H.R. 4408 — UNITY Act

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a study on the agency's hiring, recruitment, and retention practices in noncontiguous communities (i.e., areas physically separated from the contiguous United States, such as Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories) by soliciting staff feedback therein. The study must (1) evaluate recruitment strategies and efforts to broaden pools of qualified local candidates, (2) prioritize input from communities with the most severe staffing shortages, and (3) identify specific steps to improve staff opportunities; not later than six months after enactment, the Administrator must brief specified House and Senate committees on the results and revise agency policies, guidance, or regulations as necessary to address identified challenges.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effectiveness of federal disaster response and recovery practices in noncontiguous communities (i.e., U.S. territories, Alaska, and Hawaii), with a particular focus on recovery from Super Typhoon Yutu and a comparison to practices in contiguous communities. The study must (1) analyze ongoing recovery efforts in noncontiguous communities, (2) assess coordination among federal departments and agencies, (3) evaluate coordination between federal agencies and state emergency management offices, (4) assess the effectiveness of Area offices and Regional Advisory Councils of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in assisting such communities, and (5) provide recommendations to improve outcomes; the Comptroller General must submit a report to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs not later than 18 months after enactment.

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish, not later than one year after enactment, a pilot program to implement new technology in conducting preliminary damage assessments—evaluations of disaster impacts to inform major disaster declarations and federal assistance under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170)—in noncontiguous communities. The program must prioritize the most geographically remote such communities, requires a briefing to specified congressional committees on its implementation not later than three years after enactment, and terminates on September 30, 2030.