[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6249 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.6249
One Hundred Eighteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four
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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.