H.R. 8577: Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026, proposes changes to the way Congress can respond when the President declines to declare a major disaster in response to a request from a state governor. The primary aim is to make the process for Congress to intervene clearer and more structured.

Key Provisions

1. Definition of Covered Refusal

A "covered refusal" refers to a situation where a governor requests a disaster declaration, and the President declines this request. This refusal must be:

• Against a recommendation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator.
• Based on a recommendation from the FEMA Administrator that contradicts established precedent.

2. Notification Requirements

If the President makes a covered refusal, they must notify Congress within 24 hours by providing a written explanation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate.

3. Congressional Action on Covered Refusals

Congress is allowed to respond to a covered refusal by introducing a "covered joint resolution." This resolution can be introduced as follows:

• In the House of Representatives, it can be introduced by the majority or minority leader or their designees.
• In the Senate, it can also be introduced by similar leaders or their designees.

4. Expedited Process

The bill provides an expedited process for voting on a covered joint resolution:

• If a committee does not report the resolution within 2 days, it will be automatically discharged from further consideration.
• Limits debate time to a maximum of 4 hours in the House and 10 hours in the Senate.
• No amendments can be made to the resolution once it is introduced in Congress.

5. Consideration of Veto Messages

If the President vetoes a joint resolution, Congress has limited time to discuss the veto message, also restricted to 10 hours in the Senate.

6. Application of Rules

The procedures for covered joint resolutions are laid out in a way that they take precedence over existing rules, where inconsistencies occur. It also reaffirms Congress's authority to change its rules as necessary.

Impact Overview

This bill aims to provide a more transparent and structured response by Congress when disaster relief requests are denied by the President. It sets out clear rules for how Congress can take action in these instances, potentially leading to quicker decisions on disaster relief matters, which may affect how states respond to disasters in the future.

Relevant Companies

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