What does Preamble of Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026 do?

This bill aims to establish a procedure for Congress to reverse a presidential decision regarding the declaration of a major disaster. The bill pertains to requests made by a State's Governor under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The bill was introduced by Representatives Krishnamoorthi, Neguse, and Pettersen.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026.

What does PROCESS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REVERSAL OF REFUSAL TO DECLARE MAJOR of Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to establish a process for Congress to reverse a presidential refusal to declare a major disaster. If the President declines a major disaster declaration contrary to FEMA's recommendation or established precedent, they must notify Congress within 24 hours. Congress can introduce a joint resolution within 14 days to override the refusal. The joint resolution must specify the disaster and cannot be amended. Floor consideration in both the House and Senate is expedited, with limited debate and strict procedural rules. Committees have two calendar days to report the joint resolution; failure to do so results in automatic discharge to the calendar. The House debate is limited to 4 hours, while Senate debate is limited to 10 hours. The rules established by this section are considered part of each House's rules and supersede inconsistent rules only to the extent of inconsistency.

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Disaster Declaration Transparency Act of 2026

Last updated: 4/29/2026 · Introduced: 4/29/2026

Author: Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill allows Congress to override a president's refusal to declare a major disaster if it contradicts FEMA's recommendation or established precedent.
The bill requires the president to notify Congress within 24 hours if they decline a disaster declaration against FEMA's advice or precedent.
Congress can expedite consideration of a joint resolution to reverse a presidential refusal, limiting debate and setting strict timelines for committee action.

119th Congressin committeeS. 4433(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 1 more.

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