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Bill116th CongressFiled May 7, 2020Emergency Management
S. 3658

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2020

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What it doesSummary reported to senate (Dec 14, 2020)

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2020

This bill establishes the Office of Equal Rights and Community Inclusion (OERCI) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The OERCI shall be responsible, among other things, for (1) improving underserved community access to disaster assistance and improving the quality of assistance such communities receive; and (2) eliminating racial, ethnic, and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of various preparedness, response, and recovery assistance.

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, rural, low-income, and disability communities.

FEMA shall (1) administer and evaluate its programs and activities, including those of recipients of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation grants, in a manner to affirmatively further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities and improved outcomes for underserved communities tied to FEMA programs and activities; and (2) establish an underserved community initiative to award grants to specified nonprofit entities.

The OERCI shall develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities of program offices in FEMA and the activities of recipients aimed at reducing disparities in the 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 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), the OERCI 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.

What just happenedDec 14, 2020

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI](D-MI)Sponsor
2 cosponsors2 D
Read on Congress.gov
2cosponsors1committees6actions16subjects
  1. Dec 14, 2020Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.

  2. Dec 14, 2020Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-316.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  3. Dec 14, 2020Committee14000

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-316.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  4. Jul 22, 2020Committee

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  5. May 7, 2020IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  6. May 7, 2020IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Reported to SenateDec 14, 202025

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2020

This bill establishes the Office of Equal Rights and Community Inclusion (OERCI) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The OERCI shall be responsible, among other things, for (1) improving underserved community access to disaster assistance and improving the quality of assistance such communities receive; and (2) eliminating racial, ethnic, and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of various preparedness, response, and recovery assistance.

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, rural, low-income, and disability communities.

FEMA shall (1) administer and evaluate its programs and activities, including those of recipients of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation grants, in a manner to affirmatively further inclusion and engagement of underserved communities and improved outcomes for underserved communities tied to FEMA programs and activities; and (2) establish an underserved community initiative to award grants to specified nonprofit entities.

The OERCI shall develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities of program offices in FEMA and the activities of recipients aimed at reducing disparities in the 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 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), the OERCI 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.

Introduced in SenateMay 7, 2020

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2020

This bill establishes an Office of Equal Rights and Community Inclusion (OERCI) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

OERCI shall be responsible for

  • improving underserved community access to disaster assistance and improving the quality of assistance such communities receive;
  • eliminating racial, ethnic, and other underserved community disparities in the delivery of various preparedness, response, and recovery assistance; and
  • carrying out such other responsibilities of the previous Office of Equal Rights as in effect on the day before the enactment of this bill as determined appropriate by FEMA.

The bill defines underserved community to mean an historically disadvantaged community, including the Native American, African-American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and North African, and rural communities.

OERCI may award specified grants and enter into memoranda of understanding with state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies. It shall develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of its activities aimed at reducing disparities in preparedness, response, and recovery.

During the period of time for which there is a major disaster or emergency declared by the President with respect to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), OERCI 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.

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2… — Informed