H.R. 5503, the Strengthening Capacity for Disaster Resilient Territories Act, requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a Territorial Disaster Recovery Program to help U.S. territories better prepare for and recover from major disasters. The program will identify gaps in disaster recovery capabilities for American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, then provide targeted technical assistance, training, and best practices to help local officials and agencies navigate federal recovery programs more effectively. The legislation recognizes that these territories face unique challenges including remote locations, aging infrastructure, language barriers, limited specialized staff, and high debt levels that complicate disaster recovery efforts. FEMA must establish the program within one year and submit progress reports to Congress every two years, with $50 million authorized annually from 2026 through 2030 to fund these efforts.
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