Blumenthal, Schiff, Dingell & Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Disaster Preparedness & Response for Seniors & People with Disabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today introduced the

Across the country, the frequency and severity of natural disasters is increasing, posing greater risks to older adults, people with disabilities, and others with access and functional needs. The REAADI for Disasters Act strengthens coordination between federal, state, tribal, local, and non-governmental agencies and gives voice to vulnerable populations to ensure their needs are met in a natural disaster.

"Our REAADI for Disasters Act ensures that our most vulnerable populations are not left behind in disaster planning," said Blumenthal. "Seniors and people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters-it is critical that their voices are included in disaster preparedness efforts. Our bipartisan measure supports and involves older adults and people with disabilities in disaster planning so that federal, state, and local partners are better equipped to meet their unique needs in a crisis."

"When Los Angeles faced some of the most devastating wildfires in our history one year ago, it was clear there was an urgent need to improve our crisis planning. In particular, we need to make sure we have the resources in place to help individuals with disabilities and older adults with emergency preparedness and response," said Schiff. "I'm proud to work alongside Senator Blumenthal on this legislation to ensure people with disabilities and seniors have a voice in the preparation and response efforts when disaster strikes."

"Natural disasters are continuing to increase in frequency and intensity, and it's critical that we keep up with disaster preparedness plans that include all residents of a community," said Dingell. "Individuals with disabilities, seniors, and those with mobility challenges are often forgotten, even though they face higher risks for death or injury during disasters. The REAADI for Disasters Act will ensure aging Americans and those with disabilities have a stronger voice in the preparation, response, and mitigation of disasters."

"Disaster preparedness is ultimately a test of whether government understands how people actually live. Seniors and Americans with disabilities depend on systems that span health care, transportation, housing, and civil rights-and when those systems fracture in a crisis, lives are placed at risk. The REAADI for Disasters Act brings those responsibilities together into a single, accountable framework, so when disaster strikes, protection remains steady and reliable even when everything else is not," said Fitzpatrick.

The REAADI for Disasters Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-CA).

Specifically, the REAADI for Disasters Act:

• Establishes a National Advisory Committee on Disability Rights and Disasters to study the needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults and others with access and functional needs and make recommendations for best practices at the local, state, and federal levels for ensuring older adults and people with disabilities are included in all aspects of disaster preparedness, including in the areas of: accessible communication, protection of civil rights, accessible transportation and evacuation, accessible emergency sheltering, and accessible health and medical services;

• Creates a network of centers focused on training and technical assistance, as well as research, to assist states and localities to better involve and support people with disabilities and older adults during and post-disasters;

• Directs states and local governments to develop specific crisis standards of care for people with disabilities and older adults during a period of a disaster or a public health emergency;

• Establishes a Disaster Human Services Emergency Fund within the Department of the Treasury to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to rapidly respond to the immediate human service needs resulting from a declared or potential public health emergency or disaster.

• Directs the Government Accountability Office to review the spending of disaster funds by federal agencies and states to ensure funds have been spent in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Covered activities include emergency shelters, services, and reconstruction of buildings;

• Creates a competitive grant program to pilot strategies for greater inclusion of people with disabilities and older adults in disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation; and

• Requires the Department of Justice to examine how the civil rights of people with disabilities and older adults are or are not upheld during and following disasters.

Full bill text is available here.

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