PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] · D–MO
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Oct 7, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.10486 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.10486 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.10486 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.10486 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.
PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-17 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposal would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue disaster relief during a lapse in government funding, using Disaster Relief Fund balances and maintaining staff and contract support. It would also require public reporting on disaster funding and assessments of unmet recovery needs. Separate provisions would require improvements to tornado forecasting and warnings and establish grants for community preparedness, with priority for communities with high tornado risk, underserved and low-income communities, and communities with limited access to warning systems or shelters.
in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Administrator of FEMA shall— (1) continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund; (2) obligate and disburse Disaster Relief Fund balances for all existing and future disaster declarations
(3) maintain personnel and contract support necessary to ensure uninterrupted processing of claims and payments.
The Administrator shall make each report required under this section publicly available on the website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
submit to the Congress a report about the analysis conducted under paragraph (1) that identifies any unmet needs in the area impacted by the disaster
shall establish a program to improve tornado detection, forecasting, and warning capabilities.
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish a program to award grants to State and local emergency management agencies to support tornado preparedness and resilience in high-risk areas.
the Administrator shall prioritize— (1) communities with high tornado risk; (2) underserved and low-income communities; and (3) communities with limited access to existing warning systems or shelters.
The bill would be called the Relief Without Delay Act.
This Act may be cited as the Relief Without Delay Act.
During a lapse in appropriations—an interruption in government funding authority—FEMA would have to continue all relief, recovery, and mitigation operations financed by the Disaster Relief Fund. It would have to commit and pay fund balances for existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under the listed Stafford Act sections. Section 2 states that these duties apply notwithstanding other laws.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Administrator of FEMA shall— (1) continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund; (2) obligate and disburse Disaster Relief Fund balances for all existing and future disaster declarations, including individual and public assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, 408, and 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, 5173, 5174, and 5192)
FEMA would have to maintain the personnel and contract support needed to keep processing claims and payments without interruption during the funding lapse.
in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Administrator of FEMA shall—
(3) maintain personnel and contract support necessary to ensure uninterrupted processing of claims and payments.
All Disaster Relief Fund balances not yet legally committed would remain available for FEMA to spend during a funding lapse.
All unobligated balances in the Disaster Relief Fund shall remain available to the Administrator of FEMA for expenditure during a lapse in appropriations.
During a funding lapse, Disaster Relief Fund money could not be withheld, subjected to sequestration cuts, or redirected to different uses, except as necessary to comply with the cited Anti-Deficiency Act provision.
No funds from the Disaster Relief Fund may be withheld, sequestered, or reprogrammed during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Anti-Deficiency Act).
For purposes of the cited Anti-Deficiency Act provision, the bill would designate FEMA operations authorized by this bill as essential to protecting human life and property and exempt from shutdown restrictions. The referenced law is not supplied, so the exemption's interaction with existing law and section 3's compliance exception cannot be fully assessed.
For purposes of section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Anti-Deficiency Act), operations of FEMA authorized under this Act shall be considered essential to protect human life and property, and therefore exempt from shutdown restrictions.
No funds from the Disaster Relief Fund may be withheld, sequestered, or reprogrammed during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Anti-Deficiency Act).
FEMA would have to begin reporting on all Disaster Relief Fund projects and activities within 60 days after enactment and report monthly thereafter. Reports would go to the House Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure committees and the Senate Appropriations and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees.
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and monthly thereafter, the Administrator of FEMA shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the status of all projects and activities funded through the Disaster Relief Fund.
The term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committees on Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
Monthly reports would show the preceding month's uncommitted fund balance, legally committed amounts, and amounts actually paid. For these reports, an obligation means FEMA's legally binding commitment to make payments for a specific disaster recovery program or project.
Each monthly report under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the preceding month— (1) the total unobligated balance of the Disaster Relief Fund; (2) the total amount of Disaster Relief Fund funds obligated; (3) the total amount of Disaster Relief Fund funds disbursed
The term obligation means a legally binding commitment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make payments under specific disaster recovery programs or projects.
Reports would break down funding by major-disaster or emergency declaration, naming and dating each declaration and identifying affected states, territories, or tribal areas. They would show cumulative commitments and payments and the percentage of committed money that had been paid.
(4) a breakdown by disaster declaration (major disaster or emergency), including— (A) the name and date of each declaration; (B) the States, territories, or tribal areas affected; (C) the total funds obligated to date; (D) the total funds disbursed to date; and (E) the percentage of obligated funds that have been disbursed
Reports would list public assistance projects submitted for approval and funding commitments, projects approved for commitments, and project funds paid out. They would also identify projects awaiting commitment decisions for more than 180 days and explain money withheld, delayed, or redirected for future use, including estimated payment timelines.
(5) a list of all public assistance projects submitted for approval and obligation; (6) a list of all projects that have been approved for obligation; (7) a list of all funds for projects that have been disbursed; (8) a list of all projects for which obligation decisions remain pending for more than 180 days; and (9) any funds withheld, deferred, or reprogrammed for future use, with an explanation of the reason and estimated disbursement timeline.
FEMA would have to publish each funding report on its website within 10 days after submitting it. Within 90 days after enactment, it would have to establish a uniform reporting template consistent with federal open data standards and update commitment and payment data monthly.
The Administrator shall make each report required under this section publicly available on the website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency not later than 10 days after the submission of each report.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a uniform reporting template for Disaster Relief Fund obligation and disbursement data, consistent with Federal open data standards, and update such data on a rolling monthly basis.
Within 60 days after a presidential major-disaster declaration under the Stafford Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development would have to use available federal disaster and housing data to assess housing and infrastructure damage, affordable housing shortages, and broader economic recovery needs.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 60 days after a the President declares a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and quarterly thereafter— (1) use Federal disaster and housing data available to the Secretary to— (A) evaluate damage to housing and infrastructure in the area impacted by the disaster; and (B) identify shortages in affordable housing and broader economic recovery needs
On the same schedule, the housing secretary would have to report to Congress on unmet needs that could be addressed using money appropriated for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and other related federal disaster programs. This requires identifying potential uses of appropriated money; it does not itself award money to those needs.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 60 days after a the President declares a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and quarterly thereafter—
(2) submit to the Congress a report about the analysis conducted under paragraph (1) that identifies any unmet needs in the area impacted by the disaster that could be addressed using amounts appropriated for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and other related Federal disaster programs.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coordinating with FEMA, would have to establish a tornado detection, forecasting, and warning program. Required elements would include investment in next-generation radar, satellites, and sensors; advanced forecasting using artificial intelligence and machine learning; expanded local warnings based on expected impacts; warning-system improvements; and integration of federal forecasting into state and local emergency management systems.
The term NOAA means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Administrator of NOAA, in coordination with the Administrator of FEMA, shall establish a program to improve tornado detection, forecasting, and warning capabilities.
The program established under subsection (a) shall include— (1) investment in next-generation radar, satellite, and sensor technologies; (2) development of advanced forecasting models, including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning; (3) expansion of localized, impact-based warning systems; (4) improvements to warning systems; and (5) integration of Federal forecasting capabilities into State and local emergency management systems.
FEMA would have to establish grants for state and local emergency management agencies to support tornado preparedness and resilience in high-risk areas. The bill defines a high-risk area as one the Administrator identifies, in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as having frequent tornadoes or elevated tornado risk.
The Administrator of FEMA shall establish a program to award grants to State and local emergency management agencies to support tornado preparedness and resilience in high-risk areas.
The term high-risk area means a geographic area identified by the Administrator, in coordination with NOAA, as having a high frequency or elevated risk of tornado activity.
Tornado grants could fund new or upgraded community storm shelters, including shelters in schools and mobile home communities; warning systems and backup power; preparedness plans and public education; and other projects FEMA determines appropriate for improving tornado resilience.
Grants awarded under this section may be used for— (1) construction or retrofitting of community storm shelters, including shelters located in schools, mobile home communities, and other high-risk locations; (2) installation or modernization of warning systems; (3) deployment of backup power for warning systems; (4) development of local emergency preparedness plans and public education initiatives; and (5) other projects determined appropriate by the Administrator to enhance tornado resilience.
When awarding tornado grants, FEMA would have to prioritize communities with high tornado risk, underserved and low-income communities, and communities with limited access to warning systems or shelters.
In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator shall prioritize— (1) communities with high tornado risk; (2) underserved and low-income communities; and (3) communities with limited access to existing warning systems or shelters.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and FEMA would have to coordinate with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments on tornado preparedness and response. Coordination would include sharing data, connecting forecasting systems, jointly planning emergency responses, and supporting public education and outreach.
The Administrator of NOAA and the Administrator of FEMA shall coordinate with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to improve tornado preparedness and response, including by— (1) data sharing and integration of forecasting systems; (2) joint planning for emergency response; and (3) support for public education and outreach campaigns.
Upon implementation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coordinating with FEMA, would have to report to designated congressional committees on tornado forecasting improvements, warning upgrades, grants and their uses, remaining preparedness gaps, and recommendations for further action. Recipients would be the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and Appropriations committees and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Appropriations committees.
Upon implementation of this Act, the Administrator of NOAA, in coordination with the Administrator of FEMA, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on such implementation.
The report required under subsection (a) shall include a description of— (1) any improvements in tornado detection and forecasting capabilities; (2) the status of upgrades to warning systems; (3) grants awarded under section 8, and how such grants have been used to support tornado preparedness and resilience; (4) any remaining gaps in tornado preparedness and resilience; and (5) any recommendations for further legislative or administrative action.
the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Appropriations of the Senate.
The bill defines the Disaster Relief Fund by reference to section 102(4) of the Stafford Act, cited as 42 U.S.C. 5122(4). The supplied bill does not reproduce that provision, so the definition's underlying statutory context cannot be established from this bundle.
The term Disaster Relief Fund means the fund established under section 102(4) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(4)).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 7, 2026, records introduction in the House on September 17, 2026, and referral that day to the Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and Financial Services committees for provisions within their respective jurisdictions.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-07T19:07:13Z.
2026-09-17: Introduced in House
2026-09-17: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-17. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No provision unrelated to the bill's disaster relief and preparedness subject, or policy rider attached to appropriations, was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish attachment history or the contents of other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; absent disclosure and committee materials prevent a definitive assessment of formal earmark status beyond the text.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
A special exemption tied to the bill's main policy is identified in the supplied introduced text. This classification is not a judgment on its merits.
Section 4 specifically benefits FEMA operations authorized under the bill by designating them essential to protecting human life and property and exempt from shutdown restrictions for purposes of the cited Anti-Deficiency Act provision. This is a special exemption for a defined set of agency operations, directly supporting the bill's main policy of continuing disaster operations during funding lapses. The referenced law is absent, so the finding describes the proposed textual exemption without resolving its interaction with existing law or section 3's compliance exception.
For purposes of section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Anti-Deficiency Act), operations of FEMA authorized under this Act shall be considered essential to protect human life and property, and therefore exempt from shutdown restrictions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the event of a lapse in appropriations, the Administrator of FEMA shall— (1) continue all disaster relief, recovery, and mitigation operations funded through the Disaster Relief Fund;
No funds from the Disaster Relief Fund may be withheld, sequestered, or reprogrammed during a lapse in appropriations, except as necessary to comply with section 1341 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Anti-Deficiency Act).
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 7, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI