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Open Recommendations (48 total)

Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs Under Environmental Justice Initiative

GAO-24-106511
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of FEMA should ensure that program offices of FEMA Justice40 covered programs document previously identified statutory and regulatory barriers to access for tribal applicants informing their implementation of the Justice40 Initiative. As a part of this process, the agency should—with input from Tribes—identify any additional changes necessary to address remaining statutory and regulatory barriers, recommending legislative changes where the agency determines appropriate. The agency should make a summary of the results of this process publicly available. (Recommendation 2)
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When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs Under Environmental Justice Initiative

GAO-24-106511
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of FEMA should ensure that program offices implementing Justice40 covered programs maintain records of related consultations with Tribes and consider—with tribal input—publicly sharing a high-level summary of consultation results, as appropriate, to improve tribal applicants' access to information about tribal input on federal programs and decrease the burden on Tribes and eligible Indigenous communities. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of FEMA should ensure that program offices consult with federally recognized Tribes and conduct outreach to eligible Indigenous communities to ensure meaningful involvement when determining benefits for Justice40 covered programs in accordance with EOP guidance and determine how to incorporate the input into future Justice40 implementation efforts. (Recommendation 8)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Homeland Security Grants: DHS Implemented National Priority Areas but Could Better Document and Communicate Changes

GAO-24-106327
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The FEMA Administrator should conduct targeted outreach to stakeholders to better understand and address communication and other stakeholder challenges with implementing National Priority Area changes. (Recommendation 2).
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Flood Insurance: FEMA's New Rate-Setting Methodology Improves Actuarial Soundness but Highlights Need for Broader Program Reform

GAO-23-105977
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Assistant Administrator of FEMA's Federal Insurance Directorate should evaluate other means for incentivizing desirable community activities that cannot be actuarially justified but are currently a basis for discounts in CRS. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Flood Insurance: FEMA's New Rate-Setting Methodology Improves Actuarial Soundness but Highlights Need for Broader Program Reform

GAO-23-105977
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4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Assistant Administrator of FEMA's Federal Insurance Directorate should take additional steps to make available to policyholders, agents, or both more detailed property-specific flood risk information to help them better understand the justification for individual premiums and potential savings associated with available mitigation options. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Assistant Administrator of FEMA's Federal Insurance Directorate should publish an annual actuarial report that includes the loss levels that full-risk premiums are designed to cover and that current discounted premiums are able to cover, and the associated uncertainty; the estimated premium revenue and shortfall for current and future years; and an evaluation of NFIP's fiscal outlook, including projections of future debt. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Assistant Administrator of FEMA's Federal Insurance Directorate should adjust CRS by calculating a community's rating based only on community activities that reduce flood risk and by incorporating discounts into the full-risk premium based on the actuarial evaluation of risk reduction. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Assistant Administrator of FEMA's Federal Insurance Directorate should take steps to directly inform individual policyholders about Risk Rating 2.0 and make them aware of available information. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Homelessness: Enhanced Coordination Could Improve Disaster Shelter and Housing Assistance

GAO-23-105379
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of FEMA should coordinate with HUD on federal disaster shelter and housing assistance for the homeless population, through efforts such as those related to the implementation of USICH's federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness (issued December 2022). Activities could include (1) identifying the needs of those experiencing homelessness and lessons learned related to planning, evaluating, and coordinating efforts to address their disaster shelter and housing needs and (2) disseminating this information to state and local partners. (Recommendation 2)
Open
FEMA officials stated that it has taken some steps toward implementing the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) federal strategic plan referred to as the All INside Initiative. For example, in August 2023, FEMA and HUD began a Pre-Disaster Housing Initiative which included convening first cohort of emergency management and housing agencies in four selected states to develop a pre-disaster housing plan and/or recovery frameworks to include considerations of people experiencing homelessness. Through this initiative, FEMA , HUD, and the four selected states held a workshop to discuss pre-disaster housing planning, which included panel discussions, presentations, and networking activities alongside facilitated in-person working sessions on the state plans and frameworks. As of February 2024, FEMA estimated that it will complete a "Pre-Disaster Housing Planning Guide" and a "Pre-Disaster Housing Planning Checklist" by September 2024. FEMA has also invited USICH to present on the "All in Plan" at its Recovery Directorate and embedded a FEMA staff member with the city of Los Angeles for 90 days to provide expertise and serve as a liaison between the city and the federal government as part of All INside. In addition, FEMA stated that a Shelter Transition Team Working Group has conducted weekly meetings (beginning on December 4, 2023) with representation from FEMA's Individual Assistance and Public Assistance divisions to collaborate with HUD, Health and Human Services (HHS), State, Local and Tribal (SLTT) partners, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in developing comprehensive disaster planning guidance regarding Shelter Transition Teams. This planning guidance will incorporate a whole community approach to identify sustainable strategies to support individuals transitioning from shelter environments with support from Continuums of Care, public health, and emergency management partners. FEMA expects this guidance to be completed December 31, 2024. GAO will follow up on the progression of these efforts.
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