Joe Neguse (D-CO)
Disaster Relief Integrity and Independence Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · 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 Relief Integrity and Independence Act amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It prohibits the President from making decisions about Federal disaster assistance, funding, or relief based on political affiliation. Additionally, it requires the President to respond to requests for major disaster declarations from State, Tribal, or territorial governments within 45 days. If no response is given within that timeframe, the request is automatically approved.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
Ensures disaster relief is provided without political bias and mandates timely responses to aid requests.
- Scored +6
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Explicitly includes Tribal governments in the mandated 45-day response timeline for disaster declarations.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households are often most dependent on timely federal disaster relief.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
Constrains the President's discretionary power over disaster declarations via mandatory timelines and automatic approvals.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Prevention of Political Bias: By prohibiting determinations of assistance based on political affiliation, the bill ensures that relief and funding are not denied due to politics (Section 2).
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Guaranteed Response Times: The requirement for the President to respond to major disaster declaration requests within 45 days provides a clear timeline for governments to receive answers (Section 3(d)(1)).
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Automatic Approval of Aid: The provision that deems a request approved if the President fails to respond within 45 days prevents delays in disaster relief (Section 3(d)(2)).
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Flexibility for Amendments: The bill ensures that the 45-day deadline does not stop governments from submitting and getting approval for disaster declaration amendments (Section 3(d)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people were 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 Native Americans be better off under this? — Explicitly includes Tribal governments in the mandated 45-day response timeline for disaster declarations. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households are often most dependent on timely federal disaster relief. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Ensures more reliable access to disaster funding regardless of local political climate.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Increases accountability by requiring a response within 45 days for disaster requests. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Protects states, tribes, and territories from political denial of aid and guarantees a response timeline. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Ensures a standard, non-partisan process for receiving federal disaster assistance. Does this give the federal government more power? — Constrains the President's discretionary power over disaster declarations via mandatory timelines and automatic approvals.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Ensures disaster relief is provided without political bias and mandates timely responses to aid requests.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon