PETSAFE Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7438
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T19:36:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to improve emergency preparedness and response for companion animals by amending federal disaster laws to provide greater funding support for related activities.
Key Provisions
- The bill increases the federal cost-share for certain pet and animal preparedness activities from 50 percent to 90 percent under existing grant programs.
- It authorizes state, local, and tribal governments to use grant funds for specific items and activities, including collapsible crates, mobile equipment trailers, pet supplies, veterinary supplies, emergency sheltering equipment, generators, disaster response software, training, animal response teams, and field rescue equipment.
- The changes apply to grants under Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762) by adding a new subsection (f) dedicated to pet and animal preparedness.
- Redesignates the previous subsection (f) as subsection (g).
- Introduces a higher federal funding match specifically for companion animal emergency activities, which was not previously available.
Potential Impacts
- State, local, and tribal governments may receive increased federal assistance to prepare for animal needs during disasters.
- Companion animal owners could benefit from improved sheltering and rescue capabilities in emergencies.
- Emergency management agencies may expand their planning to include animal welfare, potentially reducing burdens on human shelters.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State, local, and tribal governments receiving federal emergency grants.
- Companion animal owners and pet-related organizations.
- Emergency management and response agencies at all levels of government.
- Veterinary and animal health providers involved in disaster response.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill expands federal grant flexibility within existing disaster frameworks without creating new regulatory requirements.
- It focuses on funding incentives rather than mandates, preserving state and local discretion in emergency planning.
- No constitutional issues are addressed in the legislation itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2026-02-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing Essential Temporary Shelter Assistance For Emergencies Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-09 — PDF (3 pages)