September 16, 2026
Mr. Hernández (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, and Ms. Pou) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To extend the period of performance for certain disaster recovery projects in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Puerto Rico Disaster Recovery Completion Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Puerto Rico disaster recovery completion
(a) In general
Notwithstanding section 206.204 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), the period of performance and project completion deadline for a covered project carried out pursuant to a specified major disaster declaration shall be extended to not later than December 31, 2035.
(b) Additional extension
After December 31, 2035, a recipient carrying out a covered project described in subsection (a) may request a time extension using the process under section 206.204(d) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
(c) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until December 31, 2035, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency of Puerto Rico, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico a report that includes—
(1)
the number of covered projects completed since the date of enactment of this Act and, if applicable, the number of covered projects completed since the date on which the previous report was submitted;
(2)
for covered projects not yet completed, the projected completion date and a description of any obstacles to completion; and
(3)
any other information the Administrator determines relevant.
(d) Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(B)
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
(C)
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
(D)
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
(E)
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Covered project
The term covered project means a project—
(A)
carried out pursuant to section 406 or section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172; 42 U.S.C. 5189f);
(B)
for restoration of damaged facilities and eligible mitigation measures under section 206.226 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); and
(C)
for which, as of the date of enactment of this Act, closeout has not occurred.
(3) Recipient
The term recipient means a State, tribal or local government, or owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility.
(4) Specified major disaster declaration
The term specified major disaster declaration means any of the following major disasters in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico declared under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170):
(A)
The declaration on September 10, 2017, relating to Hurricane Irma (DR–4336–PR).
(B)
The declaration on September 20, 2017, relating to Hurricane Maria (DR–4339–PR).
(C)
The declaration on January 16, 2020, relating to the earthquakes beginning on December 28, 2019 (DR–4473–PR).
(D)
The declaration on September 21, 2022, relating to Hurricane Fiona (DR–4671–PR).