Bill lets FEMA keep working if Congress stops paying for it.
H.R. 10486 — To provide for the continuation of FEMA operations during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes. · Filed by Wesley Bell (D-MO) · 20 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 17, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill would let FEMA run during a lapse in appropriations. A lapse happens when Congress does not pass a budget and federal funding stops. The bill keeps relief and response going even if that happens.
Who it affects
People who need help from FEMA would be helped. States and local areas that rely on FEMA would also be helped.
One thing to notice
The bill went to the House Financial Services Committee. Most FEMA bills go to the Appropriations Committee or Homeland Security Committee instead.
From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.
Where it stands
20 cosponsors: 19 Democrats, 1 Republicans.
- Sep 17, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- Sep 17, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Financial Services and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science…”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
Words to know
- lapse in appropriations — When Congress does not pass a budget and federal funding stops.
- FEMA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which helps people during crises.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the full bill text on Sep 21, 2026; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 14,522 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-09-22.
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