Garamendi, Padilla, Cornyn, and LaMalfa introduce the “Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act”

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-08) a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee along with Senator Padilla (D-CA), Senator Cornyn (R-TX), and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) introduced the bipartisan “Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act” (H.R.4847/S.2635), which would safeguard federal funding for disaster-recovery highway projects.

“Americans across the country are facing increasingly frequent and severe floods and wildfires due to the climate crisis. When disasters strike, our communities deserve nothing less than the full support of their federal government” said Congressman Garamendi. “Our bill would ensure state and local governments have adequate time to fully utilize federal funds awarded to repair roads damaged by disasters.

“After devastating natural disasters like the California fires in January, states turn to the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program to rebuild critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, and highways. But as it currently stands, the program’s regulations often don’t give states enough time to use funds to rebuild,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bill would afford states the time they need to complete these projects responsibly and efficiently, without the looming threat of losing the support of the federal government when it matters the most.”

“Texas is no stranger to natural disasters, and the Emergency Federal Relief Program has provided essential aid for our state to repair roadways damaged by severe weather,” said Senator Cornyn. “I am proud to introduce legislation that will provide states with additional flexibility in spending these funds and to resolve administrative difficulties with the program, ensuring damaged federal highways and roadways across our nation can be swiftly rebuilt and repaired.”

“Over the past five years, Caltrans and our local partners have faced growing challenges securing timely approvals for Emergency Relief (ER) time extensions, putting hundreds of millions in federal disaster-recovery funds at risk,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “We’re encouraged by the momentum to modernize the FHWA’s ER Manual—an essential step toward providing states with the clarity and consistency needed to safeguard these critical funds and support long-term recovery efforts statewide.”

“Counties need all the help we can get to rebuild after disasters, and we welcome this commonsense bill with open arms. It’ll give us the flexibility we need to get projects built without losing critical federal funds,” said California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.

Current U.S. Department of Transportation regulations allow the federal government to claw back “emergency relief” funding for highway transportation projects, if those projects do not reach construction within two fiscal years of being awarded federal funds.

The “Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act” (H.R.4847/S.2635) would repeal the current 2-year regulatory deadline and provide up to 6 years for transportation projects funded through an Emergency Relief Program to advance to construction. The new 6-year deadline would start following the date on which a disaster was declared by the respective state’s governor or the president.

Endorsements: California Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Transportation, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties.

Read the bill text HERE.

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