I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8118 
To utilize the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response to Operations 
program of NASA to improve aerial responses to wildfires, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 23, 2024 
Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California (for himself and Ms. MCCLELLAN) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology 
A BILL 
To utilize the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response 
to Operations program of NASA to improve aerial re-
sponses to wildfires, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advanced Capabilities 
for Emergency Response Operations Act of 2024’’ or the 
‘‘ACERO Act of 2024’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 May 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8118.IH
H8118
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RE-
SPONSE OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall leverage 
NASA-developed tools and technologies to conduct re-
search and development activities under the Advanced Ca-
pabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) 
program to improve aerial responses to wildfires. 
(b) GOALS.—The research and development activities 
conducted under subsection (a) shall, to the extent prac-
ticable, address the following: 
(1) Advanced aircraft technologies and airspace 
management efforts to assist in the management, 
deconfliction, and coordination of aerial assets dur-
ing wildfire response efforts. 
(2) Information sharing and real-time data ex-
change for wildfire response teams. 
(3) Development of an interoperable platform to 
provide situational awareness of aerial assets during 
wildfire response. 
(4) Establishment of a multi-agency concept of 
operations, which may involve Federal, State, and 
local government agencies, to enable coordination of 
aerial activities for wildfire response. 
(c) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Administrator— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 May 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8118.IH
H8118
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) may coordinate and collaborate with other 
Federal, State, and local government agencies, re-
gional organizations, and commercial partners and 
academic institutions involved in wildfire manage-
ment; and 
(2) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
consult with the heads of other Federal departments 
and agencies to avoid duplication of activities. 
(d) PROHIBITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 
subsection, the Administrator may not procure an 
unmanned aircraft system to conduct activities de-
scribed in this section if such unmanned aircraft sys-
tem is manufactured or assembled by a covered for-
eign entity. 
(2) 
EXEMPTION.—The 
Administrator 
may 
waive the prohibition under paragraph (1) on a case- 
by-case basis if the Administrator— 
(A) determines that the procurement of an 
unmanned aircraft system is— 
(i) in the national interest of the 
United States; and 
(ii) necessary for the sole purpose of 
improving aerial responses to wildfires; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 May 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8118.IH
H8118
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(B) notifies the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not 
later than 30 days after a determination in the 
affirmative under subparagraph (A). 
(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually 
thereafter until December 31, 2029, the Administrator 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report describing the activities, including results, 
carried out pursuant to this section 2. Each such report, 
at minimum, shall contain the following: 
(1) A description of any research and develop-
ment activities. 
(2) A description of the Administrator’s activi-
ties pursuant to subsection (c). 
(3) An assessment of the effectiveness of such 
activities in preventing injuries and loss of life, pro-
tecting property, and reducing economic damage. 
(4) An identification of any topics related to 
improvement of aerial responses to wildfires that 
could benefit from further research. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 May 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8118.IH
H8118
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(5) A description of any continuing efforts 
under this section. 
(6) Any other information determined appro-
priate by the Administrator. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 
2025 to carry out this section. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(2) COVERED
FOREIGN
ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘covered foreign entity’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 1832 of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 
118–31). 
(3) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(4) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:51 May 15, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8118.IH
H8118
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS