Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act
A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
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 "Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act" aims to improve disaster mitigation efforts to prevent future natural disasters. It updates the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by introducing new definitions for high hazard risk, environmental justice, and small impoverished communities. The bill directs the FEMA Administrator to develop guidance on incorporating climate change into risk indices and building standards. It also establishes priority for assistance to specific vulnerable communities. Additionally, the bill increases funding percentages for national public infrastructure and enhances community outreach. Finally, it mandates the creation of a central Federal database to track disaster spending and project evaluations.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +8
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill enhances predisaster mitigation through updated risk indices, priority for vulnerable communities, and increased funding percentages.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill directs FEMA to incorporate climate change projections into risk indices and building standards.
- Scored +6
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill explicitly includes Tribal and indigenous communities within the definition of environmental justice communities for prioritized assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Prioritized Assistance for Vulnerable Groups: The bill directs that priority be given to high hazard risk communities, environmental justice communities, and those with low tax revenue or low rates of code adoption and enforcement (Section 4).
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Increased Federal Support for Specific Communities: The President may contribute up to 90 percent of the total cost of mitigation activities in small impoverished communities or environmental justice communities (Section 5).
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Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: The Administrator can issue guidance to ensure projects are designed around future climate change projections and built to withstand flooding, wildfires, or other natural disasters (Section 3).
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Enhanced Community Outreach: FEMA, in collaboration with various organizations, will provide outreach to help high-risk and disadvantaged communities learn how to plan, prioritize, and successfully administer grant applications (Section 7).
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Improved Data Transparency and Accountability: A new central Federal database will consolidate funding data from various agencies and include post-project evaluations to analyze what was saved through proper mitigation (Section 8).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated 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 Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly includes Tribal and indigenous communities within the definition of environmental justice communities for prioritized assistance. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides priority assistance to environmental justice communities which are defined to include communities of color. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides priority assistance to environmental justice communities which are defined to include communities of color. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides priority assistance to environmental justice communities which are defined to include communities of color. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes and increases federal cost-sharing for environmental justice and small impoverished communities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes assistance for small impoverished communities which may include many rural areas.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill enhances predisaster mitigation through updated risk indices, priority for vulnerable communities, and increased funding percentages. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill directs FEMA to incorporate climate change projections into risk indices and building standards. Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill increases funding percentages for national public infrastructure predisaster mitigation.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes assistance for environmental justice communities, which include communities of color. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill increases federal assistance up to 90 percent for mitigation activities in small impoverished communities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the creation of a central, user-friendly database to consolidate and post funding and project data.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill mandates a central database to track spending and include post-project evaluations to analyze cost savings from mitigation.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill establishes a central Federal database to collect and consolidate disaster-related data across agencies.
- 10/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/26/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/31/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/15/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/14/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Sydney Kamlager-DoveDemocrat · California
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia