[Senate Report 117-133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                      Calendar No. 450
117th Congress       }                                  {       Report
                                 SENATE
 2nd Session         }                                  {      117-133
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     



                      ACHIEVING EQUITY IN DISASTER

             RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND RESILIENCY ACT OF 2022

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND

                          GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                              to accompany

                                S. 3502

            TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY,
            AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION AT THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
               MANAGEMENT AGENCY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES













[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]








                 July 21, 2022.--Ordered to be printed
                 
                             _________
                              
                              
                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                 
29-010                   WASHINGTON : 2022
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
        COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                   GARY C. PETERS, Michigan, Chairman
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware           ROB PORTMAN, Ohio
MAGGIE HASSAN, New Hampshire         RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona              RAND PAUL, Kentucky
JACKY ROSEN, Nevada                  JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma
ALEX PADILLA, California             MITT ROMNEY, Utah
JON OSSOFF, Georgia                  RICK SCOTT, Florida
                                     JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri

                   David M. Weinberg, Staff Director
                    Zachary I. Schram, Chief Counsel
         Christopher J. Mulkins, Director of Homeland Security
           Naveed Jazayeri, Senior Professional Staff Member
                Pamela Thiessen, Minority Staff Director
            Sam J. Mulopulos, Minority Deputy Staff Director
       Clyde E. Hicks Jr., Minority Director of Homeland Security
                     Laura W. Kilbride, Chief Clerk



















                                                      Calendar No. 450
117th Congress       }                                  {       Report
                                 SENATE
 2nd Session         }                                  {      117-133

======================================================================



 
ACHIEVING EQUITY IN DISASTER RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND RESILIENCY ACT OF 
                                  2022

                                _______
                                

                 July 21, 2022.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Peters, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                    Affairs, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 3502]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 3502) to establish 
an Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion at 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and 
recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                     Page
  I. Purpose and Summary..............................................  1
 II. Background and Need for the Legislation..........................  2
III. Legislative History..............................................  3
 IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported.............  4
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................  5
 VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................  5
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............  7

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    S. 3502, the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, 
Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, establishes the Office of 
Civil Rights, Equity, and Inclusion (OCREI) at the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve access to and 
quality of disaster assistance for underserved communities and 
eliminate disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance to 
these communities. The bill also streamlines efforts to promote 
accessibility by incorporating the Office of Disability 
Integration and Coordination (ODIC) into the OCREI to ensure a 
coordinated approach across the agency in the protection of 
rights and needs of individuals with disabilities in disaster 
response. Additionally, this bill mandates the Director of the 
newly established office to develop measures to evaluate the 
effectiveness of FEMA's activities in supporting underserved 
communities. The bill would require biannual public reporting 
to ensure the office is held accountable for successful 
implementation of efforts to improve access to and quality of 
assistance in all phases of the disaster--from immediate 
response through to resilience to future events.

              II. Background and the Need for Legislation

    Inequity in the distribution of disaster response resources 
has played a significant role in all types of disasters, 
including response to Hurricanes Katrina,\1\ Harvey,\2\ and 
Laura,\3\ as well as flooding in the Midwest.\4\ FEMA's 
responses to disasters over past decades have been plagued by 
racial, geographic, socioeconomic, and other disparities that 
have not been adequately addressed.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\``The Real Damage'' Why FEMA is Denying Disaster Aid to Black 
Families that have Lived for Generations in the Deep South, Washington 
Post (July 11, 2021) (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/11/
fema-black-owned-property/); See also Advisers Rebuke FEMA for Racial 
Disparities in Disaster Aid, Scientific American (Jan. 7, 2021) 
(https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/advisers-rebuke-fema-for-
racial-disparities-in-disaster-aid/).
    \2\How Federal Disaster Money Favors the Rich, National Public 
Radio (Mar. 5, 2019) (https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/688786177/how-
federal-disaster-money-favors-the-rich).
    \3\Why Does Disaster Aid Often Favor White People? New York Times 
(June 7, 2021) (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/07/climate/FEMA-race-
climate.html).
    \4\Cristina E. Munoz and Eric Tate, Unequal Recovery? Federal 
Resource Distribution after a Midwest Flood Disaster, International 
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (hMay 17, 2016).
    \5\See, e.g., FEMA Says It's Still Working to Fix Racial 
Disparities in Disaster Aid, New York Times (Oct. 27, 2021) (https://
www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/climate/fema-aid-racial-disparities.html).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    FEMA's 2020 National Advisory Council report, which was led 
by the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, 
found the following:

          Many FEMA programs do not consider the principle of 
        equity in financial assistance relief .  .  .  . By 
        perpetually assisting larger communities that already 
        have considerable resources, the smaller, less 
        resource-rich, less-affluent communities cannot access 
        funding to appropriately prepare for a disaster, 
        leading to inadequate response and recovery, and little 
        opportunity for mitigation.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Advisory Council 
Report to the FEMA Administrator (Nov. 30, 2020).

    For example, research has found that counties having high 
or medium percentages of Black, Hispanic, and Native American 
populations may be associated with lower payments under FEMA's 
Public Assistance program, even when controlling for 
damages.\7\ Additional research indicates:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\Simone J. Domingue and Christopher T. Emrich, Social 
Vulnerability and Procedural Equity: Exploring the Distribution of 
Disaster Aid Across Counties in the United States, The American Review 
of Public Administration (June 18, 2019).

          holding disaster costs constant, the more FEMA money 
        a county receives, the more whites' wealth tends to 
        grow, and the more blacks' wealth tends to decline, all 
        else equal. In other words, the way in which federal 
        assistance is currently administered seems to be 
        exacerbating rather than ameliorating wealth 
        inequalities that unfold after costly natural 
        hazards.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\Junia Howell and James R. Elliott, As Disasters Rise, So Does 
Inequality, Socius (Dec. 4, 2018).

    The federal government must execute disaster response and 
recovery activities that are properly tailored to address the 
unique needs and circumstances of impacted communities. 
Resilience from natural and man-made disasters cannot be 
achieved when disparities exist in affected communities. This 
legislation seeks to improve those efforts.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\Federal Emergency Management Agency. Organizational Chart (Aug. 
13, 2021) (https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_org-
chart_20210819.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The OCREI, established by this bill, would work to improve 
the access to and quality of disaster assistance for 
underserved communities and eliminate disparities in the 
delivery of disaster assistance to these communities. The 
creation of OCREI would be a reorganization and expansion of 
the current Office of Equal Rights (OER) and the ODIC, and it 
would be led by a Director that reports directly to the FEMA 
Administrator.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Responsibilities of the new office would include evaluating 
FEMA programs and activities to promote access to and quality 
of assistance for underserved communities, entering into 
agreements with and awarding grants to nonprofits working to 
support underserved communities, and engaging with federal, 
state, local, tribal, and territorial governmental entities and 
advocacy organizations in underserved communities on a regular 
basis. These efforts will ensure that underserved communities 
have a clear avenue to being heard and supported by those who 
have the power to address their concerns. The bill also 
streamlines efforts to promote access to and quality of 
assistance for the disabled communities by incorporating the 
ODIC into the OCREI to ensure a coordinated approach across the 
agency in the protection of rights and needs of individuals 
with disabilities in disaster response.
    Additionally, this bill mandates the Director of the office 
to develop measures that evaluate the effectiveness of FEMA's 
activities in supporting underserved communities. The bill 
would also require biannual public reporting to ensure the 
office is held accountable for successful implementation of 
efforts to improve access to and quality of assistance in all 
phases of the disaster--from immediate response through to 
resilience to future events.

                        III. Legislative History

    Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced S. 3502, the 
Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience 
Act of 2022, on January 13, 2022, with Senator Alex Padilla (D-
CA). The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs. The Committee considered S. 
3502 at a business meeting on February 2, 2022. The bill was 
ordered reported favorably by voice vote en bloc, with Senators 
Scott and Hawley recorded as voting ``no.'' Senators Peters, 
Carper, Hassan, Sinema, Rosen, Padilla, Ossoff, Portman, 
Lankford, Scott and Hawley were present for the vote. 
Consistent with Committee Rule 3(G), the Committee reports the 
bill with a technical amendment by mutual agreement of the 
Chairman and Ranking Member.

        IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Bill, as Reported


Section 1. Short title

    This section designates the short title of the bill as the 
``Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and 
Resilience Act of 2022.''

Section 2. Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Community Inclusion

    Subsection (a) amends section 513 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321b) to create the Office of Civil 
Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion.
    Section 513, subsection (a) defines the terms ``appropriate 
committees of Congress,'' ``director,'' ``disaster 
assistance,'' ``office,'' and ``underserved community.''
    Section 513, subsection (b) renames Federal Emergency 
Management Agency's Office of Equal Rights as the Office of 
Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion. Subsection (b) 
designates any reference to the Office of Equal Rights of the 
Agency to mean the Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and 
Community Inclusion.
    Section 513, subsection (c) delineates the Director's duty 
to report to the Administrator of FEMA. It also lays out the 
experience and expertise required for someone in the Director's 
role.
    Section 513, subsection (d) designates the purpose of the 
Office, which is to improve access to and quality of disaster 
assistance resources for underserved communities, eliminate 
disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance resources, 
and carry out any other responsibilities of the former Office 
of Equal Rights.
    Section 513, subsection (e) delineates the Director's 
authorities and duties to improve underserved community access 
to disaster assistance before and after a disaster, as well as 
the quality of FEMA assistance received by underserved 
communities. This subsection also requires the Director to 
review and eliminate disparities in the delivery of 
preparedness, response, and recovery programs and activities at 
FEMA. Additionally, the subsection requires the Director to 
develop measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
activities aimed at reducing disparities in the services 
provided to underserved communities. This subsection also 
requires the Office to coordinate with other offices to carry 
out its mandate.
    Section 513, subsection (f) directs the Administrator to 
evaluate agency grants and contracts in accordance with the 
Office's mandate.
    Section 513, subsection (g) creates a position for a 
Disability Coordinator with the Office.
    Section 513, subsection (h) requires the Office to submit 
reports to Congress that describe the activities carried out 
including, outreach and consultation efforts, measures 
developed to determine effectiveness of the Office's 
activities, and the number of investigations conducted by the 
Office into allegations of disparate disaster assistance.
    Section 513, subsection (i) authorizes the funds needed to 
implement this section.
    Subsection (b) of section 2 amends title V of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 by removing the existing section 513.
    Subsection (c) amends the table of contents in section 1(b) 
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
    Subsection (d) directs the Office to consult with State, 
local, territorial, and tribal governments, along with 
community-based organizations, to determine the impact of 
COVID-19 in underserved communities. The subsection also 
prevents the Federal Advisory Committee Act from applying to 
these consultations.

                   V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact

    Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule 
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has 
considered the regulatory impact of this bill and determined 
that the bill will have no regulatory impact within the meaning 
of the rules. The Committee agrees with the Congressional 
Budget Office's statement that the bill contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs 
on state, local, or tribal governments.

             VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, July 15, 2022.
Hon. Gary Peters,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 3502, the Achieving 
Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 
2022.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    S. 3502 would rename the Office of Equal Rights within the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the Office of 
Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion and would require 
the office to undertake additional activities with respect to 
disaster assistance for underserved communities. Specifically, 
the bill would require the office to:
           Develop more comprehensive measures to 
        evaluate the effectiveness of disaster assistance 
        provided to underserved communities,
           Establish an initiative to award grants to 
        nonprofit entities that serve those communities,
           Coordinate with other federal agencies and 
        other interested parties to improve the provision of 
        disaster assistance to people with disabilities; and
           Report to the Congress every two years on 
        the results of the new measures and on allegations of 
        unequal disaster assistance investigated by the office.
    S. 3502 would authorize the appropriation of whatever 
amounts are necessary to implement the legislation.
    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall 
within budget function 450 (community and regional 
development).

                TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER S. 3502
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           2022      2023      2024      2025      2026      2027     2022-2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Authorization................         0         1         2         3         4         6           16
Estimated Outlays......................         0         *         1         2         3         3            9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* = between zero and $500,000.

    In fiscal year 2022, FEMA allocated about $7 million for 
the office, which employs 31 staff. Using information from the 
agency about the activities it currently performs, CBO 
estimates that the office would require the equivalent of three 
additional staff at annual cost of about $160,000 each to 
implement the new requirements in the bill.
    The bill also would require FEMA to make grants to 
nonprofit entities to help with disaster assistance to 
underserved communities. CBO expects that FEMA would promulgate 
regulations for those grants in 2023 and gradually increase the 
number and amount of grants awarded over the next five years. 
Using information on historical patterns of spending for 
similar programs, CBO estimates that implementing S.3502 would 
cost $9 million over 2022-2027 period, mostly for the costs of 
grants, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jon Sperl. The 
estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director 
of Budget Analysis.

       VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows: (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is 
printed in italic, and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                     HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002


SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) * * *
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows:

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE V--NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[Sec. 513. Disability Coordinator.]
Sec. 513. Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE V--NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



[SEC. 513. DISABILITY COORDINATOR.

    [(a) In general.--After consultation with organizations 
representing individuals with disabilities, the National 
Council on Disabilities, and the Interagency Coordinating 
Council on Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities, 
established under Executive Order No. 13347 (6 U.S.C. 312 
note), the Administrator shall appoint a Disability 
Coordinator. The Disability Coordinator shall report directly 
to the Administrator, in order to ensure that the needs of 
individuals with disabilities are being properly addressed in 
emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
    [(b) Responsibilities.--The Disability Coordinator shall be 
responsible for--
          [(1) providing guidance and coordination on matters 
        related to individuals with disabilities in emergency 
        planning requirements and relief efforts in the event 
        of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-
        made disaster;
          [(2) interacting with the staff of the Agency, the 
        National Council on Disabilities, the Interagency 
        Coordinating Council on Preparedness and Individuals 
        with Disabilities established under Executive Order No. 
        13347 (6 U.S.C. 312 note), other agencies of the 
        Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal 
        government authorities regarding the needs of 
        individuals with disabilities in emergency planning 
        requirements and relief efforts in the event of a 
        natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made 
        disaster;
          [(3) consulting with organizations that represent the 
        interests and rights of individuals with disabilities 
        about the needs of individuals with disabilities in 
        emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in 
        the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or 
        other man-made disaster;
          [(4) ensuring the coordination and dissemination of 
        best practices and model evacuation plans for 
        individuals with disabilities;
          [(5) ensuring the development of training materials 
        and a curriculum for training of emergency response 
        providers, State, local, and tribal government 
        officials, and others on the needs of individuals with 
        disabilities;
          [(6) promoting the accessibility of telephone 
        hotlines and websites regarding emergency preparedness, 
        evacuations, and disaster relief;
          [(7) working to ensure that video programming 
        distributors, including broadcasters, cable operators, 
        and satellite television services, make emergency 
        information accessible to individuals with hearing and 
        vision disabilities;
          [(8) ensuring the availability of accessible 
        transportation options for individuals with 
        disabilities in the event of an evacuation;
          [(9) providing guidance and implementing policies to 
        ensure that the rights and wishes of individuals with 
        disabilities regarding post-evacuation residency and 
        relocation are respected;
          [(10) ensuring that meeting the needs of individuals 
        with disabilities are included in the components of the 
        national preparedness system established under section 
        644 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act 
        of 2006; and
          [(11) any other duties as assigned by the 
        Administrator.]

SEC. 513. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
          (1) the term `appropriate committees of Congress' 
        means--
                  (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                  (B) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure, the Committee on Oversight and 
                Reform, and the Committee on Homeland Security 
                of the House of Representatives;
          (2) the term `Director' means the Director of the 
        Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Community 
        Inclusion;
          (3) the term `disaster assistance' means assistance 
        provided under titles IV and V of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.).
          (4) the term `Office' means the Office of Civil 
        Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion;
          (5) the term `underserved community' means--
                  (A) the Native American and Alaskan Native 
                community;
                  (B) the African-American community;
                  (C) the Asian community;
                  (D) the Hispanic (including persons of 
                Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or 
                South American origin) community;
                  (E) the Pacific Islander community;
                  (F) the Middle Eastern and North African 
                community;
                  (G) a rural community;
                  (H) a low-income community;
                  (I) the disability community; and
                  (J) any other historically disadvantaged 
                community, as determined by the Director.
    (b) Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Community 
Inclusion.--
          (1) In general.--The Office of Equal Rights of the 
        Agency shall, on and after the date of enactment of the 
        Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and 
        Resilience Act of 2022, be known as the Office of Civil 
        Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion.
          (2) References.--Any reference to the Office of Equal 
        Rights of the Agency in any law, regulation, map, 
        document, record, or other paper of the United States 
        shall be deemed to be a reference to the Office of 
        Civil Rights, Equity, and Community Inclusion.
    (c) Director.--
          (1) In General.--The Office shall be headed by a 
        Director, who shall report to the Administrator.
          (2) Requirement.--The Director shall have documented 
        experience and expertise in civil rights, underserved 
        community inclusion research, disaster preparedness, or 
        resilience disparities elimination.
    (d) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office is to--
          (1) improve underserved community access to disaster 
        assistance;
          (2) improve the quality of disaster assistance 
        received by underserved communities;
          (3) eliminate racial, ethnic, and other underserved 
        community disparities in the delivery of disaster 
        assistance; and
          (4) carry out such other responsibilities of the 
        Office of Equal Rights as in effect on the day before 
        the date of enactment of the Achieving Equity in 
        Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 
        2022, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.
    (e) Authorities and Duties.--
          (1) In General.--The Director shall be responsible 
        for--
                  (A) improving--
                          (i) underserved community access to 
                        disaster assistance before and after a 
                        disaster; and
                          (ii) the quality of Agency assistance 
                        underserved communities receive;
                  (B) reviewing preparedness, response, and 
                recovery programs and activities of the Agency 
                to ensure the elimination of underserved 
                community disparities in the delivery of such 
                programs and activities; and
                  (C) carrying out such other responsibilities 
                of the Office of Equal Rights as in effect on 
                the day before the date of enactment of the 
                Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, 
                Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, as 
                determined appropriate by the Administrator.
          (2) Reducing disparities in preparedness, response, 
        and recovery.--
                  (A) In general.--The Director shall develop 
                measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
                activities of program offices in the Agency and 
                the activities of recipients aimed at reducing 
                disparities in the services provided to 
                underserved communities.
                  (B) Requirement.--The measures developed 
                under subparagraph (A) shall--
                          (i) evaluate community outreach 
                        activities, language services, 
                        workforce cultural competence, 
                        historical assistance for grants and 
                        loans provided to individuals, State, 
                        local, tribal, and territorial 
                        governments, the effects of disaster 
                        declaration thresholds on underserved 
                        communities, the percentage of 
                        contracts awarded to underserved and 
                        minority-owned businesses, historical 
                        barriers to equitable assistance across 
                        race and class during and after 
                        disasters, and other areas, as 
                        determined by the Director; and
                          (ii) identify the communities 
                        implicated in the evaluations conducted 
                        under clause (i).
                  (C) Coordination with other offices.--In 
                carrying out this section, the Director shall--
                          (i) participate in scenario-based 
                        disaster response exercises at the 
                        Agency;
                          (ii) coordinate with the Office of 
                        Minority Health of the Department of 
                        Health and Human Services;
                          (iii) coordinate with the Office of 
                        Civil Rights of the Department of 
                        Agriculture;
                          (iv) as appropriate, coordinate with 
                        other relevant offices across the 
                        Federal Government, including by 
                        leading a voluntary task force to 
                        address disaster response needs of 
                        underserved communities;
                          (v) coordinate with the Office for 
                        Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the 
                        Department; and
                          (vi) investigate allegations of 
                        unequal disaster assistance based on 
                        race or ethnic origin or refer those 
                        allegations to the appropriate office.
    (f) Grants and Contracts.--In carrying out this section, to 
further inclusion and engagement of under-served communities 
throughout preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation and 
to eliminate racial, ethnic, and other underserved community 
disparities in the delivery of disaster assistance, as 
described in subsection (d), the Administrator shall--
          (1) administer and evaluate Agency programs and 
        activities, including the programs and activities of 
        recipients of preparedness, response, recovery, and 
        mitigation grants and contracts, to--
                  (A) further inclusion and engagement of 
                underserved communities and underserved and 
                minority-owned businesses; and
                  (B) improve outcomes for underserved 
                communities tied to Agency programs and 
                activities; and
          (2) establish an underserved community initiative to 
        award grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
        and contracts with, nonprofit entities.
    (g) Disability Coordinator.--
          (1) In general.--There shall be within the Office a 
        Disability Coordinator to ensure that the needs of 
        individuals with disabilities are being properly 
        addressed by proactively engaging with disability and 
        underserved communities and State, local, and tribal 
        governments in emergency preparedness and disaster 
        relief.
          (2) Responsibilities.--The Disability Coordinator 
        shall be responsible for--
                  (A) providing guidance and coordination on 
                matters relating to individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency planning requirements 
                and relief efforts in the event of a natural 
                disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made 
                disaster;
                  (B) interacting with the staff of the Agency, 
                the National Council on Disability, the 
                Interagency Coordinating Council on 
                Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities 
                established under Executive Order 13347 (6 
                U.S.C. 314 note; relating to individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency preparedness), other 
                agencies of the Federal Government, and State, 
                local, and tribal government authorities 
                relating to the needs of individuals with 
                disabilities in emergency planning requirements 
                and relief efforts in the event of a natural 
                disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made 
                disaster;
                  (C) consulting with stakeholders that 
                represent the interests and rights of 
                individuals with disabilities about the needs 
                of individuals with disabilities in emergency 
                planning requirements and relief efforts in the 
                event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 
                or other manmade disaster;
                  (D) ensuring the coordination and 
                dissemination of best practices and model 
                evacuation plans and sheltering for individuals 
                with disabilities;
                  (E) ensuring the development of training 
                materials and a curriculum for training 
                emergency response providers, State, local, and 
                tribal government officials, and others on the 
                needs of individuals with disabilities;
                  (F) promoting the accessibility of telephone 
                hotlines and websites relating to emergency 
                preparedness, evacuations, and disaster relief;
                  (G) working to ensure that video programming 
                distributors, including broadcasters, cable 
                operators, and satellite television services, 
                make emergency information accessible to 
                individuals with hearing and vision 
                disabilities;
                  (H) providing guidance to State, local, and 
                tribal government officials and other 
                individuals, and implementing policies, 
                relating to the availability of accessible 
                transportation options for individuals with 
                disabilities in the event of an evacuation;
                  (I) providing guidance and implementing 
                policies to external stakeholders to ensure 
                that the rights and wishes of individuals with 
                disabilities regarding post-evacuation 
                residency and relocation are respected;
                  (J) ensuring that meeting the needs of 
                individuals with disabilities is a component of 
                the national preparedness system established 
                under section 644 of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
                Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 744);
                  (K) coordinate technical assistance for 
                Agency programs based on input from underserved 
                communities through a designee of the Director; 
                and (L) any other duties assigned by the 
                Director.
    (h) Reports.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of the Achieving Equity in Disaster 
        Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022, and 
        biennially thereafter, the Administrator shall submit 
        to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
        describing the activities carried out under this 
        section during the period for which the report is being 
        prepared.
          (2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                  (A) a narrative on activities conducted by 
                the Office, including a description of outreach 
                and consultation efforts with advocacy 
                organizations and human resource providers;
                  (B) the results of the measures developed to 
                evaluate the effectiveness of activities aimed 
                at reducing preparedness, response, and 
                recovery disparities; and
                  (C) the number and types of allegations of 
                unequal disaster assistance investigated by the 
                Director or referred to other appropriate 
                offices.
                          (i) Authorization of Appropriation.--
                        There are authorized to be appropriated 
                        such sums as are necessary to carry out 
                        this section.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                                  [all]