Bills · S. 91 · Text
Reported to Senate
Confirmed from the official record
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 91 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 629
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 91
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 14, 2025
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
September 17, 2026
Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western
Wildfire Support Act of 2025''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Definitions.
<DELETED>TITLE I--PREPARATION
<DELETED>Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military
training.
<DELETED>Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.
<DELETED>Sec. 104. Study on integrating local firefighters into
wildfire response.
<DELETED>TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
<DELETED>Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Slip-on tank units.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system
fire applications.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
<DELETED>Sec. 205. Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies.
<DELETED>TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
<DELETED>Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-disaster
assistance.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Post-fire management and recovery.
<DELETED>Sec. 303. Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account.
<DELETED>Sec. 304. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species
reduction.
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Congressional committees.--The term
``congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Natural Resources and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land''
means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) public lands (as defined in section
103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) units of the National Park
System;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) land held in trust by the United
States for the benefit of Indian Tribes or members of
an Indian Tribe; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) land in the National Forest
System.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Fireshed.--The term ``fireshed'' means a
geographically delineated forest landscape, within which a fire
ignition would threaten homes, communities, or critical
infrastructure.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) National forest system.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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)).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Exclusion.--The term ``National Forest
System'' does not include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) the national grasslands and
land utilization projects administered under
title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act
(7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) National Forest System land
east of the 100th meridian.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Resource management plan.--The term ``resource
management plan'' has the meaning given the term in section 101
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6511).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Secretary of the Interior;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Secretary of
Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary
concerned'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the
case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the
case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE I--PREPARATION</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 101. FIREFIGHTING ACCOUNT TRANSPARENCY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Annual Reporting.--Section 104(a) of division O of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(a)), is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``the fiscal year'' and all that follows through
``this division,'' and inserting ``each fiscal year,'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``report with
respect to the additional new budget authority;'' and inserting
``report on the amounts obligated and the amounts expended from
Wildland Fire Management accounts, including any amounts
obligated or expended using additional new budget authority
under section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(F)), in the
preceding fiscal year;''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Inclusions.--Section 104(b) of division O of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(b)), is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``a statistically significant
sample of large fires, including an analysis for each fire''
and inserting ``each catastrophic wildfire described in
subsection (c), including an analysis for each such
catastrophic wildfire''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``by fire size''
and all that follows through the semicolon at the end and
inserting the following: ``by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) the total ground-based operations
costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) the total aircraft operations
costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) the total personnel costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) the total on-incident and off-
incident support costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) the total funding allocated from the
Wildland Fire Management account of the Secretary of
the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as
applicable) to pay for administrative costs;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) any other relevant factors, as
determined by the Secretary of the Interior or the
Secretary of Agriculture (as applicable);''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--Section 104 of
division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C.
1748a-2), is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--A catastrophic
wildfire referred to in subsection (b)(3) is a wildfire incident or
wildfire complex that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) requires the mobilization or use of Federal
firefighting resources;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2)(A) burns at least 100,000 acres of land;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) burns at least 50,000 acres of land, with a
50 percent or greater portion at high severity; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3)(A) results in total suppression costs of
$50,000,000 or more;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) destroys 1 or more primary residences;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) directly results in the death of 1 or more
individuals.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRES CAUSED BY MILITARY
TRAINING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Mutual Aid.--In accordance with section 2 of the Act
of May 27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the ``Reciprocal
Fire Protection Act''), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter
into reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in
furnishing fire suppression services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Reimbursements.--Each reciprocal agreement entered
into under subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the
State agency that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression
services provided by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by
military training or other planned actions carried out by the
Department of Defense in support of military operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Limitation.--Services reimbursable under subsection
(b) shall be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for
which reimbursement is sought.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Application.--Each application from a State agency for
reimbursement for services under subsection (b) shall provide an
itemized request of the services covered by the application, including
the costs of the services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Funds.--Reimbursements under subsection (b) shall be
made from amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
Defense for operation and maintenance.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Existing Agreements.--An agreement in effect as of the
date of enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered
into under subsection (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the
requirements of such an agreement under this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
PLANNING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the
Secretary concerned shall review existing spatial fire management
policies for each fireshed on Federal land and issue, as appropriate,
new or revised policies that incorporate the best available science and
planning tools.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Requirements.--Spatial fire management policies issued
under subsection (a) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) be routinely reviewed and updated--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) to include forest management
activities or changes in accessibility;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) not later than 1 year after the date
on which a wildfire incident has occurred within the
applicable fireshed; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) not less frequently than once every 10
years;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to
first responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and
high-value resources;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) be consistent with any resource management
plan developed for the applicable fireshed;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) in coordination with any State that includes
that fireshed, delineate potential wildland fire operational
delineations that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) identify potential wildfire control
locations; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) specify the places in which risk to
wildfire responders may be elevated as a result of--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) exceeding a certain slope for
the landscape;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) containing an excess of
hazardous fuels such that a threat would be
posed under severe fire weather conditions;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) containing other known
hazards;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) include a description of the weather
conditions for the fireshed that would comprise severe fire
weather conditions; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) include other prefire planning provisions
relevant to wildfire response, at the discretion of the
Secretary concerned.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Wildfire Consideration During Land Management
Planning.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned
shall include, on a team carrying out any development or revision of a
resource management plan for Federal land containing 1 more firesheds,
an employee that was involved in the development of the spatial fire
management policies for that fireshed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 104. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTEGRATING LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS
INTO WILDFIRE RESPONSE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in
coordination with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) conduct a study on the gaps in training for
structural firefighters in high wildfire risk areas;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) submit to the congressional committees a
report describing the results of the study conducted under
paragraph (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Inclusions.--The report submitted under subsection
(a)(2) shall include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) a summary of existing coordination practices
between Federal wildland firefighters and State, local, or
Tribal firefighters;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) an analysis of the differences in best
response practices for State, local, or Tribal firefighters
when responding to a fire incident that threatens a single
structure as compared to a wildfire that threatens a
community;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) existing training modules, or gaps in existing
training modules, available through the National Fire Academy
to train State, local, or Tribal firefighters on best response
practices for a wildfire that threatens a community;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) an estimated cost and spending plan to address
any gaps in existing training modules described in paragraph
(3).</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 201. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection
equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant
equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) expand the use of satellite data to improve
wildfire detection and response;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) expedite any permitting required by the
Secretary concerned for the installation, maintenance, or
removal of wildfire detection equipment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess
wildland fires in their incipient stages to determine the
appropriate initial response actions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) review permitting described in paragraph (3)
and procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment
within the context of modern and innovative technology;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) annually provide a forum for companies
engaging in the development and testing of emergent wildland
fire technology to engage with wildland fire
managers.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 202. SLIP-ON TANKER UNITS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Financial Assistance for Acquisition of Firefighting
Slip-on Tanker Units.--Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)) is amended by inserting
``and Indian Tribes'' after ``local governments''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Reporting Requirement.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives an annual report on the implementation
of section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), including a description of--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the total number of slip-on tanker
units purchased with financial assistance provided by
the Secretary of the Interior under that section in the
preceding year, by State;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the number of requests received by the
Secretary of the Interior for financial assistance
under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in
the preceding year; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) any barriers identified by the
Secretary of the Interior to the ability of local
governments and Indian Tribes to participate in the
pilot program established under that section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Timing.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Initial report.--The Secretary of the
Interior shall submit the first report required under
paragraph (1) not later than October 1, 2026.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Sunset.--The requirements of this
subsection shall expire on October 1, 2028.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Integration Into Wildfire Response.--The Secretaries,
in coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on
tanker units provided under section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in coordination with the Administrator of the
U.S. Fire Administration, promulgate guidance for the
mobilization of slip-on tanker units for wildfire
response;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on
tanker units into resource tracking systems; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S.
Fire Administration regarding any necessary training for
operators of slip-on tanker units.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 203. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
FIRE APPLICATIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definition of Unmanned Aircraft System.--In this
section, the term ``unmanned aircraft system'' means an unmanned
aircraft and associated elements (including, if applicable,
communication links and the components that control the unmanned
aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and
efficiently.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Research.--The Secretaries shall, acting through the
Joint Fire Science Program, work with universities and other research
institutions to carry out research and development on the wildfire
response applications of unmanned aircraft systems.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Testing.--The Secretaries may coordinate with the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to test an
unmanned aircraft system developed under this section at an unmanned
aircraft test range in accordance with section 44803 of title 49,
United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretaries such sums as are necessary to
carry out this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 204. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE
SUPPRESSION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator''
means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Drone.--The term ``drone'' means an unmanned
aircraft system owned by a private individual or
entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Drone incursion.--The term ``drone incursion''
means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which
the Administrator has issued a temporary flight restriction
because of a wildfire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Study Required.--The Administrator, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study
on the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect
to land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of
Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required
under subsection (b), the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent
calendar years--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the number of occurrences in which a
drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the estimated effect of each
occurrence described in subparagraph (A) on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) the length of time required to
achieve complete suppression;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) any associated delay in the
fielding of aerial firefighting response units;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) the amounts expended by the
Federal Government; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of
various actions to prevent drone incursions, including--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the use of counter-drone radio
towers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the use of reasonable force to
disable, damage, or destroy a drone;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the seizure of a drone, including
seizure with a net device; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the dissemination of educational
materials relating to the effects of drone incursions
on wildfire suppression.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
congressional committees, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the findings of the study required under
subsection (b); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) any recommendations relating to those
findings.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 205. STUDY ON MODERNIZING WILDFIRE RESPONSE
TECHNOLOGIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall conduct a study
on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) necessary improvements to radio communications
systems and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed
fire operations, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) an assessment of the quality and
reliability of existing radio infrastructure;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) for any instance in which existing
radio communications infrastructure has failed, an
assessment of the impacts on forest management or
wildfire response activities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) a comparison of existing options to
improve on-the-ground communications; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) a cost analysis and estimated timeline
to install the most feasible option identified under
subparagraph (C);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) real-time or near-real-time situational
awareness tools for operational firefighters, including--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) standards and requirements for such
tools to ensure interoperability between Federal
firefighting entities and applicable State, local,
Tribal, or other partners;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) any requirements for additional remote
sensing and mapping capabilities to fully leverage such
situational awareness tools; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) a cost comparison between commercially
available systems and internally developed systems;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) wildland fire predictive modeling, including--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) an analysis of the data required to
reduce predictive error for existing or developing
models;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) an analysis of computing needs to more
swiftly or accurately model wildland fire using
existing or developing models;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the feasibility of using artificial
intelligence for wildland fire modeling; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) existing or developing wildland fire
predictive models that could assist with establishing
safe conditions for igniting a prescribed
fire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Submission and Public Availability.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall
submit to the congressional committees and make publicly available the
results of the study conducted under subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER
ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) post-disaster assistance.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative
agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a
State agency designated or established under subsection (c) to
establish, update, or operate a website to provide information
relating to post-disaster recovery funding and resources to a
community or an individual impacted by a major disaster or
emergency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Management.--A website established, updated,
or operated under this subsection shall be--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) managed by the State agency;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) suitable for the residents of the
State of the State agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) Content.--The Administrator may provide
funding to a State agency under this subsection to establish,
update, or operate a website that provides only 1 or more of
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local
sources of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance
that may be available to a community after a disaster
or emergency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local
sources of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance
that may be available to an individual impacted by a
major disaster or emergency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) A technical guide that lists and
explains the costs and benefits of alternatives
available to a community to mitigate the impacts of a
major disaster or emergency and prepare for sequential
hazards, such as flooding after a wildfire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that receives
funding or technical assistance to establish, update, or
operate a website under this subsection shall cooperate with
the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in
establishing, updating, or operating the website under this
subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives
funding to establish, update, or operate a website under this
subsection shall update the website not less frequently than
once every 180 days.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 302. POST-FIRE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall establish 1 or
more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in
this section as a ``BAER Team'') to coordinate immediate post-wildfire
emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Requirements.--A BAER Team shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to
determine burn severity;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) identify and remove, as necessary, dead or
dying trees that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals,
communities, or critical infrastructure;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) stabilize or remove hazardous materials
resulting from a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard to
individuals, communities, or the environment;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) conduct emergency landscape stabilization and
erosion prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure
public safety;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) prevent the proliferation and spread of
invasive species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) assist with informing the public of hazards
resulting from a wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) collaborate, as necessary, with activities
under section 303; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) conduct such other work as the Secretary
concerned determines to be necessary.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Duration.--To the maximum extent practicable, a BAER
Team shall coordinate and respond to immediate post-wildfire emergency
stabilization and erosion planning needs for a period of not more than
1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Funding.--The Secretary concerned may use to carry out
this section funds made available by section 40803(c)(16) of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C.
6592(c)(16)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 303. LONG-TERM BURNED AREA REHABILITATION
ACCOUNT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment of Account.--There is established in the
Treasury of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation
account for the Department of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter
for the account established by subsection (a) such sums as are
necessary to carry out the activities described in subsection (d), not
to exceed $100,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2026
and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit through the budget request of the President and in accordance
with subsection (b), a request for amounts in the National Forest
System appropriation account to carry out the activities described in
subsection (d).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall use amounts in the account established by subsection (a) for
rehabilitation projects located at sites impacted by a wildfire or
post-wildfire flooding primarily on Federal land, but may include areas
on non-Federal land, that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) restore the functions of an ecosystem,
including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) identifying areas where natural
regeneration is unlikely to occur;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) revegetation and reforestation,
including coordinating any necessary site preparation,
salvage harvesting, and replanting;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) watershed restoration;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) invasive species mitigation and
removal; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) wildlife habitat restoration;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) repair or replace infrastructure or facilities
critical for land management activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Duration of Activities.--A rehabilitation project
under subsection (d) shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) begin not earlier than the date on which the
wildfire was contained; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) be completed not later than 5 years after the
date on which the wildfire was contained.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Agreement Authority.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may
enter to agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out
activities described in subsection (d).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Cost share.--The non-Federal share of the
costs of implementing activities under an agreement entered
into under paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) shall be not more than 20 percent;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) may include in-kind
contributions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this
subsection--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) requires the Secretary of Agriculture
to enter into agreements with non-Federal entities to
carry out activities described in subsection (d);
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) limits the effect of the
prioritization requirements under subsection
(g).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Prioritization of Funding.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which
funding requests are submitted under this section based on downstream
effects on water resources.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (h) Reporting.--Beginning in fiscal year 2027, and each
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall annually
submit to Congress a report on the burned area recovery work performed
using--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) amounts from the account established by
subsection (a);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) amounts made available under the Act of June
9, 1930 (16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) amounts from the Reforestation Trust Fund
established by section 303(a) of Public Law 96-451 (16 U.S.C.
1606a(a)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 304. PRIZE FOR WILDFIRE-RELATED INVASIVE SPECIES
REDUCTION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 7001(d) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b note; Public Law 116-9)
is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by striking ``paragraph (8)(A)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``paragraph (9)(A)'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by striking ``paragraph (8)(B)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``paragraph (9)(B)'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph
(9);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by inserting after paragraph (7) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) Theodore roosevelt genius prize for
management of wildfire-related invasive species.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) Definitions.--In this
paragraph:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Board.--The term `Board'
means the Management of Wildfire-Related
Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board
established by subparagraph (C)(i).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Prize competition.--The
term `prize competition' means the Theodore
Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of
wildfire-related invasive species established
under subparagraph (B).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) Authority.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Western Wildfire
Support Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish
under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize
competition, to be known as the `Theodore Roosevelt
Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related
invasive species'--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) to encourage technological
innovation with the potential to advance the
mission of the National Invasive Species
Council with respect to the management of
wildfire-related invasive species;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) to award 1 or more prizes
annually for a technological advancement that
manages wildfire-related invasive
species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) Advisory board.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Establishment.--There is
established an advisory board, to be known as
the `Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive
Species Technology Advisory Board'.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Composition.--The Board
shall be composed of not fewer than 9 members
appointed by the Secretary, who shall provide
expertise in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) invasive
species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) biology;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) technology
development;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV)
engineering;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(V) economics;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VI) business
development and management;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VII) wildfire;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VIII) any other
discipline, as the Secretary determines
to be necessary to achieve the purposes
of this paragraph.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) Duties.--Subject to clause
(iv), with respect to the prize competition,
the Board shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) select a
topic;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) issue a problem
statement;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) advise the
Secretary regarding any opportunity for
technological innovation to manage
wildfire-related invasive species;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV) advise winners of
the prize competition regarding
opportunities to pilot and implement
winning technologies in relevant
fields, including in partnership with
conservation organizations, Federal or
State agencies, federally recognized
Indian Tribes, private entities, and
research institutions with expertise or
interest relating to the management of
wildfire-related invasive
species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) Consultation.--In selecting
a topic and issuing a problem statement for the
prize competition, the Board shall consult
widely with Federal and non-Federal
stakeholders, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) 1 or more Federal
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of invasive
species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) 1 or more Federal
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) 1 or more State
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of invasive
species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV) 1 or more State
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(V) 1 or more State,
regional, or local wildlife
organizations, the mission of which
relates to the management of invasive
species; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VI) 1 or more wildlife
conservation groups, technology
companies, research institutions,
institutions of higher education,
industry associations, or individual
stakeholders with an interest in the
management of wildfire-related invasive
species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(v) Requirements.--The Board
shall comply with all requirements under
paragraph (9)(A).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) Administration by the national
invasive species council.--The Secretary, acting
through the Executive Director of the National Invasive
Species Council, shall administer the prize competition
and perform the duties described in paragraph
(9)(B)(i).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) Judges.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Appointment.--The Secretary
shall appoint not fewer than 3 judges who
shall, except as provided in clause (ii),
select the 1 or more annual winners of the
prize competition.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Determination by
secretary.--The judges appointed under clause
(i) shall not select any annual winner of the
prize competition if the Secretary makes a
determination that, in any fiscal year, none of
the technological advancements entered into the
prize competition merits an award.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) Report to congress.--Not later than
60 days after the date on which a cash prize is awarded
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report on the prize competition that
includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) a statement by the Board
that describes the activities carried out by
the Board relating to the duties described in
subparagraph (C)(iii);</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) a description of the 1 or
more annual winners of the prize competition;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) a statement by 1 or more
of the judges appointed under subparagraph (E)
that explains the basis on which the 1 or more
winners of the prize competition was
selected.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(G) Termination of authority.--The Board
and all authority provided under this paragraph shall
terminate on December 31, 2028.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter
preceding clause (i), by striking ``or (7)(C)(i)'' and
inserting ``(7)(C)(i), or (8)(C)(i)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (C)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in clause (i), by inserting
``and the amount of the initial cash prize
awarded for a year under paragraph (8)'' after
``subparagraph (B)(i)(IX)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) Additional wildfire cash
prizes.--If the Secretary determines that funds
are available for an additional cash prize
under the prize competition under paragraph (8)
for a year, the Secretary shall determine the
amount of the additional cash
prize.''.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western Wildfire
Support Act of 2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--PREPARATION
Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency.
Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training.
Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.
Sec. 104. Study and report on integrating local firefighters into
wildfire response.
TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.
Sec. 202. Slip-on tanker units.
Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire
applications.
Sec. 204. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
Sec. 205. Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies.
TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.
Sec. 302. Post-fire management and recovery.
Sec. 303. Burned area rehabilitation.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Congressional committees.--The term ``congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources 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;
(B) land held in trust by the United States for the
benefit of an Indian Tribe or members of an Indian
Tribe; and
(C) National Forest System land.
(3) Fireshed.--The term ``fireshed'' means a geographically
delineated landscape, within which a fire ignition would
threaten homes, communities, or critical infrastructure.
(4) Forest plan.--The term ``forest plan'' means a land and
resource management plan prepared by the Secretary of
Agriculture for a unit of the National Forest System pursuant
to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).
(5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(6) National forest system.--
(A) In general.--The term ``National Forest
System'' means land of the National Forest System (as
defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C.
1609(a))) administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``National Forest
System'' does not include--
(i) the national grasslands and land
utilization projects administered under title
III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7
U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); or
(ii) any forest reserve not created from
the public domain.
(7) Resource management plan.--The term ``resource
management plan'' means a land use plan prepared for public
lands under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712).
(8) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(10) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary, in the case of Federal land
described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2);
and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of
Federal land described in paragraph (2)(C).
TITLE I--PREPARATION
SEC. 101. FIREFIGHTING ACCOUNT TRANSPARENCY.
(a) Annual Reporting.--Section 104(a) of division O of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(a)), is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``the fiscal year'' and all that follows through ``this
division,'' and inserting ``each fiscal year,''; and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``report with respect to
the additional new budget authority;'' and inserting ``report
on the amounts obligated and the amounts expended from Wildland
Fire Management accounts, including any amounts obligated or
expended using additional new budget authority under section
251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(F)), in the preceding
fiscal year;''.
(b) Inclusions.--Section 104(b) of division O of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(b)), is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``a statistically significant sample of large
fires, including an analysis for each fire'' and inserting
``each catastrophic wildfire described in subsection (c),
including an analysis for each such catastrophic wildfire'';
and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``by fire size'' and all
that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting the
following: ``by--
``(A) the total ground-based operations costs;
``(B) the total aircraft operations costs;
``(C) the total personnel costs;
``(D) the total on-incident and off-incident
support costs;
``(E) the total funding allocated from the Wildland
Fire Management account of the Secretary of the
Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as
applicable) to pay for administrative costs; and
``(F) any other relevant factors, as determined by
the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of
Agriculture (as applicable);''.
(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--Section 104 of division O of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2), is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--A catastrophic wildfire
referred to in subsection (b)(3) is a wildfire incident or wildfire
complex that--
``(1) requires the mobilization or use of Federal
firefighting resources;
``(2) burns at least--
``(A) 100,000 acres of land; or
``(B) 50,000 acres of land, with a 50 percent or
greater portion at high severity; and
``(3)(A) results in total suppression costs of $50,000,000
or more;
``(B) destroys 1 or more primary residences; or
``(C) directly results in the death of 1 or more
individuals.''.
SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRES CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING.
(a) Mutual Aid.--In accordance with section 2 of the Act of May 27,
1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the ``Reciprocal Fire
Protection Act''), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into
reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in furnishing
fire suppression services.
(b) Reimbursements.--Each reciprocal agreement entered into under
subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency
that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided
by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training
or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense in
support of military operations.
(c) Limitation.--Services reimbursable under subsection (b) shall
be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for which
reimbursement is sought.
(d) Application.--Each application from a State agency for
reimbursement for services under subsection (b) shall provide an
itemized request of the services covered by the application, including
the costs of the services.
(e) Funds.--Reimbursements under subsection (b) shall be made from
amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for
operation and maintenance.
(f) Existing Agreements.--An agreement in effect as of the date of
enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered into
under subsection (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the requirements
of such an agreement under this section.
SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING.
(a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2027, the Secretary
concerned shall review existing spatial fire management policies for
each fireshed on Federal land and issue, as appropriate, new or revised
policies that incorporate the best available science and planning
tools.
(b) Requirements.--Spatial fire management policies issued under
subsection (a) shall--
(1) be routinely reviewed and updated as necessary to
reflect changes in the fireshed as a result of forest or land
management activities or wildfire incidents that have occurred
within the applicable fireshed;
(2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first
responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and high-
value resources;
(3) be consistent with any resource management plan or
forest plan developed for the applicable fireshed;
(4) in coordination with the local government, State, or
Indian Tribe that includes that fireshed, delineate potential
wildland fire operational delineations that--
(A) identify potential wildfire control locations;
and
(B) specify the places in which risk to wildfire
responders may be elevated as a result of--
(i) exceeding a certain slope for the
landscape;
(ii) containing an excess of hazardous
fuels such that a threat would be posed under
severe fire weather conditions; or
(iii) containing other known hazards;
(5) include a description of the weather conditions for the
fireshed that would lead to severe fire weather conditions,
including the hot-dry-windy index and other relevant factors;
and
(6) include other prefire planning provisions relevant to
wildfire response.
(c) Wildfire Consideration During Land Management Planning.--To the
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall include in
the development or revision of a resource management plan or forest
plan for Federal land containing 1 or more firesheds an employee that
was involved in the development of the spatial fire management policies
for that fireshed.
SEC. 104. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTEGRATING LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS INTO
WILDFIRE RESPONSE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the
Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in coordination with
the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall--
(1) conduct a study on the gaps in training for structural
firefighters in high wildfire risk areas; and
(2) submit to the congressional committees, the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate,
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives a report describing the results of the
study conducted under paragraph (1).
(b) Inclusions.--The report submitted under subsection (a)(2) shall
include--
(1) a summary of existing coordination practices between
Federal wildland firefighters and State, local, or Tribal
firefighters;
(2) an analysis of the differences in best response
practices for State, local, or Tribal firefighters when
responding to a fire incident that threatens a single structure
as compared to a wildfire that threatens a community;
(3) existing training modules, or gaps in existing training
modules, available through the National Fire Academy to train
State, local, or Tribal firefighters on best response practices
for a wildfire that threatens a community;
(4) an estimated cost and spending plan to address any gaps
in existing training modules described in paragraph (3);
(5) an examination of the costs to State, local, and Tribal
governments in integrating State, local, and Tribal
firefighters in wildfire response; and
(6) an examination of ways the Federal Government may
integrate State, local, and Tribal firefighters in wildfire
response while minimizing the costs for State, local, and
Tribal governments.
TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
SEC. 201. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.
To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall--
(1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment,
such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in
areas at high risk of wildfire;
(2) expand the use of satellite data to improve wildfire
detection and response;
(3) expedite any permitting required by the Secretary
concerned for the installation, maintenance, or removal of
wildfire detection equipment;
(4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess wildland fires
in their incipient stages to determine the appropriate initial
response actions; and
(5) review permitting described in paragraph (3) and
procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment
within the context of modern and innovative technology.
SEC. 202. SLIP-ON TANKER UNITS.
(a) Financial Assistance for Acquisition of Firefighting Slip-on
Tanker Units.--Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``and Indian
Tribes'' after ``local governments''.
(b) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
an annual report on the implementation of section 40803(c)(5)
of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C.
6592(c)(5)), including a description of--
(A) the total number of slip-on tanker units
purchased with financial assistance provided by the
Secretary under that section in the preceding year, by
State;
(B) the number of requests received by the
Secretary for financial assistance under that section
to purchase slip-on tanker units in the preceding year;
and
(C) any barriers identified by the Secretary to the
ability of local governments and Indian Tribes to
participate in the pilot program established under that
section.
(2) Timing.--
(A) Initial report.--The Secretary shall submit the
first report required under paragraph (1) not later
than October 1, 2027.
(B) Sunset.--The requirements of this subsection
shall expire on October 1, 2029.
(c) Integration Into Wildfire Response.--The Secretaries, in
coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on tanker
units provided under section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), shall--
(1) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker
units into resource tracking systems; and
(2) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire
Administration regarding any necessary training for operators
of slip-on tanker units.
SEC. 203. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM FIRE
APPLICATIONS.
(a) Definition of Unmanned Aircraft System.--In this section, the
term ``unmanned aircraft system'' has the meaning given the term in
section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.
(b) Research.--The Secretaries shall, acting through the Joint Fire
Science Program, work with universities and other research institutions
to carry out research and development on the wildfire response
applications of unmanned aircraft systems.
(c) Testing.--The Secretaries may test an unmanned aircraft system
developed under this section at an unmanned aircraft test range in
accordance with section 44803 of title 49, United States Code, in
coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration.
SEC. 204. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``unmanned aircraft''
and ``unmanned aircraft system'' have the meanings given those terms in
section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.
(b) Study Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through
the Chief of the Forest Service, in consultation with the Secretary and
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall conduct
a study on the effects of unauthorized unmanned aircraft on wildfire
suppression with respect to land managed by the Department of the
Interior or the Department of Agriculture.
(c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required under
subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar
years--
(A) the number of occurrences in which an
unauthorized unmanned aircraft interfered with wildfire
suppression; and
(B) the estimated effect of each occurrence
described in subparagraph (A) on--
(i) the length of time required to achieve
complete suppression;
(ii) any associated delay in the fielding
of aerial firefighting response units; and
(iii) the amounts expended by the Federal
Government; and
(2) evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety
impacts and results of various actions to prevent unauthorized
unmanned aircraft from interfering with wildfire suppression,
including--
(A) the deployment of nonkinetic counter-UAS
equipment;
(B) the seizure of an unmanned aircraft system,
including through the use of kinetic counter-UAS
equipment, such as a net; and
(C) the dissemination of educational materials
relating to the effects of unauthorized unmanned
aircraft on wildfire suppression.
(d) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the
congressional committees, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing--
(1) the findings of the study required under subsection
(b); and
(2) any recommendations relating to those findings.
SEC. 205. STUDY ON MODERNIZING WILDFIRE RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretaries shall conduct a study on--
(1) necessary improvements to radio communications systems
and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed fire
operations, including--
(A) an assessment of the quality and reliability of
existing radio infrastructure;
(B) for any instance in which existing radio
communications infrastructure has failed, an assessment
of the impacts on forest management or wildfire
response activities;
(C) a comparison of existing options to improve on-
the-ground communications; and
(D) a cost analysis and estimated timeline to
install the most feasible option identified under
subparagraph (C);
(2) real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools
for operational firefighters, including--
(A) standards and requirements for such tools to
ensure interoperability between Federal firefighting
entities and applicable State, local, Tribal, or other
partners;
(B) any requirements for additional remote sensing
and mapping capabilities to fully leverage such
situational awareness tools; and
(C) a cost comparison between commercially
available systems and internally developed systems; and
(3) wildland fire and smoke predictive modeling,
including--
(A) an analysis of the data required to reduce
predictive error for existing or developing models;
(B) an analysis of computing needs to more swiftly
or accurately model wildland fire using existing or
developing models;
(C) the feasibility of using artificial
intelligence for wildland fire and smoke modeling; and
(D) existing or developing wildland fire predictive
models that could assist with establishing preferred
conditions for igniting a prescribed fire and
predicting smoke impacts.
(b) Submission and Public Availability.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit
to the congressional committees and make publicly available the results
of the study conducted under subsection (a).
TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) post-wildfire assistance.''.
(b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative
agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a
State agency designated or established under subsection (c) to
establish, update, or operate a website to provide information
relating to post-wildfire recovery funding and resources to a
community or an individual impacted by a catastrophic wildfire.
``(2) Management.--A website established, updated, or
operated under this subsection shall be--
``(A) managed by the State agency; and
``(B) suitable for the residents of the State of
the State agency.
``(3) Content.--The Administrator may provide funding to a
State agency under this subsection to establish, update, or
operate a website that provides 1 or more of the following:
``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local sources
of post-wildfire recovery funding or assistance that
may be available to a community after a catastrophic
wildfire.
``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local sources
of post-wildfire recovery funding or assistance that
may be available to an individual impacted by a
catastrophic wildfire.
``(C) A technical guide that lists and explains the
costs and benefits of alternatives available to a
community to mitigate the impacts of a catastrophic
wildfire and prepare for sequential hazards, such as
flooding after a wildfire.
``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that receives funding or
technical assistance to establish, update, or operate a website
under this subsection shall cooperate with the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency in establishing, updating, or
operating the website under this subsection.
``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to
establish, update, or operate a website under this subsection
shall update the website as necessary to ensure the content is
accurate.''.
SEC. 302. POST-FIRE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, establish 1 or more permanent Burned Area Emergency
Response Teams (referred to in this section as a ``BAER Team'') to
coordinate immediate post-fire emergency response and stabilization
efforts.
(b) Requirements.--A BAER Team shall--
(1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to
determine burn severity;
(2) carry out risk assessments--
(A) to determine risks to critical values; and
(B) to identify post-fire emergency situations; and
(3) mitigate risks to critical values, including--
(A) identifying and removing, as necessary, dead or
dying trees that may pose an immediate hazard;
(B) stabilizing or removing hazardous materials
resulting from a wildfire that may pose an immediate
hazard;
(C) conducting emergency landscape stabilization
and erosion prevention work, prioritizing efforts that
ensure public safety;
(D) preventing the proliferation and spread of
invasive species;
(E) assisting with informing the public of post-
wildfire hazards;
(F) collaborating, as necessary, with activities
under section 303; and
(G) conducting such other work as the Secretary
concerned determines to be necessary to identify and
address imminent post-wildfire threats to human life
and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural
resources.
(c) Duration.--A BAER Team--
(1) to the maximum extent practicable, shall coordinate
post-fire emergency response and stabilization efforts for a
period of not more than 1 year after the date of containment of
a wildfire; and
(2) may monitor and maintain post-fire emergency response
and stabilization efforts for a period of not more than 5 years
after the date of containment of a wildfire.
SEC. 303. BURNED AREA REHABILITATION.
(a) Establishment of Account.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account
under the Wildland Fire Management account for the Department of
Agriculture, which shall be available to the Secretaries.
(b) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2026 and each
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall submit through
the budget request of the President a request for amounts in the
National Forest System appropriation account to carry out the
activities described in subsection (c).
(c) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary concerned shall carry out
rehabilitation projects located at sites impacted by a wildfire or
post-wildfire flooding primarily on Federal land, but may include areas
on non-Federal land (with the express consent of the landowner), that--
(1) restore the functions of an ecosystem, including--
(A) identifying areas where natural regeneration is
unlikely to occur;
(B) revegetation and reforestation, including
coordinating any necessary site preparation, salvage
harvesting, and replanting;
(C) watershed restoration;
(D) invasive species mitigation and removal; and
(E) wildlife habitat restoration; or
(2) repair or replace infrastructure or facilities critical
for land management activities.
(d) Duration of Activities.--A rehabilitation project under
subsection (c) shall--
(1) begin not earlier than the date on which the wildfire
was contained; and
(2) be completed, to the extent practicable, not later than
5 years after the date on which the wildfire was contained.
(e) Agreement Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary concerned may enter into
agreements with States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and
other non-Federal entities to carry out activities described in
subsection (c).
(2) Cost share.--The non-Federal share of the costs of
implementing activities under an agreement entered into under
paragraph (1)--
(A) shall be not more than 20 percent; and
(B) may include in-kind contributions.
(3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection--
(A) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to enter
into agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out
activities described in subsection (c); or
(B) limits the effect of the prioritization
requirements under subsection (f).
(f) Prioritization of Funding.--The Secretary concerned shall
prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which funding requests
are submitted under this section based on landscape and watershed
benefits.
Calendar No. 629
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 91
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 17, 2026
Reported with an amendment