H.R. 5498 · 109th Congress
Equitable Access to Disaster Relief and Preparedness Services Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 109th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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HondaSponsor11 cosponsors · 11 D
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Wu11 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Equitable Access to Disaster Relief and Preparedness Services Act - Amends the Robert T.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · May 25, 2006
Equitable Access to Disaster Relief and Preparedness Services Act - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require regulations issued for the guidance of personnel providing federal assistance at major disaster sites to include provisions ensuring that relief activities be accomplished without discrimination based on English proficiency.
Directs the President to: (1) ensure that all federal entities that provide assistance maintain the capability to administer competent interpreter and translation services; (2) communicate with state and local governments to identify individuals with limited English proficiency and include them in disaster preparedness planning; (3) have available for activation a sufficient cadre of emergency assistance employees; (4) develop and maintain an informational clearinghouse of model language assistance programs and best practices; and (5) report to Congress on the treatment of individuals with limited English proficiency during Hurricane Katrina and on the feasibility of operating a toll-free number by which such individuals can obtain information in their primary language regarding federally funded disaster services and benefits.
Includes within the technical assistance the President is required to provide to states assistance to individuals with and without English proficiency following disasters.
Requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) conduct an emergency preparedness demonstration program to study the needs of individuals and households with limited English proficiency for use in the design and development of community and family preparedness programs; and (2) develop initiatives to improve disaster awareness and readiness in communities that have individuals with limited English proficiency.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Equitable Access to Disaster Relief and Preparedness Services Act
Latest action (May 26, 2006): Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Policy area: Emergency Management · Origin: House · Introduced: May 25, 2006
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.