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

USA116th CongressS-3658| Senate 
| Updated: 12/14/2020
Gary C. Peters

Gary C. Peters

Democratic Senator

Michigan

Cosponsors (2)
Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
May 7, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 7, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 22, 2020
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 14, 2020
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.
Dec 14, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.
  • May 7, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 7, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 22, 2020
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 14, 2020
    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.


  • December 14, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.

Emergency Management

Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCongressional oversightDepartment of Homeland SecurityDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmergency planning and evacuationExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal-Indian relationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsPerformance measurementPoverty and welfare assistanceRacial and ethnic relationsRural conditions and developmentState and local government operations

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

USA116th CongressS-3658| Senate 
| Updated: 12/14/2020
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 7, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 7, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 22, 2020
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 14, 2020
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.
Dec 14, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.
  • May 7, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 7, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 22, 2020
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 14, 2020
    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.


  • December 14, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 619.
Gary C. Peters

Gary C. Peters

Democratic Senator

Michigan

Cosponsors (2)
Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Emergency Management

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCongressional oversightDepartment of Homeland SecurityDisaster relief and insuranceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmergency planning and evacuationExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal-Indian relationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsPerformance measurementPoverty and welfare assistanceRacial and ethnic relationsRural conditions and developmentState and local government operations