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FEMA Equity Act

3/14/2024, 12:25 AM

Summary of Bill S 2961

The FEMA Equity Act, also known as Bill 118 s 2961, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to address disparities in the way that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides disaster assistance to individuals and communities.

The bill aims to ensure that FEMA's disaster assistance programs are more equitable and accessible to all individuals, regardless of their income level or geographic location. It seeks to address issues such as language barriers, lack of access to technology, and other factors that may prevent certain individuals from receiving the assistance they need during times of disaster.

Specifically, the FEMA Equity Act would require FEMA to develop a plan to improve outreach and communication with underserved communities, including those with limited English proficiency. It would also require FEMA to provide training and resources to help individuals navigate the application process for disaster assistance. Additionally, the bill would require FEMA to collect and report data on the demographics of individuals who receive disaster assistance, in order to identify any disparities in the distribution of aid. This data would be used to inform future efforts to improve equity in FEMA's disaster assistance programs. Overall, the FEMA Equity Act aims to ensure that all individuals and communities have equal access to the assistance they need during times of disaster. By addressing disparities in FEMA's programs and improving outreach to underserved communities, this bill seeks to create a more equitable and inclusive system for providing disaster assistance.

Current Status of Bill S 2961

Bill S 2961 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since September 27, 2023. Bill S 2961 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the Senate on September 27, 2023.  Bill S 2961's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. as of September 27, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 2961

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
8
Democrat Cosponsors
8
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 2961

Primary Policy Focus

Emergency Management

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 2961

FEMA Equity Act
FEMA Equity Act
Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act
A bill to ensure greater equity in Federal disaster assistance policies and programs by authorizing an equity steering group and equity advisor within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, improving data collection to measure disparate outcomes and participation barriers, and requiring equity criteria to be applied to policies and programs, and for other purposes.

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