Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

The National Housing Emergency Act of 2026 directs the President to declare a national housing emergency and expand the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of domestic materials for construction. During this declared emergency, the bill suspends various federal environmental reviews and regulations that affect housing development, while also establishing a minimum residential code standard based on the 2009 International Residential Code. A key provision creates a "Pro-Growth Requirement" that conditions federal block grant funding on local governments demonstrating positive housing growth and implementing specific zoning changes, such as allowing higher-density housing or reducing parking mandates. The emergency period ends either when four million additional housing units are built or rehabilitated, or by October 1, 2031, whichever occurs first.

The Data Center Fair Share Act requires electric utilities to ensure that large commercial customers, defined as those with a peak demand of 100 megawatts or more at a single site, pay the full incremental costs for any power grid upgrades needed to serve them. This obligation applies even if the customer later cancels their contract or stops purchasing electricity from the utility. The bill mandates that state regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities begin considering these new standards within one year of enactment and complete the process within two years. States that fail to implement these federal requirements will face a penalty where 100 percent of their apportioned federal highway funds are withheld starting in the first fiscal year after the deadline passes.

The Strengthening Coast Guard Communities Act of 2026 grants the Commandant of the Coast Guard the authority to enter into intergovernmental support agreements on behalf of the department in which the service is operating. This provision allows the Commandant to act with the same legal standing as the Secretary of that department for these specific agreements. The bill requires the Commandant to submit a written notification to the relevant Senate and House committees within 60 days of exercising this authority, detailing any agreements made.

The Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act enhances congressional and external oversight of federal real estate management by requiring the General Services Administration (GSA) to share all relevant data and reports with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The bill clarifies that federal agencies with independent leasing authorities must comply with specific accounting and notification requirements, including submitting a list of such agencies to Congress within one year. It also allows GSA to retain certain buildings as temporary "swing space" to facilitate the sale or renovation of other properties, provided this does not exceed the savings from those transactions and annual plans are submitted to congressional committees. Finally, the legislation extends the authority of the Public Buildings Reform Board through December 31, 2028, and grants it access to building utilization data collected by the Office of Management and Budget and GSA.

The Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act requires manufacturers of small unmanned aircraft systems to provide a safety statement to operators at the time they first activate their drones. Operators must electronically acknowledge that they have read and understood this document, which covers applicable laws, airspace restrictions, and potential penalties for unsafe operation. The Federal Aviation Administration is tasked with developing these requirements and issuing an example statement within 120 days of enactment. The FAA must also review and update the safety statement requirements annually to ensure they remain current.