Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act of 2026
Changes federal disaster-recovery rules for vessels, repair projects, environmental compliance and planned facility upgrades.
In the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since Oct. 1, 2026, 7 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 1, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
After a major disaster, federal rules shape how communities get help and rebuild. The bill would change rules for disaster-relief vessels and repair projects, require certain environmental protections and previously planned technology, and create boards to recommend recovery changes. It also sets deadlines for the boards’ reports.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create disaster recovery review boards
For each category of disaster in a calendar year, the President would establish a board after the first major-disaster declaration in that category. The board would include federal, state, local and congressional representatives and recommend ways to remove barriers to recovery and improve future recovery.
- Exempt qualifying vessels from requirements
The Coast Guard’s department secretary would have to exempt a vessel from specified federal vessel requirements if its owner or operator reasonably demonstrates that the exemption is needed for disaster relief. The exemption would last for 180 days after the major-disaster declaration.
- Waive Davis-Bacon requirements for repairs
Davis-Bacon requirements would not apply to projects under the Stafford Act that repair damage caused by a major disaster.
- Install prescheduled technology during repairs
When a facility is repaired, restored, reconstructed or replaced under the Stafford Act, the President would have to include any technological improvement that was scheduled, procured and funded for installation before the disaster declaration.
- Apply environmental laws to hazard mitigation
The bill would specify that hazard-mitigation work must meet applicable requirements under federal water-pollution, clean-air and endangered-species laws, alongside applicable environmental reviews.
The bill’s stated purpose is to set procedures after a major-disaster declaration. Its practical stakes include how quickly disaster-relief vessels can be exempted from specified requirements, which rules apply to repair projects, and whether planned technology and environmental-law requirements shape recovery work.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 1, 2026HOUSEOCT 1, 2026By Rep. FoxxReferred to Transportation and Infrastructure
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeOCT 1, 2026TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE NOWOCT 1, 2026In committee for 7 daysNo hearing yet
- 7 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 7, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
What readers think
Discussion
Get an alert when it changes stage, gets a floor vote in the House, or is signed into law.