserved community access to disaster assistance2 7#b7 improve the quality of disaster assistance received by underserved communities2 7#c7 eliminate racial1 ethnic1 and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance2 and 7#d7 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 ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7e7 ,authorities and duties 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall be responsible for-- 7,a7 improving-- 7i7 underserved community access to disaster assistance2 and 7ii7 the quality of assistance underserved communities receive2 7,b7 eliminating racial1 ethnic1 and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of various preparedness1 response1 and recovery assistance2 and 7,c7 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 ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,grants and contracts ,in carrying out this section1 to further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities throughout preparedness1 response1 recovery1 and mitigation and to eliminate racial1 ethnic1 and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance as described in subsection 7d71 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 administer and evaluate ,agency programs and activities1 including the programs and activities of recipients of preparedness1 response1 recovery1 and mitigation grants1 in a manner to affirmatively further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities and improved outcomes for underserved communities tied to ,agency programs and activities2 and 7,b7 establish an underserved community initiative to award grants and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with-- 7i7 local nonprofit entities2 7ii7 national nonprofit organizations with experience administering programs in not fewer than #aj ,states2 and 7iii7 nonprofit organizations that are indigenous human services providers in underserved communities4 7#c7 ,reducing disparities in preparedness1 response1 and recovery 7,a7 ,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 communities4 7,b7 ,requirement ,the measures developed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 evaluate community outreach activities1 language services1 workforce cultural competence1 historical assistance for grants and loans provided to individuals1 ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial governments1 the effects of disaster declaration thresholds on underserved communities1 historical barriers to equitable assistance across race and class during and after disasters1 and other areas as determined by the ,director2 and 7ii7 identify the communities implicated in the evaluations conducted under clause 7i74 7,c7 ,coordination with other offices ,in carrying out this section1 the ,director shall-- 7i7 participate in scenario-based disaster response exercises at the ,agency2 7ii7 coordinate with the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services2 7iii7 coordinate with the ,office of ,disability ,integration and ,coordination of the ,agency2 7iv7 coordinate with the ,office of ,civil ,rights of the ,department of ,agriculture2 7v7 as appropriate1 coordinate with other relevant offices across the ,federal ,government1 including by leading a voluntary task force to address disaster response needs of underserved communities2 7vi7 coordinate with the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties of the ,department2 and 7vii7 investigate allegations of unequal disaster assistance based on race or ethnic origin or refer such allegations to the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties of the ,department and assist the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties with investigations of such allegations4 7f7 ,reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,achieving ,racial and ,ethnic ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbj1 and biennially thereafter1 the ,administrator shall prepare and 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 prepared4 7#b7 ,contents ,each report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a narrative on activities conducted by the ,office1 including a description of outreach and consultation efforts with advocacy organizations and human resource providers2 7,b7 the results of the measures developed to evaluate the effectiveness of activities aimed at reducing preparedness1 response1 and recovery disparities2 and 7,c7 the number and types of allegations investigated or referred to the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties under subsection 7e77#c77;,d77vii74 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7,public ,law #ajg-bif2 #aaf ,stat4 #bace7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #ebh the following3 ,sec4 #ebi4 ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion4 4 7c7 ,,covid-#ai response 7#a7 ,in general ,during the period of time for which there is a major disaster or emergency declared by the ,president under section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj1 #eaia7 declared with respect to ,,covid-#ai1 the ,director of the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion shall regularly consult with ,state1 local1 territorial1 and ,tribal government officials and community-based organizations from underserved communities the ,office of ,equal ,rights and ,community ,inclusion identifies as disproportionately impacted by ,,covid-#ai4 7#b7 ,,faca ,applicability ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to any consultation conducted under paragraph 7#a74 ,december #ad1 #bjbj,reported with an amendment