I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5782 
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 17, 2025 
Mr. NEGUSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agri-
culture, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, 
Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve Federal activities relating 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025’’. 
(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 
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Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency. 
Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training. 
Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning. 
Sec. 104. Study on integrating local firefighters into wildfire response. 
TITLE II—WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT 
Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment. 
Sec. 202. Slip-on tank units. 
Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applica-
tions. 
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. Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account. 
Sec. 304. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction. 
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 Appropria-
tions 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) public lands (as defined in section 103 
of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)); 
(B) units of the National Park System; 
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(C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System; 
(D) land held in trust by the United States 
for the benefit of Indian Tribes or members of 
an Indian Tribe; and 
(E) land in the National Forest System. 
(3) FIRESHED.—The term ‘‘fireshed’’ means a 
geographically delineated forest landscape, within 
which a fire ignition would threaten homes, commu-
nities, or critical infrastructure. 
(4) NATIONAL
FOREST
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘National Forest System’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Range-
land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1609(a)). 
(5) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term 
‘‘resource management plan’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511). 
(6) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means— 
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and 
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(7) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
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(A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the 
case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary of the Interior; and 
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the 
case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
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 ex-
pended 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;’’. 
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(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 signifi-
cant 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 Sec-
retary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agri-
culture (as applicable) to pay for administrative 
costs; and 
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‘‘(F) any other relevant factors, as deter-
mined 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 cat-
astrophic wildfire referred to in subsection (b)(3) is a wild-
fire incident or wildfire complex that— 
‘‘(1) requires the mobilization or use of Federal 
firefighting resources; 
‘‘(2)(A) burns at least 100,000 acres of land; or 
‘‘(B) burns at least 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 Sec-
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retary of Defense shall seek to enter into reciprocal agree-
ments 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 re-
imbursement 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 train-
ing or other planned actions carried out by the Depart-
ment of Defense in support of military operations. 
(c) LIMITATION.—Services reimbursable under sub-
section (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 cov-
ered 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 mainte-
nance. 
(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 
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agreement otherwise meets the requirements of such an 
agreement under this section. 
SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN-
NING. 
(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 in-
corporate the best available science and planning tools. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Spatial fire management poli-
cies issued under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) be routinely reviewed and updated— 
(A) to include forest management activities 
or changes in accessibility; 
(B) not later than 1 year after the date on 
which a wildfire incident has occurred within 
the applicable fireshed; and 
(C) not less frequently than once every 10 
years; 
(2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks 
to first responders, communities, critical infrastruc-
ture, and high-value resources; 
(3) be consistent with any resource manage-
ment plan developed for the applicable fireshed; 
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(4) in coordination with any State that includes 
that fireshed, delineate potential wildland fire oper-
ational delineations that— 
(A) identify potential wildfire control loca-
tions; 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 condi-
tions for the fireshed that would comprise severe fire 
weather conditions; and 
(6) include other prefire planning provisions rel-
evant to wildfire response, at the discretion of the 
Secretary concerned. 
(c) WILDFIRE CONSIDERATION DURING LAND MAN-
AGEMENT PLANNING.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, 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 
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firesheds, an employee that was involved in the develop-
ment 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 a 
report describing the results of the study conducted 
under paragraph (1). 
(b) INCLUSIONS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a)(2) shall include— 
(1) a summary of existing coordination prac-
tices between Federal wildland firefighters and 
State, local, or Tribal firefighters; 
(2) an analysis of the differences in best re-
sponse practices for State, local, or Tribal fire-
fighters when responding to a fire incident that 
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threatens a single structure as compared to a wild-
fire that threatens a community; 
(3) existing training modules, or gaps in exist-
ing training modules, available through the National 
Fire Academy to train State, local, or Tribal fire-
fighters on best response practices for a wildfire that 
threatens a community; and 
(4) an estimated cost and spending plan to ad-
dress any gaps in existing training modules de-
scribed in paragraph (3). 
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 rel-
evant equipment, in areas at 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, mainte-
nance, or removal of wildfire detection equipment; 
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(4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess 
wildland fires in their incipient stages to determine 
the appropriate initial response actions; 
(5) review permitting described in paragraph 
(3) and procurement requirements for wildfire detec-
tion equipment within the context of modern and in-
novative technology; and 
(6) annually provide a forum for companies en-
gaging in the development and testing of emergent 
wildland fire technology to engage with wildland fire 
managers. 
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 of the Inte-
rior shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives an annual report on the implementation of sec-
tion 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment 
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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 pro-
vided by the Secretary of the Interior under 
that section in the preceding year, by State; 
(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 
(C) any barriers identified by the Secretary 
of the Interior to the ability of local govern-
ments and Indian Tribes to participate in the 
pilot program established under that section. 
(2) TIMING.— 
(A) INITIAL
REPORT.—The Secretary of 
the Interior shall submit the first report re-
quired under paragraph (1) not later than Oc-
tober 1, 2026. 
(B) SUNSET.—The requirements of this 
subsection shall expire on October 1, 2028. 
(c) INTEGRATION INTO WILDFIRE RESPONSE.—The 
Secretaries, in coordination with recipients of financial as-
sistance for slip-on tanker units provided under section 
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40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), shall— 
(1) in coordination with the Administrator of 
the U.S. Fire Administration, promulgate guidance 
for the mobilization of slip-on tanker units for wild-
fire response; 
(2) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on 
tanker units into resource tracking systems; and 
(3) 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 SYS-
TEM.—In this section, the term ‘‘unmanned aircraft sys-
tem’’ means an unmanned aircraft and associated ele-
ments (including, if applicable, communication links and 
the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that 
are required for the operator to operate safely and effi-
ciently. 
(b) 
RESEARCH.—The 
Secretaries 
shall, 
acting 
through the Joint Fire Science Program, work with uni-
versities and other research institutions to carry out re-
search and development on the wildfire response applica-
tions of unmanned aircraft systems. 
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(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. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretaries such 
sums as are necessary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 204. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE 
SUPPRESSION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(2) DRONE.—The term ‘‘drone’’ means an un-
manned aircraft system owned by a private indi-
vidual or entity. 
(3) DRONE INCURSION.—The term ‘‘drone in-
cursion’’ means the operation of a drone within any 
airspace for which the Administrator has issued a 
temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire. 
(b) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the For-
est Service, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone 
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incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to land 
managed by the Department of the Interior or the Depart-
ment of Agriculture. 
(c) STUDY CONTENTS.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection (b), the Administrator shall— 
(1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent 
calendar years— 
(A) the number of occurrences in which a 
drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppres-
sion; 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 field-
ing of aerial firefighting response units; 
and 
(iii) the amounts expended by the 
Federal Government; and 
(2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 
various actions to prevent drone incursions, includ-
ing— 
(A) the use of counter-drone radio towers; 
(B) the use of reasonable force to disable, 
damage, or destroy a drone; 
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(C) the seizure of a drone, including sei-
zure with a net device; and 
(D) the dissemination of educational mate-
rials relating to the effects of drone incursions 
on wildfire suppression. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit 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 find-
ings. 
SEC. 205. STUDY ON MODERNIZING WILDFIRE RESPONSE 
TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall conduct a 
study on— 
(1) necessary improvements to radio commu-
nications systems and infrastructure during wildland 
fire or prescribed fire operations, including— 
(A) an assessment of the quality and reli-
ability of existing radio infrastructure; 
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(B) for any instance in which existing 
radio communications infrastructure has failed, 
an assessment of the impacts on forest manage-
ment or wildfire response activities; 
(C) a comparison of existing options to im-
prove 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, includ-
ing— 
(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 lever-
age such situational awareness tools; and 
(C) a cost comparison between commer-
cially available systems and internally developed 
systems; and 
(3) wildland fire predictive modeling, includ-
ing— 
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(A) an analysis of the data required to re-
duce 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 intel-
ligence for wildland fire modeling; and 
(D) existing or developing wildland fire 
predictive models that could assist with estab-
lishing safe conditions for igniting a prescribed 
fire. 
(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 commit-
tees 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-DIS-
ASTER ASSISTANCE. 
(a) USE OF SERVICES OF OTHER AGENCIES.—Sec-
tion 201(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amend-
ed— 
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(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-disaster assistance.’’. 
(b) FUNDING
FOR ONLINE GUIDES
FOR ASSIST-
ANCE.—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 ASSIST-
ANCE.— 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(2) MANAGEMENT.—A website established, up-
dated, 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. 
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‘‘(3) CONTENT.—The Administrator may pro-
vide funding to a State agency under this subsection 
to establish, update, or operate a website that pro-
vides only 1 or more of the following: 
‘‘(A) A list of Federal, State, and local 
sources of post-disaster recovery funding or as-
sistance that may be available to a community 
after a disaster or emergency. 
‘‘(B) A list of Federal, State, and local 
sources of post-disaster recovery funding or as-
sistance that may be available to an individual 
impacted by a major disaster or emergency. 
‘‘(C) A technical guide that lists and ex-
plains the costs and benefits of alternatives 
available to a community to mitigate the im-
pacts of a major disaster or emergency and pre-
pare for sequential hazards, such as flooding 
after a wildfire. 
‘‘(4) COOPERATION.—A State agency that re-
ceives 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 Hous-
ing and Urban Development, the Administrator of 
the Small Business Administration, and the Admin-
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istrator 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 not 
less frequently than once every 180 days.’’. 
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 establish 1 or more permanent Burned Area Emer-
gency Response Teams (referred to in this section as a 
‘‘BAER Team’’) to coordinate immediate post-wildfire 
emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—A BAER Team shall— 
(1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire 
to determine burn severity; 
(2) identify and remove, as necessary, dead or 
dying trees that may pose an immediate hazard to 
individuals, communities, or critical infrastructure; 
(3) stabilize or remove hazardous materials re-
sulting from a wildfire that may pose an immediate 
hazard to individuals, communities, or the environ-
ment; 
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(4) conduct emergency landscape stabilization 
and erosion prevention work, prioritizing efforts that 
ensure public safety; 
(5) prevent the proliferation and spread of 
invasive species; 
(6) assist with informing the public of hazards 
resulting from a wildfire; 
(7) collaborate, as necessary, with activities 
under section 303; and 
(8) conduct such other work as the Secretary 
concerned determines to be necessary. 
(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. 
(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)). 
SEC. 303. LONG-TERM BURNED AREA REHABILITATION AC-
COUNT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT.—There is estab-
lished in the Treasury of the United States the Long- 
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Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account for the Depart-
ment of Agriculture. 
(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. 
(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 re-
quest for amounts in the National Forest System appro-
priation account to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (d). 
(d) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of Ag-
riculture 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— 
(1) restore the functions of an ecosystem, in-
cluding— 
(A) identifying areas where natural regen-
eration is unlikely to occur; 
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(B) revegetation and reforestation, includ-
ing coordinating any necessary site preparation, 
salvage harvesting, and replanting; 
(C) watershed restoration; 
(D) invasive species mitigation and re-
moval; and 
(E) wildlife habitat restoration; or 
(2) repair or replace infrastructure or facilities 
critical for land management activities. 
(e) DURATION
OF
ACTIVITIES.—A rehabilitation 
project under subsection (d) shall— 
(1) begin not earlier than the date on which the 
wildfire was contained; and 
(2) be completed not later than 5 years after 
the date on which the wildfire was contained. 
(f) AGREEMENT AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
may enter to agreements with non-Federal entities 
to carry out activities described in subsection (d). 
(2) COST SHARE.—The non-Federal share of 
the costs of implementing activities under an agree-
ment entered into under paragraph (1)— 
(A) shall be not more than 20 percent; and 
(B) may include in-kind contributions. 
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(3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this sub-
section— 
(A) requires the Secretary of Agriculture 
to enter into agreements with non-Federal enti-
ties to carry out activities described in sub-
section (d); or 
(B) limits the effect of the prioritization 
requirements under subsection (g). 
(g) PRIORITIZATION OF FUNDING.—The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects 
for which funding requests are submitted under this sec-
tion based on downstream effects on water resources. 
(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— 
(1) amounts from the account established by 
subsection (a); 
(2) amounts made available under the Act of 
June 9, 1930 (16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.); and 
(3) amounts from the Reforestation Trust Fund 
established by section 303(a) of Public Law 96–451 
(16 U.S.C. 1606a(a)). 
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