Washington, DC–Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), joined by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), introduced the Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion (REAADI) for Disasters Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation to bring clarity, coordination, and accountability to how the nation prepares for and responds to disasters affecting seniors and people with disabilities. 

As extreme weather events and public health emergencies grow more frequent, too many emergency systems still operate in silos, separating medical care from transportation, housing from civil rights, and response from recovery. When those systems fall out of sync, the people who depend on them most are the first to be placed at risk. 

The REAADI Act closes those gaps by locking accessibility, continuity of care, and civil rights into the structure of disaster response— so those protections are built into how government responds, not left to improvisation. 

“Disaster preparedness is ultimately a test of whether government understands how people actually live. Seniors and Americans with disabilities depend on systems that span health care, transportation, housing, and civil rights—and when those systems fracture in a crisis, lives are placed at risk. The REAADI for Disasters Act brings those responsibilities together into a single, accountable framework, so when disaster strikes, protection remains steady and reliable even when everything else is not,” said Fitzpatrick.

 “Natural disasters are continuing to increase in frequency and intensity, and it’s critical that we keep up with disaster preparedness plans that include all residents of a community,” said Dingell. “Individuals with disabilities, seniors, and those with mobility challenges are often forgotten, even though they face higher risks for death or injury during disasters. The REAADI for Disasters Act will ensure aging Americans and those with disabilities have a stronger voice in the preparation, response, and mitigation of disasters.”

 “Our REAADI for Disasters Act ensures that our most vulnerable populations are not left behind in disaster planning,” said Blumenthal. “Seniors and people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters—it is critical that their voices are included in disaster preparedness efforts. Our bipartisan measure supports and involves older adults and people with disabilities in disaster planning so that federal, state, and local partners are better equipped to meet their unique needs in a crisis.” 

“When Los Angeles faced some of the most devastating wildfires in our history one year ago, it was clear there was an urgent need to improve our crisis planning. In particular, we need to make sure we have the resources in place to help individuals with disabilities and older adults with emergency preparedness and response,” said Schiff. “I’m proud to work alongside Senator Blumenthal on this legislation to ensure people with disabilities and seniors have a voice in the preparation and response efforts when disaster strikes.”

 What the REAADI for Disasters Act Delivers

 The legislation strengthens national disaster readiness by:

• Establishing a National Advisory Committee on Disability Rights and Disasters to develop best practices for accessible communication, transportation, sheltering, medical services, and civil rights protections;
• Creating a national network of training, technical assistance, and research centers to support state and local emergency officials;
• Requiring crisis standards of care for older adults and people with disabilities during disasters and public health emergencies;
• Creating a Disaster Human Services Emergency Fund to rapidly address urgent human needs;
• Directing the Government Accountability Office to ensure disaster spending complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
• Launching a competitive grant program to pilot inclusive disaster preparedness and recovery strategies; and
• Requiring the Department of Justice to examine whether civil rights are upheld during and after disasters.

The REAADI Act builds on Fitzpatrick’s broader bipartisan work to strengthen national resilience—from emergency response and critical infrastructure to healthcare access and public safety—applying the same whole-of-government approach to ensure that when systems are tested by crisis, they continue to function for the people who depend on them most.

Full bill text is available here.