DHS must test terrorism response during extreme cold weather

What it does

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to design and run a terrorism-response exercise that simulates a terrorist attack on critical infrastructure (power grids, water systems, etc.) during an extreme cold weather event like a polar vortex. The exercise must test how federal, state, local, tribal, and private-sector partners would coordinate to manage cascading failures across infrastructure systems and protect communities. DHS must report findings and lessons learned to Congress within 60 days.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to require DHS to conduct a specific, defined emergency-response exercise and report findings. It is a procedural/operational mandate with no financial appropriations, regulatory changes, or private-sector carve-outs stated in the text.

What the text implies

• Exercise findings and 'proposed legislative changes' reported to Congress may inform future critical-infrastructure regulation or emergency-management law, potentially affecting how private utilities and infrastructure operators must prepare for dual-threat scenarios.
• Mandatory inclusion of 'appropriate private sector and community stakeholders' in the exercise may establish precedent for private-sector participation in federal emergency planning, with unclear liability or cost-sharing implications.
• The 60-day reporting requirement creates a public record of DHS preparedness gaps and inter-agency coordination failures, which could expose vulnerabilities to adversaries or trigger political pressure for rapid legislative fixes.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill mandates preparedness planning and inter-agency coordination for a realistic, high-consequence scenario (terrorism + extreme weather) that could affect public safety and essential services. It requires transparency through congressional reporting and incorporates private-sector and community input into resilience planning. No restrictions on citizen rights or remedies are imposed.

Named in the bill

Department of Homeland Security, House Committee on Homeland Security, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Federal departments and agencies, State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies, Private sector infrastructure operators, Public Law 107-56 (Patriot Act)

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Apr 30, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 30, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security”
• Jun 24, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 24, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0”
• Jul 13, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 - 7…”
• Jul 13, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Garbarino moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.