Luz Rivas (D-CA)
Telecommunications GAP Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Telecommunications GAP Act requires the Comptroller General of the United States to provide a report to Congress. This report focuses on the Federal Communications Commission's Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative. It must analyze the overall effectiveness of the initiative and its specific performance during the California wildfires in January 2025. The report also needs to identify failures in provider coordination, roaming, and coverage. Finally, it must provide recommendations for the initiative.
Yes· 3 of 19
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The act specifically targets improving the effectiveness of telecommunications response during disasters.
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Requires a public report from the GAO on the effectiveness and failures of a government initiative.
- Scored +2
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Rural areas are often more susceptible to coverage gaps during disasters.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Accountability for Disaster Response: Section 2(a) requires an analysis of the overall effectiveness of the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative and the identification of failures in coverage and provider coordination. This could lead to better wireless service during emergencies.
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Learning from Past Events: Section 2(a)(2) specifically looks at the effectiveness of the initiative during the January 2025 California wildfires. This allows the government to understand what went wrong during a real-world disaster to improve future responses.
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Future Improvements: Section 2(a)(4) requires recommendations for the initiative. These recommendations could lead to changes that improve how mobile wireless providers handle emergency situations.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural areas are often more susceptible to coverage gaps during disasters. Would children be better off under this? — Improved emergency communications increase overall safety for all ages. Would farmers be better off under this? — Rural residents and farmers benefit from improved disaster-related wireless coverage. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Ensures better emergency connectivity regardless of provider or plan level. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Ensures better emergency connectivity regardless of provider or plan level. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Improved emergency communications increase overall safety for all ages. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Ensures better emergency connectivity regardless of provider or plan level. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Emergency communications are critical for those with disabilities during disasters. Would retired people be better off under this? — Ensures critical communication access for seniors during emergency events. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Improved emergency communications increase overall safety for all ages. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Improves disaster communication reliability in urban centers. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Improved emergency communications increase overall safety for all ages.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The act specifically targets improving the effectiveness of telecommunications response during disasters. Does this invest in rural communities? — Audit of disaster response telecommunications may lead to improved connectivity in underserved rural areas during crises.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires a public report from the GAO on the effectiveness and failures of a government initiative. Does this give the federal government more power? — Directs the GAO to investigate and provide recommendations to the federal government on provider mandates.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Identifying failures in coverage and roaming can lead to expanded network availability during disasters. Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The report analyzes the performance of wireless providers, which may lead to stricter FCC requirements.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Improving disaster response telecommunications increases safety and reliability for consumers during emergencies.
- 9/3/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia