George Whitesides (D-CA)
Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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 Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026 amends title 23 of the United States Code. It requires metropolitan transportation planning to identify facilities vulnerable to frequent natural disasters and those necessary for operation during or after such events. It also mandates that these plans identify necessary improvement projects. Similarly, statewide and nonmetropolitan transportation plans must include these same identifications of vulnerable facilities, necessary operations, and required improvements.
Yes· 3 of 33
- Scored +8
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
Specifically mandates the identification of vulnerable facilities and necessary improvement projects for transportation infrastructure.
- Scored +7
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
Improves the operational readiness of infrastructure during and after natural disasters.
- Scored +5
Would people in cities be better off under this?
Directly affects metropolitan transportation planning and facility vulnerability.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Disaster Planning: By identifying which transportation facilities are most vulnerable to frequent natural disasters, the government can better prepare for emergencies (Section 2(a) and 2(b)).
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Maintained Essential Services: Identifying facilities most necessary to maintain operation during or soon after a disaster helps ensure critical transport remains available (Section 2(a)(ii) and 2(b)(B)).
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Targeted Infrastructure Upgrades: The requirement to identify necessary improvement projects allows for specific upgrades to keep transportation operating during disasters (Section 2(a)(iii) and 2(b)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups of 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? — Directly affects statewide and nonmetropolitan transportation planning. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Directly affects metropolitan transportation planning and facility vulnerability. Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduces business disruption caused by disaster-related transportation failures. Would farmers be better off under this? — Rural transportation resilience is critical for transporting agricultural goods, especially after disasters. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income populations are often disproportionately affected by infrastructure failure during disasters. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Resilient and identified critical facilities are essential for evacuation and access for those with mobility issues. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Targeted infrastructure improvements can reduce vulnerabilities in historically underserved areas. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Targeted infrastructure improvements can reduce vulnerabilities in historically underserved areas. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Targeted infrastructure improvements can reduce vulnerabilities in historically underserved areas. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in disaster resilience benefits middle-class transit and travel. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Targeted infrastructure improvements can reduce vulnerabilities in historically underserved areas. Would retired people be better off under this? — Increased infrastructure reliability aids retirees in disaster-prone areas. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors are often more vulnerable during disasters and rely on maintained transportation for evacuation. Would union members be better off under this? — Increased demand for infrastructure improvement projects benefits construction trades. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Targeted infrastructure improvements can reduce vulnerabilities in historically underserved areas. Would billionaires be better off under this? — General improvement in disaster resilience benefits all residents. Would children be better off under this? — Safer and more resilient infrastructure benefits all ages during emergencies. Would high-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in disaster resilience benefits all residents. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — General improvement in disaster resilience benefits all residents. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Safer and more resilient infrastructure benefits all ages during emergencies. Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this? — General improvement in disaster resilience benefits all residents. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Safer and more resilient infrastructure benefits all ages during emergencies.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — Specifically mandates the identification of vulnerable facilities and necessary improvement projects for transportation infrastructure. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Improves the operational readiness of infrastructure during and after natural disasters. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Includes metropolitan transportation planning which encompasses public transit systems. Does this invest in rural communities? — Specifically addresses nonmetropolitan transportation planning.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Enhanced infrastructure resilience reduces economic losses associated with natural disasters. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Proactive vulnerability identification allows for more efficient and targeted spending on repairs. Is this likely to create jobs? — Identifying necessary improvement projects likely leads to increased infrastructure construction jobs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Reducing disaster-related transportation shutdowns improves the flow of interstate commerce. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires formal identification and planning of vulnerabilities in public transportation records. Does this give the federal government more power? — Adds new federal requirements to state and metropolitan planning processes.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Maintaining transportation facilities during disasters ensures emergency medical access.
- 6/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California