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Stories / Issue · Sep 3 – Oct 2, 2026

Disaster Response

Congress members are responding to multiple disasters across the country, including a Northeast nor'easter, Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, and wildfires in the West. Members have announced over $3.7 billion in federal funding and disaster assistance approvals, while introducing bills to strengthen emergency alerts, expand disaster insurance, and streamline recovery regulations. Several delegations are requesting major disaster declarations for wildfire and storm damage in their states.

AI summary of the releases below · Oct 6, 2026

7D30D90D Export CSV
71Members · 41 D · 30 R
101Actions · 55 D · 46 R
32States & territories · CA · MP · NJ · OR lead
$5.41BFunding announced

How the conversation moved

Democrat Republican · one dot = one action
Action typeWk ofSep 313Wk ofSep 1032Wk ofSep 1715Wk ofSep 2435Wk ofOct 16Total
Requested actionDeclarations, investigations, decisions 11
Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials 10
HearingsHeld, testified or questioned 3
StatementsResponses to news 4
CriticizedA policy, decision or person 2
PraisedCredit for a decision or person 5
Visits and eventsTours, town halls, site visits 7
Announced fundingGrants and approvals +535
Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed 22
Other 2

Developing stories

12 threads · 45 of 101 actions

Hurricane Helene Recovery

8 members · $2.74B announced

  1. Sep 25Griffith (R) announced $173,600 FEMA grant to West Piedmont Planning District Commission for Hurricane Helene mitigation.
  2. Sep 26Griffith (R) announced $160,000 FEMA grant for Hurricane Helene mitigation planning in Virginia.
  3. Sep 29Graham Nordone (R) cosponsored legislation to help South Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene damage.
  4. Sep 30Warnock announced $2.2 billion in federal disaster relief secured for Georgia's Hurricane Helene recovery.
  5. Oct 1Foxx (R) reintroduced bill to streamline disaster recovery regulations for hurricane-affected areas.

10 actions →

New Jersey Nor'easter Damage

3 members

  1. Sep 26Davis urged caution as nor'easter causes flooding and road closures on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
  2. Sep 27Van Drew (R) provided update on nor'easter response and announced plans to meet with FEMA and Army Corps.
  3. Sep 30Smith (R) joined FEMA administrator surveying Nor'easter damage in New Jersey coastal communities.
  4. Oct 1Van Drew (R) Led federal response tour assessing nor'easter damage and discussing disaster assistance with FEMA and Army Corps.
  5. Oct 2Smith (R) Led intergovernmental survey of Nor'easter damage in New Jersey shore towns.

7 actions →

Eastern Washington Wildfires Recovery

7 members

  1. Sep 11Wyden, Padilla called out Trump administration failures to prepare for and respond to 2026 wildfire season.
  2. Sep 28Schrier, DelBene joined Washington delegation requesting major disaster declaration for wildfire recovery assistance.
  3. Sep 28Murray Led Washington delegation requesting Major Disaster Declaration for wildfire recovery.
  4. Sep 29Baumgartner (R) requested federal Major Disaster Declaration for Eastern Washington wildfires.
  5. Sep 29Cantwell joined delegation letter urging President approve disaster declaration for Washington wildfires.

5 actions →

Eaton and Palisades Fires Recovery

3 members

  1. Sep 3Rivas introduced bill requiring GAO report on disaster communications effectiveness.
  2. Sep 10Chu demanded FEMA release withheld funding for LA wildfire disaster case management program.
  3. Sep 12Chu celebrated bipartisan disaster tax relief law for Eaton Fire survivors.
  4. Sep 30Sherman called on FEMA to fund wildfire disaster case management program through May.

4 actions →

February Blizzard Disaster Declaration Denial

4 members

  1. Sep 3Gillibrand criticized FEMA's second denial of major disaster declaration for New York's February blizzard.
  2. Sep 4Whitehouse, Amo criticized Trump administration rejection of disaster aid for February blizzard.
  3. Sep 10Reed, Amo Sent letter demanding investigation into Trump administration's denial of disaster relief for February blizzard.
  4. Sep 22Amo introduced bill to prevent president from denying disaster aid based on political affiliation.

4 actions →

Community Disaster Protection Act

3 members

  1. Sep 15Frost advanced bipartisan bill extending FEMA disaster assistance appeal deadline from 60 to 90 days.
  2. Sep 16Ezell (R) announced committee passage of bipartisan bill extending FEMA disaster assistance appeal deadlines.
  3. Oct 1Min introduced bill to expand disaster insurance access and affordability in high-risk communities.

3 actions →

Central Oregon Wildfire Recovery

4 members · $100K announced

  1. Sep 4Hickenlooper, Bennet welcomed federal disaster aid for Colorado wildfire recovery and urged swift approval of remaining requests.
  2. Sep 19Hickenlooper called on Trump administration to reverse denial of disaster aid for Colorado wildfire recovery.
  3. Sep 30Wyden, Merkley announced $100,000 in federal funding for Central Oregon wildfire recovery and displaced residents.

3 actions →

Grand Canyon Flooding and Wildfires Recovery

4 members

  1. Sep 24Kelly, Gallego urged appropriators to provide federal funding for Grand Canyon recovery after floods and wildfires.
  2. Sep 25Ansari urged federal appropriators to fund Grand Canyon restoration after flooding and wildfires.
  3. Sep 30Crane (R) announced Senate committee unanimous approval of North Rim Restoration Act for Grand Canyon recovery.

3 actions →

Where they stand

Support · 21

  • RHusted OHPraised expedited federal disaster assistance approval
  • DOssoff GAPassed bipartisan emergency alert improvement bill
  • RFoxx NCReintroduced bill to reduce regulatory burdens for disaster recovery
  • DSherman CAUrged FEMA to extend disaster case management funding
  • RCrane AZAdvanced legislation granting emergency contracting authority for fire recovery work
  • RGraham Nordone SCCosponsored bill to help energy infrastructure recovery from Hurricane Helene
  • DCantwell WAUrged approval of Major Disaster Declaration for individual assistance
  • DMurray WAUrged President to approve Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance
  • DSchrier WAUrged approval of major disaster declaration for individual assistance
  • DDelBene WARequested Major Disaster Declaration for individual assistance
  • DAnsari AZCalled for federal funding to restore Grand Canyon after disasters
  • DKelly AZRequested federal funding to restore Grand Canyon after disasters.
  • DChu CAUrged administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Nepali nationals affected by flooding
  • DSchiff CASecured respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters in Farm Bill
  • DDurbin ILUrged disaster declaration for Illinois counties after severe storms
  • DSchneider ILUrged disaster declaration for eight Illinois counties
  • DFrost FLSecured committee passage of Post-Disaster Protection Act
  • RSteube FLSecured passage of federal disaster tax relief legislation
  • RScott FLSecured tax relief for natural disaster victims
  • DRivas CAIntroduced bill to strengthen telecommunications during disasters
  • DMcBath GAIntroduced FEMA for Safe Recovery Act to protect disaster survivors

Oppose · 7

  • DAmo RIIntroduced bill to stop politicization of disaster aid after Rhode Island denial
  • DHickenlooper CORequested reversal of Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant denials
  • DMcBride DEWarned that federal research cuts undermine farmer disaster preparedness
  • DPadilla CAExpressed serious concerns about DOI and USDA preparedness for wildfires
  • DReed RIDemanded investigation into politicization of disaster relief denial
  • DBennet COWarned DOI and USDA lack adequate wildfire response resources
  • DWhitehouse RIOpposes Trump administration rejection of disaster declaration

What each party did · Democrats 55 · Republicans 46

  • 6Requested action5
  • 10Sent letters0
  • 2Hearings1
  • 2Statements2
  • 2Criticized0
  • 2Praised3
  • 0Visits and events7
  • 18Announced funding17
  • 12Filed or pushed bills10
  • 1Other1

Most active

  1. RKing-Hinds MP8
  2. RGriffith VA5
  3. DHernández Rivera PR4
  4. RSmith NJ3
  5. RVan Drew NJ3
  6. DWyden OR3
  7. DMerkley OR3
  8. DChu CA3

By state

  • CA14
  • MP8
  • NJ7
  • OR6
  • AZ6
  • WA6
  • RI6
  • GA5

+24 more with fewer actions

Every action

101 actions · 112 releases
  1. Oct 2, 2026
  2. Oct 1, 2026
  3. Sep 30, 2026
  4. Sep 29, 2026
  5. Sep 28, 2026
  6. Sep 27, 2026
  7. Sep 26, 2026
  8. Sep 25, 2026
  9. Sep 24, 2026
  10. Sep 23, 2026
    • Praise

      DMeng NY $36M

      Praised Trump administration's increase of humanitarian aid to Nepal and Tibet to $36 million.

      Release ↗

  11. Sep 22, 2026
  12. Sep 21, 2026
  13. Sep 19, 2026
  14. Sep 18, 2026
  15. Sep 17, 2026
  16. Sep 16, 2026
  17. Sep 15, 2026
  18. Sep 14, 2026
  19. Sep 13, 2026
  20. Sep 12, 2026
  21. Sep 11, 2026
  22. Sep 10, 2026
  23. Sep 7, 2026
    • Visit

      RKing-Hinds MP

      Met with White House official to discuss Marianas recovery from typhoons and federal response.

      Release ↗

  24. Sep 4, 2026
  25. Sep 3, 2026

Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works