AIA Marks International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction by Supporting Resilience Legislation

WASHINGTON – October 13, 2026 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA), in observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, is backing three congressional bills aimed at strengthening community resilience before and after disasters: the Ounce of Prevention Act (H.R. 9557), the Community Disaster Protection Act (H.R. 10686) and the Rebuild & Save Act (H.R. 1375). Together, the measures would bolster pre-disaster mitigation, expand access to community-based risk reduction strategies and support more resilient rebuilding for property owners and small businesses.

“Resilience starts long before a disaster occurs. Architects see firsthand how decisions about where and how we design, build, renovate, and rebuild can protect lives, reduce losses, and strengthen communities,” said Illya Azaroff, FAIA, 2026 AIA National President. “AIA is proud to support policies that move our country from reacting to disasters toward proactively reducing risk and creating safer, more resilient communities.”

Ounce of Prevention Act (H.R. 9557)
Led by Representatives Sam Liccardo (D-CA-16) and William Timmons (R-SC-04), the bipartisan bill would allow Community Development Block Grant recipients in high-risk areas to use funds for pre-disaster mitigation, including resilience upgrades, new construction, and rehabilitation. Communities should not have to wait for disaster to strike before they can invest in resilience and things that reduce future damage and disruption. Architects play a critical role in turning those investments into safer, more resilient communities. AIA applauds Representatives Liccardo and Timmons for advancing a bipartisan, commonsense approach that puts prevention first and helps communities prepare for the risks ahead.  

Community Disaster Protection Act (H.R. 10686)
Led by Representative Dave Min (D-CA-47), the bill would establish a FEMA pilot grant program supporting community-based catastrophe insurance programs that expand access to affordable disaster-risk protection and include mitigation activities while preserving state insurance oversight. Communities need better tools to understand, manage, and prepare for the risks they face before disaster strikes. This legislation can help expand access to affordable disaster-risk protection while creating greater capacity for communities, and architects help translate this into stronger buildings, infrastructure, and communities and design standards that protect life and property. AIA is proud to support Representative Min and the SEEC Building Resilient Housing Task Force in advancing practical solutions that strengthen communities.  

Rebuild & Save Act (H.R. 1375)
Led by Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), the bill would increase the maximum amount for certain Small Business Administration disaster loans from 20 percent to 30 percent, enabling greater investment in resilience improvements during recovery. By making it easier to incorporate resilient design into recovery, this legislation helps disaster dollars go further and supports safer, more durable buildings. AIA supports Representative Castor’s leadership and this practical approach to building back stronger.  

AIA urges Congress to advance bipartisan policies that place risk reduction, resilient design, mitigation, and community preparedness at the center of federal disaster policy. Extreme weather indiscriminately impacts across all regardless of party politics. Vulnerable populations have the most to lose and often struggle to bounce back.

Learn more about AIA’s efforts to make our communities more resilient.