[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6249 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6249


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 12, 2024

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To provide for a review and report on the assistance and resources that 
 the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides 
 to individuals with disabilities and the families of such individuals 
     that are impacted by major disasters, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Think Differently About Emergencies 
Act''.

SEC. 2. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
describing the assistance and resources that the Administrator provides 
for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 
the families of such individuals who are impacted by major disasters 
declared under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) to the following:
            (1) States.
            (2) Localities.
            (3) Nonprofit organizations.
            (4) Directly to such individuals.
    (b) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall contain--
            (1) a description of the resources and best practices that 
        the Administrator makes available to the entities listed in 
        paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a) that are impacted 
        by major disasters declared under section 401 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170);
            (2) detail the process the Administrator undertakes to 
        train personnel and deploy such personnel into areas to 
        coordinate with States, localities, and nonprofit organizations 
        to provide assistance and ensure that the needs of individuals 
        with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the 
        families of such individuals are met following such a disaster;
            (3) list the number of programs the Administrator 
        administers which support individuals with intellectual and 
        developmental disabilities to prepare for and recover from such 
        disasters, including by provide accommodation to such 
        individuals and the families of such individuals;
            (4) description of outreach activities of the 
        Administration to State, local, and nonprofit experts on 
        addressing the needs of individuals with intellectual and 
        developmental disabilities and the families of such individuals 
        impacted by such disasters; and
            (5) report that identifies, with respect to individuals 
        with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the 
        families of such individuals, areas for improvement in 
        supporting such individuals and families to prepare for and 
        recover from such disasters.

SEC. 3. REVIEW OF ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States and the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall each--
            (1) conduct a review of assistance and resources the 
        Administrator provides to States, localities, nonprofit 
        organizations, and individuals to assist--
                    (A) individuals with intellectual and developmental 
                disabilities;
                    (B) individuals with physical disabilities; and
                    (C) the families of the individuals described in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B);
            (2) identify potential legal impediments to providing such 
        assistance and resources;
            (3) provide to Congress recommendations on how the 
        Administration can--
                    (A) improve such assistance and resources;
                    (B) enhance coordination with States, localities, 
                nonprofit organizations in carrying out such assistance 
                and providing such resources; and
                    (C) streamline the application process and delivery 
                of assistance and resources to individuals described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1); and
            (4) provide to Congress recommendations on any legislative 
        reform necessary to improve such assistance and resources.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 11, 2024.

            Attest:

                                             KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

                                                                 Clerk.