S. 4159 · 117th Congress
FEMA Equity Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
WarrenSponsor2 cosponsors · 2 D
2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act or the FEMA Equity Act
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · May 5, 2022
Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act or the FEMA Equity Act
This bill addresses equity in federal disaster assistance policies and programs. It allows, in some instances, counties to request disaster declarations.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must develop and implement a process to ensure equity in the provision of federal assistance and throughout all FEMA programs and policies. Additionally, FEMA must establish metrics to measure the efficacy of the process and seek input from relevant representatives of state, regional, local, and tribal governments; community-based organizations; subject matter experts; and individuals from underserved communities impacted by disasters.
FEMA must designate a senior official as an equity advisor. The bill establishes in FEMA an Equity Enterprise Steering Group.
The chief executive officer of an affected county may submit a request for a presidential declaration that a major disaster exists if (1) the governor of the state or territory in which the county is located does not request such a declaration, (2) the affected county is not included in a request for assistance made by such governor, or (3) the affected county communicates with that governor about the disaster or potential request for a major disaster declaration before the relevant period has lapsed.
The Government Accountability Office shall issue a report describing the factors that FEMA considers when evaluating a request from a governor to declare that a major disaster or emergency exists and to authorize specified assistance.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: FEMA Equity Act
Also known as: Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act
Latest action (May 5, 2022): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Policy area: Emergency Management · Origin: Senate · Introduced: May 5, 2022
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.