Contact Congress about H.R. 7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

This bill would fund Homeland Security for 2026 and set rules for how that money gets used. It pays for disaster aid, airport security, cyber defense, Coast Guard operations, Secret Service work, and many grant programs. It also punishes DHS and FEMA if they miss some reporting or grant deadlines.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Latest action on H.R. 7481: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people and groups that rely on Homeland Security services or funding. The biggest direct effects fall on disaster-hit communities, state and local emergency agencies, airport travelers, cyber defense partners, Coast Guard operations, and DHS workers and contractors.

Why this matters: This bill matters because it helps decide how well DHS can respond to disasters, protect travel and federal officials, defend computer networks, and support local emergency planning in 2026. The funding levels shape what services and grants are available. The rules in the bill also matter because they push DHS and FEMA to act faster and explain their spending to Congress. At the same time, the bill limits some agency choices by blocking certain actions and tightly controlling how money can be moved.

Key provisions in H.R. 7481

• This bill funds major DHS agencies like TSA, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, FEMA, CISA, USCIS, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. Many of those accounts can keep spending the money for more than one year.
• The bill gives FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund $26.367 billion for major disasters under the Stafford Act, the main federal disaster law. That money stays available until it is spent.
• The bill provides about $3.84 billion for FEMA grants. That includes grants for states, big cities, nonprofits, ports, transit systems, fire departments, dams, Operation Stonegarden, emergency management, and other preparedness programs, with specific set-asides for some of them.
• The bill gives $226 million for National Flood Insurance Fund program activities. It also limits how much can go to operations, commissions, interest, and mitigation, and most of the money goes to floodplain management and mapping.
• The bill funds CISA with more than $2.2 billion for operations and support and $386 million for buying equipment and making improvements. That money can also pay for cyber threat information feeds used by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, fusion centers, and information-sharing groups.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 7481

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 7481

What is H.R. 7481?

This bill would fund Homeland Security for 2026 and set rules for how that money gets used. It pays for disaster aid, airport security, cyber defense, Coast Guard operations, Secret Service work, and many grant programs. It also punishes DHS and FEMA if they miss some reporting or grant deadlines.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 7481?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 7481?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 7481 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.