,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cejb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #ac 7legislative day1 ,january #aj71 #bjbb,mr4 ,peters 7for himself and ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to establish an ,office of ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 and ,community ,inclusion at the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,achieving ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,office of ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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 ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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 ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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 ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 and ,community ,inclusion2 and 7#e7 the term underserved community means-- 7,a7 the ,native ,american and ,alaskan ,native 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 a low-income community2 7,i7 the disability community2 and 7,j7 any other historically disadvantaged community1 as determined by the ,director4 7b7 ,office of ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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 ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbb1 be known as the ,office of ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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 ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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 civil rights1 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 ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbb1 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 assistance before and after a disaster2 and 7ii7 the quality of ,agency assistance underserved communities receive2 7,b7 reviewing preparedness1 response1 and recovery programs and activities of the ,agency to ensure the elimination of underserved community disparities in the delivery of such programs and activities2 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 ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbb1 as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,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 the percentage of contracts awarded to underserved and minority-owned businesses1 historical barriers to equitable assistance across race and class during and after disasters1 and other areas1 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 ,civil ,rights of the ,department of ,agriculture2 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 7v7 coordinate with the ,office for ,civil ,rights and ,civil ,liberties of the ,department2 and 7vi7 investigate allegations of unequal disaster assistance based on race or ethnic origin or refer those allegations to the appropriate office4 7f7 ,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 assistance1 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 grants and contracts1 to-- 7,a7 further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities and underserved and minority-owned businesses2 and 7,b7 improve outcomes for underserved communities tied to ,agency programs and activities2 and 7#b7 establish an underserved community initiative to award grants to1 and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with1 nonprofit entities4 7g7 ,disability coordinator 7#a7 ,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 ,state1 local1 and tribal governments in emergency preparedness and disaster relief4 7#b7 ,responsibilities ,the ,disability ,coordinator shall be responsible for-- 7,a7 providing guidance and coordination on matters relating to individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster1 act of terrorism1 or other man-made disaster2 7,b7 interacting with the staff of the ,agency1 the ,national ,council on ,disability1 the ,interagency ,coordinating ,council on ,preparedness and ,individuals with ,disabilities established under ,executive ,order #accdg 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #cad note2 relating to individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness71 other agencies of the ,federal ,government1 and ,state1 local1 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 disaster1 act of terrorism1 or other man-made disaster2 7,c7 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 disaster1 act of terrorism1 or other man-made disaster2 7,d7 ensuring the coordination and dissemination of best practices and model evacuation plans and sheltering for individuals with disabilities2 7,e7 ensuring the development of training materials and a curriculum for training emergency response providers1 ,state1 local1 and tribal government officials1 and others on the needs of individuals with disabilities2 7,f7 promoting the accessibility of telephone hotlines and websites relating to emergency preparedness1 evacuations1 and disaster relief2 7,g7 working to ensure that video programming distributors1 including broadcasters1 cable operators1 and satellite television services1 make emergency information accessible to individuals with hearing and vision disabilities2 7,h7 providing guidance to ,state1 local1 and tribal government officials and other individuals1 and implementing policies1 relating to the availability of accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities in the event of an evacuation2 7,i7 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 respected2 7,j7 ensuring that meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities is a component of the national preparedness system established under section #fdd of the ,post-,katrina ,emergency ,management ,reform ,act of #bjjf 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #gdd72 7,k7 coordinate technical assistance for ,agency programs based on input from underserved communities through a designee of the ,director2 and 7,l7 any other duties assigned by the ,director4 7h7 ,reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,achieving ,equity in ,disaster ,response1 ,recovery1 and ,resilience ,act of #bjbb1 and biennially thereafter1 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 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 of unequal disaster assistance investigated by the ,director or referred to other appropriate offices4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section4 4 7b7 ,office of ,disability ,coordinator ,title ,v of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #caa et seq47 is amended by striking section #eac 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #cba;b74 7c7 ,technical and conforming amendments ,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-- 7#a7 by striking the item relating to section #eac 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #cba;b72 and 7#b7 by inserting after the item relating to section #ebh the following3 ,sec4 #ebi4 ,office of ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 and ,community ,inclusion4 4 7d7 ,,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 ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 and ,community ,inclusion shall regularly consult with ,state1 local1 territorial1 and ,tribal government officials and community-based organizations from underserved communities the ,office of ,civil ,rights1 ,equity1 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