SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate; 
(E) the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives; 
(F) the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives; 
(G) the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives; 
(H) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(I) the Committee on Ways and Means of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the commission established under section 
3(a). 
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(3) HIGH-RISK INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.— 
The term ‘‘high-risk Indian tribal government’’ 
means an Indian tribal government, during not 
fewer than 4 of the 5 years preceding the date of en-
actment of this Act— 
(A) that received fire management assist-
ance under section 420 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5187); or 
(B) land of which included an area for 
which the President declared a major disaster 
for fire in accordance with section 401 of that 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5170). 
(4) HIGH-RISK
STATE.—The term ‘‘high-risk 
State’’ means a State that, during not fewer than 4 
of the 5 years preceding the date of enactment of 
this Act— 
(A) received fire management assistance 
under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5187); or 
(B) included an area for which the Presi-
dent declared a major disaster for fire in ac-
cordance with section 401 of that Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170). 
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(5) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term 
‘‘Indian tribal government’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5122). 
(6) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means— 
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture; and 
(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
acting through the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
(7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 102 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
(8) WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE.—The term 
‘‘wildland-urban interface’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511). 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall 
jointly establish a commission to study and make rec-
ommendations to improve Federal policies relating to— 
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(1) the prevention, mitigation, suppression, and 
management of wildland fires in the United States; 
and 
(2) the rehabilitation of land in the United 
States devastated by wildland fires. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 
composed of— 
(A) each of the Secretaries (or designees), 
who shall jointly serve as the co-chairpersons of 
the Commission; 
(B) not greater than 8 representatives of 
Federal departments or agencies, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretaries, including— 
(i) not fewer than 1 representative 
from each of— 
(I) the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment; 
(II) the National Park Service; 
(III) the Bureau of Indian Af-
fairs; and 
(IV) the Forest Service; 
(ii) a representative of or liaison to 
the 
Mitigation 
Framework 
Leadership 
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Group of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency; 
(iii) a representative to the National 
Interagency Coordination Center, which is 
part of the National Wildfire Coordination 
Group; 
(iv) a representative from 1 of the co-
ordinating agencies of the Recovery Sup-
port Function Leadership Group; and 
(v) if the Secretaries determine it to 
be appropriate, a representative of any 
other Federal department or agency, such 
as the Department of Energy, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, or the Depart-
ment of Defense; and 
(C) not greater than 17 non-Federal stake-
holders with expertise in wildland fire prepared-
ness, mitigation, suppression, or management, 
who collectively have a combination of back-
grounds, experiences, and viewpoints and are 
representative of rural, urban, and suburban 
areas, to be appointed by the Secretaries, in-
cluding— 
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(i) not fewer than 1 State hazard 
mitigation officer of a high-risk State (or 
a designee); 
(ii) with preference given to represent-
atives from high-risk States and high-risk 
Indian tribal governments, not fewer than 
1 representative from each of— 
(I) a State department of natural 
resources, forestry, or agriculture or a 
similar State agency; 
(II) a State department of energy 
or a similar State agency; 
(III) a county government, with 
preference given to counties at least a 
portion of which is in the wildland- 
urban interface; and 
(IV) a municipal government, 
with preference given to municipalities 
at least a portion of which is in the 
wildland-urban interface; 
(iii) with preference given to rep-
resentatives from high-risk States and 
high-risk Indian tribal governments, not 
fewer than 1 representative from each of— 
(I) the public utility industry; 
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(II) the property development in-
dustry; and 
(III) Indian tribal governments; 
and 
(iv) any other appropriate non-Fed-
eral stakeholders, which may include the 
private sector, with preference given to 
non-Federal stakeholders from high-risk 
States and high-risk Indian tribal govern-
ments. 
(2) STATE LIMITATION.—Each member of the 
Commission appointed under clauses (i) and (ii) of 
paragraph (1)(C) shall represent a different State. 
(3) DATE.—The appointments of the members 
of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall be appointed for the life of the Commis-
sion. 
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commis-
sion— 
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Com-
mission; and 
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(B) shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold 
the first meeting of the Commission. 
(2) FREQUENCY.—The Commission shall meet 
not less frequently than once every 30 days. 
(3) TYPE.—The Commission may hold meet-
ings, and a member of the Commission may partici-
pate in a meeting, remotely through teleconference, 
video conference, or similar means. 
(4) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a 
lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
(a) REPORT ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO MITIGATE 
AND MANAGE WILDLAND FIRES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the 
Commission shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report describing recommenda-
tions to prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage 
wildland fires, including— 
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(A) policy recommendations, including rec-
ommendations— 
(i) to maximize the protection of 
human life, community water supplies, 
homes, and other essential structures, 
which may include recommendations to ex-
pand the use of initial attack strategies; 
(ii) to facilitate efficient short- and 
long-term forest management in residential 
and nonresidential at-risk areas; 
(iii) to manage the wildland-urban 
interface; 
(iv) to manage utility corridors; and 
(v) to rehabilitate land devastated by 
wildland fire; 
(B) policy recommendations described in 
subparagraph (A) with respect to any rec-
ommendations for categorical exclusions from 
the requirement to prepare an environmental 
impact statement or analysis under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 
(C) policy recommendations for modern-
izing and expanding the use of technology, in-
cluding satellite technology, to prevent, miti-
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gate, suppress, and manage wildland fires, in-
cluding any recommendations with respect to— 
(i) the implementation of section 1114 
of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, 
Management, and Recreation Act (43 
U.S.C. 1748b–1); or 
(ii) improving early wildland fire de-
tection; 
(D) an assessment of Federal spending on 
wildland fire-related disaster management, in-
cluding— 
(i) a description and assessment of 
Federal grant programs for States and 
units of local government for pre- and 
post-wildland fire disaster mitigation and 
recovery, including— 
(I) the amount of funding pro-
vided under each program; 
(II) the effectiveness of each pro-
gram with respect to long-term forest 
management and maintenance; and 
(III) recommendations to im-
prove the effectiveness of each pro-
gram, including with respect to— 
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(aa) the conditions on the 
use of funds received under the 
program; and 
(bb) the extent to which ad-
ditional funds are necessary for 
the program; 
(ii) an evaluation, including rec-
ommendations to improve the effectiveness 
in mitigating wildland fires, of— 
(I) the Building Resilient Infra-
structure and Communities program 
under section 203 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5133); 
(II) the Pre-Disaster Mitigation 
program 
under 
that 
section 
(42 
U.S.C. 5133); 
(III) 
the 
Hazard 
Mitigation 
Grant Program under section 404 of 
that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c); and 
(IV) Hazard Mitigation Grant 
Program post-fire assistance under 
sections 404 and 420 of that Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170c, 5187); 
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(iii) an assessment of the definition of 
‘‘small impoverished community’’ under 
section 203(a) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5133(a)), specifically— 
(I) the exclusion of the percent-
age of land owned by an entity other 
than a State or unit of local govern-
ment; and 
(II) any related economic impact 
of that exclusion; and 
(iv) recommendations for Federal 
budgeting for wildland fires; 
(E) any recommendations for matters 
under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) spe-
cific to— 
(i) forest type, vegetation type, or for-
est and vegetation type; or 
(ii) State land, Tribal land, or private 
land; and 
(F)(i) a review of the national strategy de-
scribed in the report entitled ‘‘The National 
Strategy: The Final Phase in the Development 
of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Man-
agement Strategy’’ and dated April 2014; and 
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(ii) any recommendations for changes to 
that national strategy to improve its effective-
ness. 
(2) SPECIFIC POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.—To 
the maximum extent practicable, the report de-
scribed in paragraph (1) shall include detailed short- 
and long-term policy recommendations, including 
any recommendations for Federal legislation. 
(3) INTERIM REPORTS.—Before the submission 
of the report under paragraph (1), on approval of all 
members of the Commission, the Commission may 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 1 
or more interim reports, as the Commission deter-
mines to be appropriate, relating to any matters de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(b) REPORT ON AERIAL WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING 
EQUIPMENT STRATEGY AND INVENTORY ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF INVENTORY TO THE COM-
MISSION.—Not later than 45 days after the date on 
which the Commission holds the first meeting of the 
Commission, the Secretary of Defense and the heads 
of other relevant Federal departments and agencies 
shall submit to the Commission an inventory of sur-
plus cargo and passenger aircraft and excess com-
mon-use aircraft parts that may be used for wildland 
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firefighting purposes, excluding any aircraft or air-
craft parts that are— 
(A) reasonably anticipated to be necessary 
for military operations, readiness, or fleet man-
agement in the future; or 
(B) already obligated for purposes other 
than fighting wildland fires. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
Commission receives the inventory described in para-
graph (1), the Commission shall submit to the ap-
propriate committees of Congress a report outlining 
a strategy to meet aerial firefighting equipment 
needs through 2030 in the most cost-effective man-
ner, including— 
(A) an assessment of the expected number 
of aircraft and aircraft parts needed to fight 
wildland fires through 2030; 
(B) an assessment of existing authorities 
of the Secretary of Defense and the heads of 
other relevant Federal departments and agen-
cies to provide or sell surplus aircraft or air-
craft parts to Federal, State, or local authori-
ties for wildland firefighting use, including— 
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(i) a description of the current use of 
each existing authority; and 
(ii) a description of any additional au-
thorities that are needed for the Secretary 
of Defense and the heads of other relevant 
Federal departments and agencies to pro-
vide or sell surplus aircraft or aircraft 
parts to Federal, State, or local authorities 
for wildland firefighting use; and 
(C) recommendations to ensure the avail-
ability of aircraft and aircraft parts that the 
Commission expects will be necessary to fight 
wildland fires through 2030 in the most cost-ef-
fective manner. 
(3) CONSIDERATIONS FOR ACCESSING AIRCRAFT 
AND AIRCRAFT PARTS.—In developing the strategy 
in the report required under paragraph (2) and the 
recommendations under paragraph (2)(C), the Com-
mission shall consider all private and public sector 
options for accessing necessary aircraft and aircraft 
parts, including procurement, contracting, retro-
fitting, and public-private partnerships. 
(4) UNCLASSIFIED
REPORT.—The inventory 
and report submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2), 
respectively— 
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(A) shall be unclassified; but 
(B) may include a classified annex. 
(c) MAJORITY REQUIREMENT.—Not less than 2⁄3 of 
the members of the Commission shall approve the rec-
ommendations contained in each report submitted under 
subsection (a) or (b)(2). 
SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out this Act. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 
directly from a Federal department or agency such 
information as the Commission considers necessary 
to carry out this Act. 
(2) FURNISHING INFORMATION.—On request of 
the Chairpersons of the Commission, the head of the 
department or agency shall furnish the information 
to the Commission. 
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government. 
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(d) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of such gifts or donations of services or property 
as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) NO COMPENSATION.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall serve without compensation. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees 
of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code, while away from their homes or reg-
ular places of business in the performance of services for 
the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairpersons of the 
Commission may, without regard to the civil service 
laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate 
an executive director and such other additional per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Commis-
sion to perform its duties, except that the employ-
ment of an executive director shall be subject to con-
firmation by the Commission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairpersons of the 
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
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