Wildfire Response Improvement Act

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a review of the benefit cost analysis criteria for mitigation projects under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Response Improvement Act 2. Fire management assistance program policy Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue such regulations as are necessary to update the categories of eligibility and timelines for the fire management assistance program under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5187 42 U.S.C. 5172 3. Changes to public assistance policy guide Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall issue such regulations as are necessary to update the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to include guidance on the wildfire-specific challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water resources. 4. Mitigation benefit-cost analysis (a) In general The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of the benefit cost analysis criteria for mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5133 (1) the establishment of a benefit cost analysis pre-calculated benefits critereon for common defensible space mitigation projects; (2) projects that use nature-based infrastructure; (3) considerations for ecological and societal health; (4) carbon sequestration; (5) improved water quality; and (6) lessening disaster impact on traditionally underserved communities. (b) Updated criteria Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such regulations as are necessary to— (1) update the benefit cost analysis criteria for mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5133 (2) prioritize projects under such sections based on the benefit cost analysis criteria updated under paragraph (1).

Summary: Wildfire Response Improvement Act This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take specified actions to address issues related to wildfire and drought. Specifically, FEMA must issue such regulations as necessary to update the categories of eligibility and timelines for the fire management assistance program under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to be the same as such categories and timelines under the Public Assistance Program; issue such regulations as necessary to update the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide to include guidance on the wildfire-specific challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water resources; and conduct a review of the benefit cost analysis criteria for mitigation projects under the Stafford Act to consider a broader range of factors, including carbon sequestration, improved water quality, and lessening disaster impact on traditionally underserved communities.