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FEMA Equity Act
12/29/2022, 11:48 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7668
The FEMA Equity Act aims to ensure that all communities, regardless of their socioeconomic status or demographics, receive equal and fair treatment from FEMA during times of crisis. This includes providing adequate resources and assistance to communities that may have historically been underserved or marginalized.
Specifically, the bill seeks to improve the transparency and accountability of FEMA's decision-making process, as well as increase access to disaster relief funds for communities in need. It also aims to address issues of environmental justice and ensure that vulnerable populations are not disproportionately impacted by natural disasters. Overall, the FEMA Equity Act is designed to promote fairness and equality in FEMA's response to emergencies, and to ensure that all communities have access to the resources and support they need to recover and rebuild after a disaster.
Congressional Summary of HR 7668
Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act or the FEMA Equity Act
This bill addresses equity in federal disaster assistance policies and programs.
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.
