II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4191 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire research 

centers, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 18, 2024 

Mr. LUJA ́N (for himself and Mr. SULLIVAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional 

wildland fire research centers, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Regional Leadership 

5 in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis9 trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 

10 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•S 4191 IS

1 (2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON2 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con3 gress’’ means— 

4 (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

5 and Transportation, the Committee on Energy 

6 and Natural Resources, and the Committee on 

7 Appropriations of the Senate; 

8 (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 

9 Technology, the Committee on Natural Re10 sources, and the Committee on Appropriations 

11 of the House of Representatives; 

12 (C) any other committee of Congress with 

13 the authority to facilitate the development of 

14 wildland fire research. 

15 (3) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na16 tional Center Coordination Board established by sec17 tion 3(c)(1). 

18 (4) CAREER PATHWAY.—The term ‘‘career 

19 pathway’’ has the meaning given that term in sec20 tion 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 

21 Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). 

22 (5) CHIEF.—The term ‘‘Chief’’ means the Chief 

23 of the United States Forest Service. 

24 (6) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 

25 Wildland Fire Leadership Council established by ExVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:21 May 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4191.IS S4191

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•S 4191 IS

1 ecutive Order 13976 (43 U.S.C. 1748b note; relating 

2 to establishing the Wildland Fire Management Pol3 icy Committee). 

4 (7) FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY.—The term 

5 ‘‘Federal science agency’’ has the meaning given 

6 that term in section 103(f) of the America COM7 PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 

8 6623(f)). 

9 (8) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

10 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 

11 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

12 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

13 (9) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

14 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

15 meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the 

16 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 

17 (10) LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND UNIVER18 SITIES.—The term ‘‘land-grant colleges and univer19 sities’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

20 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Exten21 sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

22 3103). 

23 (11) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The 

24 term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means an insti25 tution defined in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•S 4191 IS

1 of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 

2 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 

3 (12) REGIONAL CENTER.—The term ‘‘regional 

4 center’’ means a regional wildland fire research cen5 ter established under section 3. 

6 (13) SEASONAL.—The term ‘‘seasonal’’ means 

7 a time range between 3 months and 2 years. 

8 (14) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

9 means the Secretary of Commerce. 

10 (15) SUBSEASONAL.—The term ‘‘subseasonal’’ 

11 means a time range between 2 weeks and 3 months. 

12 (16) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—the term ‘‘Tribal 

13 organization’’ has the meaning given that term in 

14 section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu15 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

16 (17) WILDLAND FIRE.—The term ‘‘wildland 

17 fire’’ means any non-structure fire that occurs in 

18 vegetation or natural fuels and includes wildfires 

19 originating from an unplanned ignition or prescribed 

20 fire. 

21 (18) WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AGEN22 CIES.—The term ‘‘wildland fire management agen23 cies’’ means— 

24 (A) the Forest Service; 

25 (B) the Bureau of Land Management; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•S 4191 IS

1 (C) the National Park Service; 

2 (D) the United States Fish and Wildlife 

3 Service; and 

4 (E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

5 (19) WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH.—The term 

6 ‘‘wildland fire research’’ means research to better 

7 understand— 

8 (A) the causes and consequences of 

9 wildland fires, including antecedent and con10 temporaneous factors that increase the risk of 

11 catastrophic events; 

12 (B) the spread and behavior of wildland 

13 fires, including fires in the wildland-urban 

14 interface; 

15 (C) the efficacy of mitigation strategies for 

16 wildland fires; 

17 (D) the impact of wildland fires on public 

18 health, safety, and the environment; 

19 (E) the rehabilitation and restoration of 

20 affected ecosystems after wildland fires; and 

21 (F) the development of mitigation strate22 gies and techniques to improve the safety of 

23 wildland fire managers and firefighters. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
6 

•S 4191 IS

1 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL WILDLAND FIRE 

2 RESEARCH CENTERS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination 

4 with the Administrator and the Chief, shall establish a 

5 competitive process for the selection and establishment of 

6 regional wildland fire research centers in accordance with 

7 subsection (b). 

8 (b) SELECTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL

9 CENTERS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select 

11 not fewer than 7 institutions of higher education or 

12 land-grant colleges and universities at which to es13 tablish a regional center to coordinate the develop14 ment of wildland fire research. 

15 (2) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—In establishing a re17 gional center at an institution of higher edu18 cation or land-grant college or university under 

19 this section, the Secretary shall prioritize the 

20 selection of institutions, colleges, or universities 

21 that meet not fewer than one of the following 

22 criteria: 

23 (i) Have existing programs of record 

24 in wildland fire research. 

25 (ii) Have existing partnerships with 

26 research institutions of the Federal GovVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:21 May 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4191.IS S4191

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
7 

•S 4191 IS

1 ernment and other academic institutions 

2 and entities relating to wildland fire re3 search. 

4 (iii) Participate in or lead a program 

5 under the Joint Fire Science Program. 

6 (iv) Are a minority-serving institution. 

7 (B) REGIONS.—The Secretary shall estab8 lish not fewer than one regional center in each 

9 of the following regions of the United States: 

10 (i) Alaska. 

11 (ii) California. 

12 (iii) The Northern Rockies. 

13 (iv) The Pacific Northwest. 

14 (v) The Pacific Islands. 

15 (vi) The Southeast. 

16 (vii) The Southwest. 

17 (3) PURPOSE.—Each regional center, with re18 spect to the region covered by the regional center, 

19 shall— 

20 (A) to the extent practical, coordinate re21 search with other wildland fire research entities, 

22 such as other academic institutions, the Envi23 ronmental Protection Agency, the National 

24 Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics 

25 and Space Administration, the Department of 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
8 

•S 4191 IS

1 Energy, the United States Geological Survey, 

2 and State research organizations; 

3 (B) improve the understanding of wildland 

4 fire through wildland fire research that can be 

5 applied by wildland fire management agencies; 

6 (C) develop technologies and other tools to 

7 understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, 

8 including— 

9 (i) models to predict fire potential and 

10 the spread and behavior of wildland fire 

11 and smoke; 

12 (ii) models to predict how vegetation 

13 will respond to changes in the environment 

14 and wildland fire; 

15 (iii) the integration of technologies to 

16 predict the spread and behavior of wildland 

17 fire and smoke in as near-real-time as pos18 sible; and 

19 (iv) other innovations to be integrated 

20 into operational decision support systems 

21 relating to wildland fire; 

22 (D) develop technologies and other tools to 

23 safely support land treatments to reduce the se24 verity of wildland fire; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
9 

•S 4191 IS

1 (E) leverage predictive capabilities to re2 duce the impact of smoke on communities and 

3 wildland firefighters; 

4 (F) improve the understanding of post-fire 

5 risk to the landscape, including flash flooding 

6 potential and watershed impacts; 

7 (G) test and operate models to support 

8 land management decision-making, including 

9 through— 

10 (i) operating models to support man11 agement of wildland fire and vegetation; 

12 (ii) the demonstration of integration 

13 technologies to support management of 

14 wildland fire in as near-real-time as pos15 sible; and 

16 (iii) the incorporation of decision 

17 science and social science that examines 

18 the perception and adoption of information 

19 related to wildland fire risk; 

20 (H) develop a career pathway training pro21 gram with respect to carrying out wildland fire 

22 research; 

23 (I) develop data management protocols to 

24 allow for full and open exchange of data pursu25 ant to the principles of findability, accessibility, 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
10 

•S 4191 IS

1 interoperability, and reusability (commonly re2 ferred to as the ‘‘FAIR principles’’) and archive 

3 and access that data; and 

4 (J) make its work and data fully and open5 ly available. 

6 (c) NATIONAL CENTER COORDINATION BOARD.— 

7 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a 

8 coordination board, to be known as the ‘‘National 

9 Center Coordination Board’’. 

10 (2) COMPOSITION.— 

11 (A) MEMBERS.— 

12 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall be 

13 composed of one member representing each 

14 regional center. 

15 (ii) APPOINTMENT.—Each member 

16 under clause (i) shall be selected by the 

17 relevant regional center. 

18 (B) CHAIR.—The Administrator and the 

19 Chief shall serve as the Co-Chairs of the Board. 

20 (3) DUTIES.—The Board shall— 

21 (A) establish wildland fire science, data 

22 management, and sharing protocols, and tech23 nological research priorities in cooperation with 

24 each regional center and informed by the operVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:21 May 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4191.IS S4191

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
11 

•S 4191 IS

1 ational needs of wildland fire management 

2 agencies; 

3 (B) coordinate data collection efforts sup4 porting the efforts of each regional center, in5 cluding— 

6 (i) building data layers across each re7 gion described in subsection (b)(2)(B); and 

8 (ii) providing updates on the develop9 ment of wildland fire research models; and 

10 (C) ensure the coordination of, and avoid 

11 unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the 

12 regional centers and the activities of institutions 

13 of higher education, land-grant colleges and 

14 universities, Federal science agencies, and State 

15 research organizations with respect to wildland 

16 fire research, including— 

17 (i) the National Oceanic and Atmos18 pheric Administration; 

19 (ii) the National Laboratories; 

20 (iii) the National Aeronautics and 

21 Space Administration; 

22 (iv) the Environmental Protection 

23 Agency; 

24 (v) the United States Fire Adminis25 tration; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
12 

•S 4191 IS

1 (vi) the United States Geological Sur2 vey; and 

3 (vii) any other relevant entity with 

4 specialized expertise in wildland fire re5 search; and 

6 (D) support end-to-end applications that 

7 assist wildland fire management agencies in 

8 adopting technologies and incorporating re9 search findings produced by the regional cen10 ters. 

11 (4) MEETINGS.— 

12 (A) BOARD MEETINGS.—The Board shall 

13 meet quarterly. 

14 (B) PUBLIC MEETINGS.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall 

16 hold public meetings with affected stake17 holders to solicit information from the gen18 eral public regarding the development and 

19 implications of wildland fire research. 

20 (ii) FREQUENCY.—Not less frequently 

21 than annually, the Board shall hold at 

22 least one public meeting in each State cov23 ered by a region described in subsection 

24 (b)(2)(B). 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
13 

•S 4191 IS

1 (5) TERM.—A member of the Board shall be 

2 appointed for a term of 4 years, except that of the 

3 members first appointed, the Secretary shall ensure 

4 that approximately— 

(A) 1 5 ⁄3 of members are appointed for a 

6 term of 4 years; 

(B) 1 7 ⁄3 of members are appointed for a 

8 term of 3 years; and 

(C) 1 9 ⁄3 of members are appointed for a 

10 term of 2 years. 

11 (6) VACANCIES.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 

13 Board— 

14 (i) shall not affect the powers of the 

15 Board; and 

16 (ii) shall be filled in the same manner 

17 as the original appointment was made by 

18 not later than 180 days after the date on 

19 which the vacancy occurs. 

20 (B) FILLING UNEXPIRED TERM.—An indi21 vidual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be ap22 pointed for the unexpired term of the member 

23 replaced. 

24 (7) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not less frequently 

25 than annually, the Board shall submit to the SecVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:21 May 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4191.IS S4191

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
14 

•S 4191 IS

1 retary and the Council recommendations to improve 

2 wildland fire research to be included in the report 

3 described in subsection (e). 

4 (d) ADVISORY BOARDS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established an advi6 sory board at each regional center, to be known as 

7 the ‘‘Regional Advisory Board’’. 

8 (2) COMPOSITION.— 

9 (A) IN GENERAL.—Each Regional Advi10 sory Board shall consist of members from, or 

11 with responsibility covering, the region covered 

12 by the relevant regional center, including at 

13 minimum— 

14 (i) one regional representative from 

15 each wildland fire management agency, ap16 pointed by that agency; 

17 (ii) one representative from the Coun18 cil, appointed by the Council; 

19 (iii) one representative from a State 

20 government agency from each State lo21 cated in that region, appointed by the gov22 ernor of that State; 

23 (iv) one representative from an Indian 

24 Tribe or Tribal organization from that reVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:21 May 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4191.IS S4191

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
15 

•S 4191 IS

1 gion, elected under subparagraph 

2 (B)(i)(II); and 

3 (v) additional representatives elected 

4 under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II). 

5 (B) ELECTED MEMBERSHIP.— 

6 (i) TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP.— 

7 (I) SUBCOMMITTEE.—Each Re8 gional Advisory Board shall solicit and 

9 approve, on at least an annual basis, 

10 nominations for individuals from orga11 nizations specified in subparagraph 

12 (A)(iv) to serve as a representative on 

13 a subcommittee to the Regional Advi14 sory Board for the purposes of sub15 clause (II). 

16 (II) ELECTION.—The sub17 committee described in subclause (I) 

18 for a Regional Advisory Board shall 

19 elect, on an annual basis, one member 

20 of the subcommittee to serve as a 

21 member of the Regional Advisory 

22 Board under subparagraph (A)(iv) for 

23 an annual term. 

24 (ii) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
16 

•S 4191 IS

1 (I) SUBCOMMITTEE.—Each Re2 gional Advisory Board shall solicit and 

3 approve, on at least an annual basis, 

4 nominations for individuals with oper5 ational expertise in wildland fire miti6 gation and management to serve as a 

7 representative on a subcommittee to 

8 the Regional Advisory Board for the 

9 purposes of subclause (II), including 

10 representatives from— 

11 (aa) institutions of higher 

12 education or land-grant colleges 

13 and universities; 

14 (bb) nongovernmental orga15 nizations; 

16 (cc) private industry; and 

17 (dd) the wildland firefighter 

18 community, including organiza19 tions that represent the interests 

20 of wildland firefighters. 

21 (II) ELECTION.—The sub22 committee described in subclause (I) 

23 for a Regional Advisory Board may 

24 elect a member or members of the 

25 subcommittee to serve as a member of 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
17 

•S 4191 IS

1 the Regional Advisory Board under 

2 subparagraph (A)(v) for an annual 

3 term. 

4 (3) COMPENSATION.—Each member of a Re5 gional Advisory Board shall serve on a voluntary 

6 basis without compensation. 

7 (4) DUTIES.—Each Regional Advisory Board 

8 shall— 

9 (A) ensure and support the coordination of 

10 wildland fire research between the relevant re11 gional center and Federal and State land man12 agement agencies in that region; 

13 (B) communicate the operational needs of 

14 Federal and State land management agencies 

15 and wildland fire management agencies in that 

16 region to the relevant regional center and to the 

17 Board; 

18 (C) advise, in coordination with the rel19 evant regional center, on research goals and ob20 jectives; and 

21 (D) assist the relevant regional center with 

22 the dissemination of research outputs and data 

23 to Federal and State land management agencies 

24 and wildland fire management agencies in that 

25 region. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
18 

•S 4191 IS

1 (5) MEETINGS.—Each Regional Advisory Board 

2 shall meet quarterly in conjunction with the Board 

3 meeting under subsection (c)(4)(A). 

4 (6) TERM.—Unless specified otherwise, a mem5 ber of a Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a 

6 term of 4 years. 

7 (7) VACANCIES.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on a Re9 gional Advisory Board— 

10 (i) shall not affect the powers of the 

11 Regional Advisory Board; and 

12 (ii) shall be filled in the same manner 

13 as the original appointment was made by 

14 not later than 180 days after the date on 

15 which the vacancy occurs. 

16 (B) FILLING UNEXPIRED TERM.—An indi17 vidual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be ap18 pointed for the unexpired term of the member 

19 replaced. 

20 (e) REPORT ON WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH.—Not 

21 later than each of 2 years and 4 years after the date of 

22 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Council, 

23 in consultation with the Board, shall submit to the appro24 priate committees of Congress a report describing— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
19 

•S 4191 IS

1 (1) the progress each regional center has made 

2 in the development of wildland fire research; and 

3 (2) recommendations to improve wildland fire 

4 research. 

5 (f) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the require6 ments of this section, the Secretary shall consult with— 

7 (1) Federal science agencies; 

8 (2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; 

9 and 

10 (3) the Council. 

11 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.— 

13 (A) REGIONAL CENTERS.—For estab14 lishing and administering the regional centers 

15 established under subsection (a), there is au16 thorized to be appropriated— 

17 (i) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

18 (ii) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 

19 (iii) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 

20 (iv) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 

21 and 

22 (v) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 

23 (B) BOARD.—For the Board established 

24 under subsection (c), there is authorized to be 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
20 

•S 4191 IS

1 appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

2 2024 through 2028. 

3 (2) ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS.—A regional cen4 ter may use amounts appropriated pursuant to an 

5 authorization of appropriations under paragraph 

6 (1)(A) for construction or the acquisition of equip7 ment necessary to carry out the requirements of this 

8 Act. 

9 (3) FLEXIBILITY.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara11 graph (B), the Secretary shall adjust appropria12 tions under paragraph (1) between the regional 

13 centers established under subsection (a) as 

14 needed to account for differences in administra15 tive costs and research challenges specific to a 

16 particular region. 

17 (B) NOTICE.—Before adjusting appropria18 tions under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, 

19 the Administrator shall— 

20 (i) include that adjustment in the 

21 budget request of the Administrator and 

22 the Chief for that fiscal year; and 

23 (ii) provide notice of that adjustment 

24 to the appropriate committees of Congress. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
21 

•S 4191 IS

1 (4) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—A Federal science 

2 agency may transfer, as necessary, additional appro3 priated amounts to a regional center for the purpose 

4 of carrying out wildland fire research described in 

5 subsection (b)(3)(B). 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB