H.R. 5200 Passed the House Science, Technology, Communications

Emergency Reporting Act

To direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] Introduced September 8, 2025 Cosponsors 2 (1 R, 1 D) Latest action April 21, 2026

Summary

Emergency Reporting Act
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate and report on emergency communications outages (e.g., 9-1-1 outages).
Specifically, the FCC must publish a general report on (1) the volume and nature of 9-1-1 outages that are not required to be reported under current outage notification rules, (2) the value and practicality of including visual information in outage notifications from communications providers, and (3) recommended changes to FCC rules to address these issues.
Separately, the FCC must hold annual public hearings on events for which the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) was activated for at least a week. (DIRS is a reporting system that is activated during severe weather and other events impacting communications service. It enables communications providers to report outages and other degradations to service.) After each such hearing, the FCC must issue a report that includes information about the number, duration, and nature of all associated outages, along with recommendations for improving the resiliency of affected communications services or networks. Such reports must generally be made public on the FCC website.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Roll-call votes

Actions

  1. Apr 21, 2026 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 375.
  2. Apr 20, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Apr 20, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 386 - 7 (Roll no. 126). (text: CR H2974-2975)
  4. Apr 20, 2026 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2976-2978)
  5. Apr 20, 2026 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  6. Apr 20, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5200.
  7. Apr 20, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2974-2976)
  8. Apr 20, 2026 Mr. Allen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  9. Apr 9, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 517.
  10. Apr 9, 2026 Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-597.
  11. Jan 15, 2026 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
  12. Jan 15, 2026 Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

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