[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10061 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10061
To address wildfire readiness and recovery, safe communities, and
wildland firefighter safety.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 6, 2026
Mr. Neguse (for himself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Craig, Ms. Salinas, Mr.
Whitesides, and Ms. Pettersen) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the
Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Small
Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce,
Education and Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, and Oversight and
Government Reform, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address wildfire readiness and recovery, safe communities, and
wildland firefighter safety.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Response
and Readiness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
DIVISION A--RESILIENT LANDSCAPES
TITLE I--NATIONAL PRESCRIBED FIRE PROGRAM
Sec. 11001. Definitions.
Subtitle A--Uses of Funds
Sec. 11101. Definition of prescribed fire.
Sec. 11102. Prescribed fire funding.
Sec. 11103. Policies and practices.
Sec. 11104. Collaborative prescribed fire program.
Subtitle B--Facilitating Implementation and Outreach
Sec. 11201. Cooperative agreements and contracts.
Sec. 11202. Human resources.
Sec. 11203. Liability of prescribed fire managers.
Sec. 11204. Environmental review.
Sec. 11205. Prescribed fire education program.
Subtitle C--Reporting
Sec. 11301. Annual reports to National Fire Planning and Operations
Database.
Sec. 11302. Annual implementation report.
TITLE II--RESTORATION, RECOVERY, AND REFORESTATION
Subtitle A--Landscape Restoration
Sec. 12101. Collaborative forest landscape restoration program
reauthorization.
Sec. 12102. Joint Chiefs landscape restoration partnership program.
Sec. 12103. Contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain
ecosystem restoration activities.
Sec. 12104. Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Program.
Sec. 12105. Emergency forest watershed program.
Sec. 12106. Nursery and seed orchard support.
Sec. 12107. Requirements related to payment timing for certain programs
addressing wildfire damages.
Sec. 12108. Permits and agreements with electrical utilities.
Sec. 12109. Post-fire management and recovery.
Sec. 12110. Long-term burned area rehabilitation account.
Sec. 12111. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction.
Sec. 12112. Protection of inventoried roadless areas.
Subtitle B--10-Year Wildfire Plan
Sec. 12201. Definitions.
Sec. 12202. Implementation of 10-year national wildfire plan.
Sec. 12203. Selection and implementation of landscape-scale forest
restoration projects.
Sec. 12204. Youth and conservation corps assistance with projects under
the plan.
Sec. 12205. Ecosystem restoration grant fund through national fish and
wildlife foundation.
Sec. 12206. Report on 10-year national wildfire plan implementation.
DIVISION B--FIRE-ADAPTED COMMUNITIES
TITLE I--COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND HOME HARDENING
Subtitle A--Grant Programs for Wildfire Resilience
Sec. 21101. Updating list of at-risk communities.
Sec. 21102. Amendment to community wildfire defense grant program to
allow structure hardening.
Sec. 21103. Additional amounts for community wildfire defense grant
program.
Sec. 21104. Improvements to grant programs for community wildfire risk
reduction and postfire recovery efforts.
Sec. 21105. Improvements to FEMA programs.
Sec. 21106. Individual household disaster mitigation program.
Subtitle B--Reports
Sec. 21201. Community protection and resilience report.
Sec. 21202. Community wildfire resilience and insurance coverage study.
Sec. 21203. Shrubland wildfire mitigation study.
Sec. 21204. Emergency authorities report.
Sec. 21205. Wildland fire performance metrics.
TITLE II--EFFECTIVE WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 22001. Monitoring wildfires by satellite.
Sec. 22002. Requirements relating to certain fire suppression cost
share agreements.
Sec. 22003. Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board.
Sec. 22004. Improvements to wildfire forage loss programs.
Sec. 22005. Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center.
Sec. 22006. Interagency data collaboration environment.
Sec. 22007. Study on wildfire mitigation across land ownership
boundaries.
Sec. 22008. Quadrennial fire review.
Sec. 22009. The Wildland Dynamic Risk Mapping Program.
Sec. 22010. Report on radio communications.
Sec. 22011. Resilience accelerator demonstration program.
Sec. 22012. Wildfire detection equipment.
Sec. 22013. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire
applications.
TITLE III--WILDFIRE SMOKE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Sec. 23001. National smoke monitoring and alert system.
Sec. 23002. Health risk assessment for wildfire smoke exposure.
DIVISION C--AGENCY MODERNIZATION AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY
TITLE I--WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 31001. Middle Fire Leaders Academy.
Sec. 31002. Wildfire workforce grant program.
Sec. 31003. Civilian conservation centers.
Sec. 31004. Pilot program to employ veterans in positions relating to
Federal wildland firefighting activities.
TITLE II--STAFF SAFETY AND SUPPORT
Subtitle A--Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Support
Sec. 32101. Special limitations on pay for wildland firefighters.
Sec. 32102. Rest and recuperation leave for employees engaged in
wildland firefighting.
Sec. 32103. Health provisions.
Sec. 32104. Retirement for firefighters.
Sec. 32105. Pay parity for Federal structural firefighters.
Sec. 32106. Pay adjustments and other matters.
Sec. 32107. Wildland fire management casualty assistance program.
Sec. 32108. Continuing accrual of service for firefighters.
Subtitle B--Federal Workforce Stability
Sec. 32201. Prohibition on reductions in force and involuntary
separations at Department of the Interior
and United States Forest Service.
Sec. 32202. Prohibition on closure of forest service research and
development facilities.
DIVISION A--RESILIENT LANDSCAPES
TITLE I--NATIONAL PRESCRIBED FIRE PROGRAM
SEC. 11001. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Congressional committees.--The term ``congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources, the
Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
(A) land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
the Interior; and
(B) National Forest System land.
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(4) Landscape-scale prescribed fire plan.--The term
``landscape-scale prescribed fire plan'' means a decision
document prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) that--
(A) covers a unit of the National Forest System, a
Bureau of Land Management district, or a subunit of
such a unit or district;
(B) analyzes the site-specific environmental
consequences of prescribed fire on land described in
subparagraph (A); and
(C) obviates the need for subsequent decisions
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to the unit,
district, or subunit described in subparagraph (A).
(5) National forest system.--
(A) In general.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given the term in section
11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``National Forest
System'' does not include the national grasslands or
land utilization projects administered under title III
of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010 et
seq.).
(6) Prescribed fire.--The term ``prescribed fire'' means a
fire deliberately ignited to burn wildland fuels in a natural
or modified state--
(A) under specified environmental conditions that
are intended to allow the fire to be confined to a
predetermined area and produce the fireline intensity
and rate of spread required to attain planned resource
management objectives; and
(B) in accordance with applicable law (including
regulations).
(7) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture.
(8) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of
land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the
Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of
land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Agriculture.
Subtitle A--Uses of Funds
SEC. 11101. DEFINITION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE.
In this subtitle, the term ``prescribed fire'' has the meaning
given the term in section 11001, except that in this subtitle the term
does not include a fire that is ignited for the primary purpose of pile
burning.
SEC. 11102. PRESCRIBED FIRE FUNDING.
(a) Funding Flexibility.--
(1) Department of agriculture.--The Secretary of
Agriculture may use not more than 15 percent of funds
appropriated for each fiscal year for hazardous fuels
management in the National Forest System for activities
described in subsection (b).
(2) Department of the interior.--The Secretary of the
Interior may use not more than 15 percent of funds appropriated
for each fiscal year for hazardous fuels management and post-
fire activities in the account for wildland fire management of
the Department of the Interior for activities described in
subsection (b).
(b) Description of Activities.--The activities referred to in
subsection (a) are--
(1) with respect to prescribed fires on Federal land, or on
non-Federal land if the Secretary concerned determines that
such activities would benefit resources on Federal land--
(A) entering into procurement contracts or
cooperative agreements for prescribed fire activities;
(B) issuing grants to a State, Tribal Government,
local government, prescribed fire council, prescribed
burn association, or nonprofit organization for the
implementation of prescribed fires, including--
(i) carrying out necessary environmental
reviews;
(ii) carrying out any site preparation
necessary for implementing prescribed fires;
and
(iii) conducting any required pre-ignition
cultural or environmental surveys; and
(C) conducting outreach to the public, Indian
Tribes and beneficiaries, and adjacent landowners;
(2) implementing prescribed fires on non-Federal land, if
the Secretary concerned determines that the prescribed fire
would benefit Federal land, including--
(A) carrying out necessary environmental reviews;
(B) carrying out any site preparation necessary for
implementing prescribed fires; and
(C) conducting any required pre-ignition cultural
and environmental surveys;
(3) providing to Federal employees and cooperators training
for prescribed fire and basic smoke management practices;
(4) conducting post-prescribed fire activities, such as
monitoring for hazard trees or reignitions and invasive species
management;
(5) providing technical or financial assistance to a State,
Tribal Government, local government, prescribed fire council,
prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for the
purpose of providing training for prescribed fire or basic
smoke management practices, consistent with any standards
developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or State
prescribed fire standards; and
(6) providing funding for the applicable Collaborative
Prescribed Fire Program established under section 11104.
(c) Prioritization.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
concerned shall coordinate with the other Secretary concerned,
State and local government agencies, Indian Tribes, and
applicable nongovernmental organizations to establish
prioritization criteria for expending amounts pursuant to
subsection (a) for activities described in paragraphs (2), (5),
and (6) of subsection (b).
(2) Requirement.--In establishing criteria under paragraph
(1), the Secretary concerned shall give priority to a project
that is--
(A) implemented across a large contiguous area;
(B) cross-boundary in nature;
(C) in an area that is--
(i) within or adjacent to the wildland-
urban interface and identified as a priority
area in a statewide forest action plan or
Community Wildfire Protection Plan; or
(ii) identified as important to the
protection of a Tribal trust resource or the
reserved or treaty rights of an Indian Tribe;
(D) on land that is at high or very high risk of
experiencing a wildfire that would be difficult to
suppress;
(E) in an area that is designated as critical
habitat and in need of ecological restoration or
enhancement that can be achieved with the aid of
prescribed fire; or
(F) supportive of potential operational
delineations or strategic response zones.
SEC. 11103. POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
(a) Increasing Prescribed Fire.--Beginning with the first fiscal
year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, and for each
of the 9 fiscal years thereafter, the Secretaries shall conduct
prescribed fires on Federal land such that the total acreage of Federal
land on which prescribed fires are conducted is 10 percent greater than
the total acreage of all Federal land on which prescribed fires were
conducted during the preceding fiscal year.
(b) Operational Strategy.--The Secretary concerned shall develop,
in coordination with State, local, and Tribal governments, a prescribed
fire operational strategy for each region of the National Forest System
or the Department of the Interior, as applicable, that describes--
(1) the fire deficit by region; and
(2) staffing and funding needs to address the fire deficit
under paragraph (1).
SEC. 11104. COLLABORATIVE PRESCRIBED FIRE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary concerned, in coordination with the
other Secretary concerned, shall establish a Collaborative Prescribed
Fire Program (referred to in this section as the ``program'') to select
and fund prescribed fire projects (each of which is referred to in this
section as a ``project'') in accordance with--
(1) the prioritization criteria established under section
11102(c);
(2) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.);
(3) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(4) the applicable land use or land management plan; and
(5) any other applicable law.
(b) Eligibility Criteria.--To be eligible for nomination under
subsection (c), a proposal for a project shall--
(1) be consistent with a landscape restoration strategy--
(A) that is complete or substantially complete;
(B) that identifies and prioritizes prescribed fire
treatments for a 10-year period within a landscape that
is--
(i) not less than 50,000 acres;
(ii) composed primarily of forested Federal
land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary
concerned, but may also include other Federal,
State, Tribal, or private land, if a treatment
on that land would benefit the applicable
Federal land; and
(iii) in need of--
(I) active ecosystem restoration;
or
(II) maintenance activities to
retain previously treated land in a
wildfire-resilient state;
(C) that incorporates the best available science
and scientific application tools to identify project
areas;
(D)