Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act” or the “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, requiring equity criteria to be applied to policies and programs, and permitting counties to seek emergency and major disaster declarations in certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 3 Definitions
In this Act:
Administrator— The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Agency— The term “Agency” means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Emergency— The term “emergency” means an emergency declared by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191).
Equity— The term “equity” means the guarantee of fair treatment, advancement, equal opportunity, and access for underserved communities and others, the elimination of barriers that have prevented full participation for underserved communities, and the reduction of disparate outcomes.
Equitable— The term “equitable” means having or exhibiting equity.
Federal assistance— The term “Federal assistance” means assistance provided pursuant to—
a declaration of a major disaster or emergency, including assistance provided pursuant to sections 203, 205, 404, and 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and
section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c).
Major disaster— The term “major disaster” means a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
Underserved community— The term “underserved community” means—
the Native-American and Alaskan-Native community;
the African-American community;
the Asian community;
the Hispanic community (including individuals of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin);
the Pacific Islander community;
the Middle Eastern and North African community;
a rural community;
a low-income community;
individuals with disabilities;
a limited English proficiency community;
other individuals or communities otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and
any other disadvantaged community, as determined by the Administrator.