Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens disaster preparedness for companion animals by increasing federal funding and requiring animal-sheltering plans—reducing local costs and public-health risks—but raises federal spending, administrative burdens, and risks shifting limited emergency funds away from human-focused needs.
State, local, and tribal governments will receive a higher (90%) federal cost-share for pet/companion animal preparedness projects, reducing local expenditures for crates, generators, veterinary supplies, and training.
Local and state communities gain expanded authorized uses and funding for sheltering equipment, veterinary supplies, rescue gear, and animal response teams, which can improve animal welfare and reduce public-health risks during disasters.
States will be required to include plans for animal shelters and care in their emergency plans, speeding reunification of lost pets, reducing community sheltering burdens, and integrating animal response into disaster planning.
Prioritizing companion animal preparedness could shift limited Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds away from human-focused emergency needs, potentially harming low-income individuals and other vulnerable populations if jurisdictions do not balance priorities.
Raising the federal cost-share for animal preparedness increases federal spending and could divert FEMA resources or require trade-offs in grant allocations, possibly reducing funds available for other emergency priorities.
Expanded plan requirements impose additional administrative and planning burdens on states and localities, requiring staff time and potential costs to incorporate animal sheltering details into emergency plans.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits EMPG funding for specified pet-related preparedness items and raises the federal cost share to 90% for those activities, and requires State plans to address animal shelters.
Official title: Amend the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to support emergency preparedness and response efforts for companion animals.
Introduced May 18, 2026 by Adam Schiff · Last progress May 18, 2026
Allows FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds to be used for companion animal and pet-related preparedness activities and boosts the federal share to 90% for those specific activities. It also requires State plans under the emergency preparedness grants law to explicitly address animal shelters that provide housing and care for homeless, lost, or unwanted companion animals before, during, and after major disasters or emergencies. The change adds a list of allowable pet-related items and activities (crates, veterinary supplies, generators, training, animal response teams, etc.) and modifies plan requirements to include animal sheltering services, while keeping other EMPG rules intact.