United StatesPresident could offer household aid during prolonged power outages
At a governor’s or tribal leader’s request, the President could provide household aid during eligible power outages without a major disaster declaration.
What it does
On a governor’s or tribal leader’s request, the President could offer household aid for certain outages affecting at least 10% of local customers for at least 72 hours. Planned outages and outages mainly caused by utility or grid operator failings would be excluded.
Argument forHouseholds facing eligible outages could get help with urgent needs and temporary lodging even when no major disaster is declared.
Argument againstExcluding outages mainly caused by utility negligence could leave affected households without this aid despite days without electricity.
More detail
The President could provide affected households help with urgent needs, health care bills, and other listed costs without a major disaster declaration. An outage must affect at least 10% of electricity customers in a local government area within a state for at least 72 hours. A governor or tribal leader must request the President’s designation. The cause must be a natural disaster, terrorism or a cybersecurity event, or any fire, flood, or explosion. Planned, scheduled, or pre-announced outages are excluded. Outages mainly caused by a utility’s or grid operator’s negligence, failure to maintain equipment, or failure to meet reliability or safety standards are excluded. The authority to provide this aid would last for the designated outage.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 22Introduced in HouseLatest
- Oct 22Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.Introduced
Emergency ManagementEnvironment & Energy