429 
HR 5118 RDS
not disclose publicly any part of an original record-
ing or transcript of oral communications or original 
and contemporary written communications between 
Federal, State, Tribal, or local officials responding 
to an incident under review by the Board. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—Subject to subsections (b) 
and (g), the Board shall make public any part of a 
transcript, any written depiction of visual informa-
tion obtained from an audio or video recording, or 
any still image obtained from a recording the Board 
decides is relevant to the incident— 
(A) if the Board holds a public hearing on 
the incident at the time of the hearing; or 
(B) if the Board does not hold a public 
hearing, at the time a majority of the other fac-
tual reports on the incident are placed in the 
public docket. 
(3) REFERENCES TO INFORMATION IN MAKING 
SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS.—This subsection does 
not prevent the Board from referring at any time to 
recorded or written information in making safety 
recommendations. 
(d) FOREIGN REVIEWS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, neither the Board, nor any agency 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00429
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
430 
HR 5118 RDS
receiving information from the Board, shall disclose 
records or information relating to its participation in 
foreign incident review, except that— 
(A) the Board shall release records per-
taining to such a review when the country con-
ducting the review issues its final report or 2 
years following the date of the incident, which-
ever occurs first; and 
(B) the Board may disclose records and in-
formation when authorized to do so by the 
country conducting the review. 
(2) SAFETY
RECOMMENDATIONS.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall restrict the Board at any time 
from referring to foreign review information in mak-
ing safety recommendations. 
(e) PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—Before making public 
any still image obtained from a video recorder under sub-
section (c)(2) or subsection (d)(2), the Board shall take 
such action as appropriate to protect from public disclo-
sure any information that readily identifies an individual, 
including a decedent. 
SEC. 209. TRAINING. 
(a) USE OF TRAINING FACILITIES.—The Board may 
use, on a reimbursable basis, the services of any training 
facility in the Federal Government, including those oper-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00430
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
431 
HR 5118 RDS
ated by the Department of Homeland Security, Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, and Department of 
Commerce. The responsible department or agency shall 
make such training facility and any relevant training 
course available to— 
(1) the Board for safety training of employees 
of the Board in carrying out their duties and pow-
ers; and 
(2) other relevant personnel of the United 
States Government, State and local governments, 
governments of foreign countries, interstate authori-
ties, and private organizations the Board designates 
in consultation with the relevant departments and 
agencies. 
(b) FEES.—Training shall be provided at a reason-
able fee established periodically by the Board in consulta-
tion with the relevant departments and agencies. The fee 
shall be paid directly to the relevant departments and 
agencies, and shall be deposited in the Treasury. 
(c) TRAINING
OF BOARD EMPLOYEES
AND OTH-
ERS.—The Board may conduct training of its employees 
in those subjects necessary for proper performance. The 
Board may also authorize attendance at courses given 
under this subsection by other government personnel, per-
sonnel of foreign governments, and personnel from indus-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00431
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
432 
HR 5118 RDS
try or otherwise who have a requirement for training. The 
Board may require non-Board personnel to reimburse 
some or all of the training costs, and amounts so reim-
bursed shall be credited to the appropriation of the Board 
as discretionary offsetting collections, and shall be avail-
able only to the extent and in the amounts provided in 
advance in appropriations Acts. 
SEC. 210. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The following amounts are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Board to carry out this 
title: 
(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2022. 
(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. 
(3) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. 
(4) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
(b) EMERGENCY FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be established in 
the Treasury of the United States an Emergency 
Fund for the Board, which shall be available to the 
Board for necessary expenses of the Board, not oth-
erwise provided for, for reviews. 
(2) APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Emergency Fund— 
(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00432
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
433 
HR 5118 RDS
(B) such sums as are necessary to main-
tain the Emergency Fund at a level not to ex-
ceed $4,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter; 
and 
(C) such other sums as Congress deter-
mines necessary. 
SEC. 211. AUTHORITY OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of Homeland Security, in accordance with the 
mission of the Inspector General to prevent and detect 
fraud and abuse, shall have authority to review only the 
financial management, property management, and busi-
ness operations of the Board, including internal account-
ing and administrative control systems, to determine com-
pliance with applicable Federal laws, rules, and regula-
tions. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out this section, the In-
spector General shall— 
(1) keep the Chairperson of the Board and 
Congress fully and currently informed about prob-
lems relating to administration of the internal ac-
counting and administrative control systems of the 
Board; 
(2) issue findings and recommendations for ac-
tions to address such problems; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00433
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
434 
HR 5118 RDS
(3) report periodically to Congress on any 
progress made in implementing actions to address 
such problems. 
(c) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—In carrying out this 
section, the Inspector General may exercise authorities 
granted to the Inspector General under subsections (a) 
and (b) of section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 
(5 U.S.C. App.). 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of the In-
spector General of the Department of Homeland Security 
such sums as may be necessary to cover expenses associ-
ated with activities pursuant to the authority exercised 
under this section. 
SEC. 212. EVALUATION AND AUDIT OF NATIONAL DISASTER 
SAFETY BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As determined necessary by the 
Comptroller General of the United States or the appro-
priate congressional committees, but not less frequently 
than once every 2 years, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall evaluate and audit the programs and 
expenditures of the Board in order to promote economy, 
efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of the 
programs, operations, and activities of the Board. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00434
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
435 
HR 5118 RDS
(b) RESPONSIBILITY OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL.— 
In carrying out subsection (a), the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall evaluate and audit the pro-
grams, operations, and activities of the Board, including— 
(1) information management and security, in-
cluding privacy protection of personally identifiable 
information; 
(2) the resource levels of the Board and man-
agement of such resources relative to the mission of 
the Board; 
(3) workforce development; 
(4) procurement and contracting planning, 
practices, and policies; 
(5) the process and procedures to select an inci-
dent to review; 
(6) the extent to which the Board follows lead-
ing practices in selected management areas; 
(7) the extent to which the Board addresses 
management challenges in completing reviews; 
(8) the extent to which the evaluation, review, 
and recommendation-issuing methodologies of the 
Board are consistent with established best practice, 
as determined by the Comptroller General; and 
(9) an impact evaluation of the work of the 
Board, using the purposes and intent described in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00435
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
436 
HR 5118 RDS
this title and by the Board, against the realized re-
sults of the Board, according to a methodology de-
termined by the Comptroller General, conducted in 
a manner that is not overly disruptive to the work 
of the Board. 
SEC. 213. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ACT OF VIOLENCE.—The term ‘‘act of vio-
lence’’ means an offense described in section 16(a) 
of title 18, United States Code. 
(2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na-
tional Disaster Safety Board established under sec-
tion 202. 
(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The term ‘‘Chairperson’’ 
means the Chairperson of the Board designated 
under section 205. 
(4) ECONOMIC INJURY.—The term ‘‘economic 
injury’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘substantial 
economic injury’’ in section 7(b) of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)). 
(5) INCIDENT.—The term ‘‘incident’’ means a 
natural hazard or other circumstance that the Board 
decides to review. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00436
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
437 
HR 5118 RDS
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND 
RESEARCH INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘institution of 
higher education and research institution’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education (as 
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1001)); 
(B) a National Laboratory (as defined in 
section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801)); 
(C) a laboratory described in section 
308(c)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 188(c)(2)); 
(D) the National Domestic Preparedness 
Consortium established under section 1204 of 
the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1102) and 
the members of such Consortium; and 
(E) a research institution associated with 
an institution of higher education. 
(7) NATURAL
HAZARD.—The term ‘‘natural 
hazard’’— 
(A) means a major disaster, as defined in 
paragraph (2) of section 102 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00437
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
438 
HR 5118 RDS
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), that is naturally oc-
curring, regardless of— 
(i) whether the President makes a de-
termination with respect to severity and 
magnitude of the disaster under such para-
graph; or 
(ii) the result of such a determination; 
(B) includes any naturally occurring heat 
wave, wind storm, wildfire, wildland urban 
interface fire, urban conflagration fire, or dust 
storm; 
(C) includes any combination of events 
covered by subparagraphs (A) and (B) that 
causes or threatens to cause loss of human life, 
or human or economic injury, as determined by 
the Board; and 
(D) does not include a technological dis-
aster. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 102 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
(9) TECHNOLOGICAL
DISASTER.—The term 
‘‘technological disaster’’ means an incident that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00438
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
439 
HR 5118 RDS
(A) is caused by human error or malfunc-
tion in technology, including a dam or struc-
tural failure, a fire (other than a naturally oc-
curring wildfire, wildland urban interface fire, 
urban conflagration fire, or arson), a hazardous 
material incident, a nuclear accident, and a 
power and telecommunications failure; and 
(B) causes loss of human life, or human or 
economic injury, as determined by the Board. 
(10) TERRORISM.—The term ‘‘terrorism’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 2 of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101). 
(11) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
government’’ means the governing body of any In-
dian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, 
village, or community that the Secretary of the Inte-
rior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under 
the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 
1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130 et seq.). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00439
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
440 
HR 5118 RDS
TITLE III—NATIONAL WILDLAND 
FIRE RISK REDUCTION PRO-
GRAM 
SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL WILDLAND FIRE 
RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM. 
The President shall establish a National Wildland 
Fire Risk Reduction Program with the purpose of achiev-
ing major measurable reductions in the losses of life and 
property from wildland fires through a coordinated Fed-
eral effort to— 
(1) improve the assessment of fire environments 
and the understanding and prediction of wildland 
fires, associated smoke, and their impacts, includ-
ing— 
(A) at the wildland-urban interface; 
(B) on communities, buildings and other 
infrastructure; 
(C) on ecosystem services; and 
(D) social and economic impacts; 
(2) develop and encourage the adoption of 
science-based and cost-effective measures to enhance 
resilience to wildland fires and prevent and mitigate 
negative impacts of wildland fires and associated 
smoke; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00440
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
441 
HR 5118 RDS
(3) improve the understanding and mitigation 
of the impacts of climate change and variability on 
wildland fire risk, frequency, and severity, and to in-
form paragraphs (1) and (2). 
SEC. 302. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. 
The Program shall consist of the activities described 
in section 306, which shall be designed— 
(1) to support research and development, in-
cluding interdisciplinary research, related to fire en-
vironments, wildland fires, associated smoke, and 
their impacts, in furtherance of a coordinated inter-
agency effort to address wildland fire risk reduction; 
(2) to support data management and steward-
ship, the development and coordination of data sys-
tems and computational tools, and the creation of a 
centralized, integrated data collaboration environ-
ment for Program agency data, to accelerate the un-
derstanding of fire environments, wildland fires, as-
sociated smoke, and their impacts, and the benefits 
of wildland fire risk mitigation measures; 
(3) to support the development of tools and 
technologies, including decision support tools and 
risk and hazard maps, to improve understanding, 
monitoring, prediction, and mitigation of wildland 
fires, associated smoke, and their impacts; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00441
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
442 
HR 5118 RDS
(4) to support research and development activi-
ties to improve data, tools, and technologies that di-
rectly inform, support, and complement active land 
management, forest and habitat restoration, and 
healthy ecosystem practices executed by the Forest 
Service, State, local, and Tribal entities; 
(5) to support education and training to expand 
the number of students and researchers in areas of 
study and research related to wildland fires; 
(6) to accelerate the translation of research re-
lated to wildland fires and associated smoke into op-
erations to reduce risk to communities, buildings, 
other infrastructure, and ecosystem services; 
(7) to conduct communication and outreach re-
garding wildland fire science and wildland fire risk 
mitigation, to communities, energy utilities and op-
erators of other critical infrastructure, and other rel-
evant stakeholders; 
(8) to support research and development 
projects funded under joint solicitations or through 
memoranda of understanding between no fewer than 
two agencies participating in the Program; and 
(9) to disseminate, to the extent practicable, 
scientific data and related products and services in 
formats meeting shared standards to enhance the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00442
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
443 
HR 5118 RDS
interoperability, usability, and accessibility of Pro-
gram Agency data, including data as part of para-
graph (2) in order to better meet the needs of Pro-
gram agencies, other Federal agencies, and relevant 
stakeholders. 
SEC. 303. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 
WILDLAND FIRE RISK REDUCTION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an 
Interagency Coordinating Committee on Wildland Fire 
Risk Reduction (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Com-
mittee’’), to be co-chaired by the Director and the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—In addition to the co-chairs, the 
Committee shall be composed of— 
(1) the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation; 
(2) the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration; 
(3) the Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency; 
(4) the United States Fire Administrator; 
(5) the Chief of the Forest Service; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00443
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
444 
HR 5118 RDS
(6) the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration; 
(7) the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency; 
(8) the Secretary of Energy; 
(9) the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget; 
(10) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(11) the Director of United States Geological 
Survey; 
(12) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices; 
(13) the Secretary of Defense; 
(14) the Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment; and 
(15) the head of any other Federal agency that 
the Director considers appropriate. 
(c) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not less 
than twice a year for the first 2 years and then not less 
than once a year at the call of the Director. 
(d) GENERAL PURPOSE AND DUTIES.—The Com-
mittee shall oversee the planning, management, and co-
ordination of the Program, and solicit stakeholder input 
on Program goals. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00444
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
445 
HR 5118 RDS
(e) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall develop 
and submit to Congress, not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and update every 4 
years thereafter, a Strategic Plan for the Program that 
includes— 
(1) prioritized goals for the Program, consistent 
with the purposes of the Program as described in 
section 301; 
(2) short-term, mid-term, and long-term re-
search and development objectives to achieve those 
goals; 
(3) a description of the role of each Program 
agency in achieving the prioritized goals; 
(4) a description of how the Committee will fos-
ter collaboration between and among the Program 
agencies and other Federal agencies to help meet the 
goals of the Program; 
(5) the methods by which progress toward the 
goals will be assessed; 
(6) an explanation of how the Program will fos-
ter the translation of research into measurable re-
ductions in the losses of life, property, and eco-
system services from wildland fires, including rec-
ommended outcomes and metrics for each program 
goal and how operational Program agencies will 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00445
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
446 
HR 5118 RDS
transition demonstrated technologies and research 
findings into decision support tools and operations; 
(7) a description of the research infrastructure, 
including databases and computational tools, needed 
to accomplish the research and development objec-
tives outlined in paragraph (2), a description of how 
research infrastructure in existence at the time of 
the development of the plan will be used to meet the 
objectives, an explanation of how new research infra-
structure will be developed to meet the objectives, 
and a description of how the program will implement 
the integrated data collaboration environment per 
section 302(2); 
(8) a description of how Program agencies will 
collaborate with stakeholders and take into account 
stakeholder needs and recommendations in devel-
oping research and development objectives; 
(9) recommendations on the most effective 
means to integrate the research results into wildland 
fire preparedness and response actions across Fed-
eral, State, local, Tribal, and territorial levels; 
(10) guidance on how the Committee’s rec-
ommendations are best used in climate adaptation 
planning for Federal, State, local, Tribal, and terri-
torial entities; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00446
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
447 
HR 5118 RDS
(11) a nationally recognized, consensus-based 
definition of wildland-urban interface and other key 
terms and definitions relating to wildland fire, devel-
oped in consideration of the meaning given such 
term in section 4(11) of the Federal Fire Prevention 
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203(11)); and 
(12) a description of opportunities to support 
new areas of research and development and new 
types of collaborations that seek to optimize building 
and landscape design across multiple resilience 
goals, including resilience to wildland fires and other 
natural hazards, energy efficiency, and environ-
mental sustainability. 
(f) COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL EF-
FORTS.—The Director shall ensure that the activities of 
the Program are coordinated with other relevant Federal 
initiatives as appropriate. 
(g) NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY.—The Committee 
shall assess the need for a study, or a series of studies, 
to be conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine, and how such a study, or se-
ries of studies, could help identify research areas for fur-
ther study and inform research objectives, including fur-
ther research into the interactions between climate change 
and wildland fires. The Committee shall brief the Com-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00447
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
448 
HR 5118 RDS
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on its assess-
ment under this subsection not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(h) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the transmission of the first Strategic 
Plan under subsection (e) to Congress and not less fre-
quently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Committee 
shall submit to the Congress a report on the progress of 
the Program that includes— 
(1) a description of the activities funded under 
the Program, a description of how those activities 
align with the prioritized goals and research objec-
tives established in the Strategic Plan, and the 
budgets, per agency, for these activities; and 
(2) the outcomes achieved by the Program for 
each of the goals identified in the Strategic Plan. 
SEC. 304. NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WILDLAND 
FIRE RISK REDUCTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish a Na-
tional Advisory Committee on Wildland Fire Risk Reduc-
tion, consisting of not fewer than 7 and not more than 
15 members who are qualified to provide advice on 
wildland fire risk reduction and represent related sci-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00448
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
449 
HR 5118 RDS
entific, architectural, and engineering disciplines, none of 
whom may be employees of the Federal Government, in-
cluding— 
(1) representatives of research and academic in-
stitutions; 
(2) standards development organizations; 
(3) emergency management agencies; 
(4) State, local, and Tribal governments; 
(5) business communities, including the insur-
ance industry; and 
(6) other representatives as designated by the 
Director. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The Advisory Committee shall 
offer assessments and recommendations on— 
(1) trends and developments in the natural, en-
gineering, and social sciences and practices of 
wildland fire risk mitigation; 
(2) the priorities of the Program’s Strategic 
Plan; 
(3) the management, coordination, implementa-
tion, and activities of the Program; 
(4) the effectiveness of the Program in meeting 
its purposes; and 
(5) the need to revise the Program. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00449
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
450 
HR 5118 RDS
(c) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory 
Committee established under this section shall serve with-
out compensation. 
(d) REPORTS.—At least every 2 years, the Advisory 
Committee shall report to the Director on the assessments 
carried out under subsection (b) and its recommendations 
for ways to improve the Program. 
(e) CHARTER.—Notwithstanding section 14(b)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the 
Advisory Committee shall not be required to file a charter 
subsequent to its initial charter, filed under section 9(c) 
of such Act, before the termination date specified in sub-
section (f) of this section. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall 
terminate on September 30, 2026. 
(g) CONFLICT
OF INTEREST.—An Advisory Com-
mittee member shall recuse himself from any Advisory 
Committee activity in which he has an actual pecuniary 
interest. 
SEC. 305. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit a report to Congress that— 
(1) evaluates the progress and performance of 
the Program in establishing and making progress to-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00450
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
451 
HR 5118 RDS
ward the goals of the Program as set forth in this 
Act; and 
(2) includes such recommendations as the 
Comptroller General determines are appropriate to 
improve the Program. 
SEC. 306. RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM AGENCIES. 
(a) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—The responsibilities of the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology with re-
spect to the Program are as follows: 
(1) RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVI-
TIES.—The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall— 
(A) carry out research on the impact of 
wildland fires on communities, buildings, and 
other infrastructure, including structure-to- 
structure transmission of fire and spread within 
communities; 
(B) carry out research on the generation of 
firebrands from wildland fires and on methods 
and materials to prevent or reduce firebrand ig-
nition of communities, buildings, and other in-
frastructure; 
(C) carry out research on novel materials, 
systems, structures, and construction designs to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00451
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
452 
HR 5118 RDS
harden structures, parcels, and communities to 
the impact of wildland fires; 
(D) carry out research on the impact of 
environmental factors on wildland fire behavior, 
including wind, terrain, and moisture; 
(E) support the development of perform-
ance-based tools to mitigate the impact of 
wildland fires, and work with appropriate 
groups to promote and assist in the use of such 
tools, including through model building codes 
and fire codes, standard test methods, vol-
untary consensus standards, and construction 
and retrofit best practices; 
(F) in collaboration with the United States 
Fire Administration, carry out research and de-
velopment of decontamination methods and 
technologies for firefighting gear on and off the 
field. 
(G) develop and execute a research plan on 
public 
safety 
communication 
coordination 
standards among Federal, State, local, and 
Tribal wildland firefighters, fire management 
response officials and the National Interagency 
Fire Center; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00452
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
453 
HR 5118 RDS
(H) carry out research to improve and in-
tegrate existing communications systems to 
transmit secure real-time data, alters, and accu-
rate advisories to wildland firefighters; 
(I) carry out both live and virtual field 
testing and measurement of equipment, soft-
ware, and other technologies to determine cur-
rent effectiveness and times of information dis-
semination and develop standards and best 
practices for the delivery of useful and secure 
real-time data to wildland firefighters; and 
(J) develop and publish recommendations 
to improve public safety communication coordi-
nation standards among wildland firefighters 
and member agencies of the National Inter-
agency Fire Center, including providing such 
recommendations to the Office of Management 
and Budget and the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy. 
(2) WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE POST- 
INVESTIGATIONS.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology shall— 
(A) coordinate Federal post-wildland fire 
investigations of fires at the wildland-urban 
interface; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00453
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
454 
HR 5118 RDS
(B) develop methodologies, in collaboration 
with the Administrator of FEMA and in con-
sultation with relevant stakeholders, to charac-
terize the impact of wildland fires on commu-
nities and the impact of changes in building 
and fire codes, including methodologies— 
(i) for collecting, inventorying, and 
analyzing information on the performance 
of communities, buildings, and other infra-
structure in wildland fires; and 
(ii) for improved collection of perti-
nent information from different sources, 
including first responders, the design and 
construction industry, insurance compa-
nies, and building officials. 
(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—As a part of 
the Program, the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation shall support— 
(1) research, including large-scale convergent 
research, to improve the understanding and pre-
diction of wildland fire risks, including the condi-
tions that increase the likelihood of a wildland fire, 
the behavior of wildland fires, and their impacts on 
buildings, communities, infrastructure, ecosystems 
and living systems; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00454
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
455 
HR 5118 RDS
(2) development and improvement of tools and 
technologies, including databases and computational 
models, to enable and accelerate the understanding 
and prediction of wildland fires and their impacts; 
(3) development of research infrastructure, as 
appropriate, to enable and accelerate the under-
standing and prediction of wildland fires and their 
impacts, including upgrades or additions to the Na-
tional Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure; 
(4) research to improve the understanding of— 
(A) the response to wildland fire risk and 
response messages by individuals, communities, 
and policymakers; 
(B) social and economic factors influencing 
the implementation and adoption of wildland 
fire risk reduction and response measures by in-
dividuals, communities, and policymakers; and 
(C) decision-making and emergency re-
sponse to wildland fires; 
(5) undergraduate and graduate research op-
portunities and graduate and postdoctoral fellow-
ships and traineeships in fields of study relevant to 
wildland fires and their impacts; and 
(6) research to improve the understanding of 
the impacts of climate change and climate variability 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00455
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
456 
HR 5118 RDS
on wildland fires, including wildland fire risk, fre-
quency, and severity, and wildland fire prediction, 
mitigation, and resilience strategies. 
(c) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(in this subsection referred to as the ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’) shall conduct research, observations, mod-
eling, forecasting, prediction, and historical analysis 
of wildland fires to improve understanding of the 
connections between fire weather and modes of cli-
mate variability, impacts on hydrology, and wildland 
fires, and associated fire weather and smoke, air 
quality, for the protection of life and property and 
for the enhancement of the national economy. 
(2) WEATHER
FORECASTING
AND
DECISION 
SUPPORT
FOR
WILDLAND
FIRES.—The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(A) develop and provide in consultation 
with the relevant Federal Agencies, as the Ad-
ministrator determines appropriate, accurate, 
timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of 
wildland fires and fire weather events that en-
danger life and property, which may include red 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00456
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
457 
HR 5118 RDS
flag warnings, operational fire weather alerts, 
real-time notification of ignitions, and any other 
warnings or alerts the Administrator deems ap-
propriate; 
(B) provide stakeholders and the public 
with impact-based decision support services, 
seasonal climate predictions, air quality prod-
ucts, and smoke forecasts; and 
(C) provide on-site weather forecasts, sea-
sonal climate predictions, and other decision 
support to wildland fire incident command 
posts, including by deploying incident mete-
orologists for the duration of an extreme event. 
(3) WILDLAND FIRE DATA.—The Administrator 
shall contribute to and support the centralized, inte-
grated data collaboration environment in accordance 
with section 302(2) and any other relevant Federal 
data systems by ensuring— 
(A) interoperability, usability, and accessi-
bility of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration data and tools related to wildland 
fires, associated smoke, and their impacts; 
(B) inclusion of historical wildland fire in-
cident and fire weather data, and identifying 
potential gaps in such data; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00457
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
458 
HR 5118 RDS
(C) the acquisition or collection of addi-
tional data that is needed to advance wildland 
fire science. 
(4) WILDLAND FIRE AND FIRE WEATHER SUR-
VEILLANCE
AND
OBSERVATIONS.—The Adminis-
trator, in coordination with Administrator of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration and in 
consultation with relevant stakeholders— 
(A) shall leverage existing observations, 
technologies and assets and develop or acquire 
new technologies and data to sustain and en-
hance environmental observations used for 
wildland fire prediction and detection, fire 
weather and smoke forecasting and monitoring, 
and post-wildland fire recovery, with a focus 
on— 
(i) collecting data for high-risk pre-ig-
nition analysis, such as drought, fuel and 
vegetation conditions, and soil moisture, 
that will help predict severe wildland fire 
conditions on all timescales; 
(ii) supporting identification and clas-
sification of fire environments at the small-
est practical scale to determine vulner-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00458
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
459 
HR 5118 RDS
ability to wildland fires and rapid wildland 
fire growth; 
(iii) detecting, observing, and moni-
toring wildland fires and smoke; 
(iv) supporting research on the inter-
action of weather and wildland fire behav-
ior; 
(v) supporting post-fire assessments 
conducted by Program agencies and rel-
evant stakeholders; 
(vi) conditions that influence fire be-
havior and spread including those condi-
tions that suppress active fire events; and 
(vii) fire risk values; 
(B) shall prioritize the ability to detect, ob-
serve, and monitor wildland fire and smoke in 
its requirements for its current and future ob-
serving systems and commercial data purchases; 
and 
(C) not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act— 
(i) may offer to enter into contracts, 
in consultation with the Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of the Interior, 
with one or more entities to obtain addi-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00459
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
460 
HR 5118 RDS
tional airborne and space-based data and 
observations that may enhance or supple-
ment the understanding, monitoring, pre-
diction, and mitigation of wildland fire 
risks, and the relevant Program activities 
under section 302; and 
(ii) in carrying out clause (i), shall 
consult with private sector entities through 
the advisory committee established pursu-
ant to section 304 to identify needed tools 
and data that can be best provided by the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration satellites and are most beneficial 
to wildfire and smoke detection and moni-
toring. 
(5) FIRE WEATHER TESTBED.—In collaboration 
with Program agencies and other relevant stake-
holders, the Administrator shall establish a Fire 
Weather Testbed to evaluate physical and social 
science, technology, and other research to develop 
fire weather products and services for implementa-
tion by relevant stakeholders. 
(6) WILDLAND FIRE AND FIRE WEATHER RE-
SEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT.—The Administrator 
shall support a wildland fire and smoke research and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00460
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
461 
HR 5118 RDS
development program that includes both physical 
and social science with the goals of— 
(A) improving the understanding, pre-
diction, detection, forecasting, monitoring, and 
assessments of wildland fires and associated fire 
weather, smoke, and air quality; 
(B) developing products and services to 
meet stakeholder needs; 
(C) 
transitioning 
physical 
and 
social 
science research into operations; 
(D) improving modeling and technology, 
including coupled fire-atmosphere fire behavior 
modeling, in consultation with relevant Federal 
agencies; 
(E) better understanding of links between 
fire weather events and subseasonal-to-climate 
impacts; 
(F) improving the forecasting and under-
standing of the impacts of prescribed fires and 
how those impacts differ from impacts of 
wildland fires; and 
(G) pursuing high-priority fire science re-
search needs applicable to the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration as identified 
by any other relevant Federal program. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00461
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
462 
HR 5118 RDS
(7) EXTRAMURAL
RESEARCH.—The Adminis-
trator shall collaborate with and support the non- 
Federal wildland fire research community, which in-
cludes institutions of higher education, private enti-
ties, nongovernmental organizations, and other rel-
evant stakeholders, by making funds available 
through competitive grants, contracts, and coopera-
tive agreements. In carrying out the program under 
this paragraph, the Administrator, in collaboration 
with other relevant Federal agencies, may establish 
one or more national centers for prescribed fire and 
wildfire sciences that leverage Federal research and 
development with university and nongovernmental 
partnerships. 
(8) HIGH
PERFORMANCE
COMPUTING.—The 
Administrator, in consultation with relevant Federal 
agencies, such as the Secretary of Energy, shall ac-
quire high performance computing technologies and 
supercomputing technologies, leveraging existing re-
sources and facilities, as practicable, to conduct re-
search and development activities, support research 
to operations under this section, and host oper-
ational fire and smoke forecast models. 
(9) INCIDENT METEOROLOGIST WORKFORCE AS-
SESSMENT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00462
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
463 
HR 5118 RDS
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate the results of an assessment of 
National Weather Service workforce and training 
challenges for Incident Meteorologists and a road-
map for overcoming the challenges identified. Such 
assessment shall take into consideration information 
technology support, logistical and administrative op-
erations, anticipated weather and climate conditions, 
and feedback from relevant stakeholders, and shall 
include, to the maximum extent practicable, an iden-
tification by the National Weather Service of— 
(A) the expected number of Incident Mete-
orologists needed over the next 5 years; 
(B) potential hiring authorities necessary 
to overcome the identified workforce and train-
ing challenges; and 
(C) alternative services or assistance op-
tions the National Weather Service could pro-
vide to meet operational needs. 
(10) FIRE
WEATHER
SURVEYS
AND
ASSESS-
MENTS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00463
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
464 
HR 5118 RDS
(A) ANNUAL POST-FIRE WEATHER SEASON 
SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 24 
months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and each year thereafter, the Adminis-
trator shall conduct a post-fire-weather season 
survey and assessment. After conducting a 
post-fire-weather season survey and assessment, 
the Administrator shall— 
(i) investigate any data collection gaps 
during the assessment; 
(ii) identify and implement systems, 
processes, strategies, and procedures need-
ed to enhance the efficiency and reliability 
of data obtained and to improve program 
services and information dissemination; 
(iii) evaluate the accuracy and effi-
ciency of physical fire weather forecasting 
information for each incident; and 
(iv) assess and refine performance 
measures, as needed. 
(B) COORDINATION.—In conducting any 
survey or assessment under this section, the 
Administrator shall coordinate with stake-
holders and such entities as the Administrator 
considers relevant in order to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00464
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
465 
HR 5118 RDS
(i) improve operations and collabora-
tion; and 
(ii) optimize data collection, sharing, 
integration, assimilation, and dissemina-
tion. 
(C) ANNUAL
BRIEFING.—Not less fre-
quently than once each year, the Administrator 
shall provide a briefing to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology in the House 
and Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation in the Senate that provides— 
(i) an overview of the previous fire 
season; and 
(ii) an outlook for the fire season for 
the coming year. 
(D) SERVICE
IMPROVEMENTS.—The Ad-
ministrator shall make best efforts to incor-
porate the results and recommendations of each 
assessment conducted into the research and de-
velopment plan and operations of the Adminis-
tration. 
(d) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGEN-
CY.—The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency, acting through the United States Fire 
Administration, shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00465
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
466 
HR 5118 RDS
(1) support— 
(A) the development of community risk as-
sessment tools and effective mitigation tech-
niques for preventing and responding to 
wildland fires, including at the wildland-urban 
interface; 
(B) wildland and wildland-urban interface 
fire and operational response-related data col-
lection and analysis; 
(C) public outreach, education, and infor-
mation dissemination related to wildland fires 
and wildland fire risk; and 
(D) promotion of wildland and wildland- 
urban interface fire preparedness and commu-
nity risk reduction, to include hardening the 
wildland-urban interface through proper con-
struction materials, land use practices, sprin-
klers, assessment of State and local emergency 
response capacity and capabilities, and other 
tools and approaches as appropriate; 
(2) in collaboration with the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, and other program 
agencies, as appropriate, promote and assist in the 
implementation of research results and promote fire- 
resistant buildings, retrofit, and land use practices 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00466
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
467 
HR 5118 RDS
within the design and construction industry, includ-
ing architects, engineers, contractors, builders, plan-
ners, code officials, and inspectors; 
(3) establish and operate a wildland fire pre-
paredness and mitigation technical assistance pro-
gram to assist State, local, Tribal and territorial 
governments in using wildland fire mitigation strate-
gies, including through the adoption and implemen-
tation of wildland and wildland-urban interface fire 
resistant codes, standards, and land use; 
(4) incorporate wildland and wildland-urban 
interface fire risk mitigation and loss avoidance data 
into the Agency’s existing risk, mitigation, and loss 
avoidance analyses; 
(5) incorporate data on the adoption and imple-
mentation of wildland and wildland-urban interface 
fire resistant codes and standards into the Agency’s 
hazard resistant code tracking resources; 
(6) translate new information and research 
findings into best practices to improve firefighter, 
fire service, and allied professions training and edu-
cation in wildland fire response, crew deployment, 
prevention, mitigation, resilience, and firefighting; 
(7) conduct outreach and information dissemi-
nation to fire departments regarding best practices 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00467
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
468 
HR 5118 RDS
for wildland and wildland-urban interface fire-
fighting, training, and fireground deployment; 
(8) in collaboration with other relevant Pro-
gram agencies and stakeholders, develop a national 
level, interactive and publicly accessible wildland fire 
hazard severity map that includes community and 
parcel level data and that can readily integrate with 
risk gradations within wildland and wildland-urban 
interface fire resistant codes and standards; 
(9) in coordination with the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology and other Federal ini-
tiatives as appropriate, carry out a study to— 
(A) examine PFAS and other potentially 
harmful contaminants in firefighting gear, fire 
retardants, and wetting agents; 
(B) determine the lifecycle of firefighting 
garments; and 
(C) evaluate exposure risks based on dif-
ferent phases of the fire; and 
(10) develop resources regarding best practices 
for establishing or enhancing peer-support programs 
within wildland fire firefighting units. 
(e) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION.—The responsibilities of the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00468
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
469 
HR 5118 RDS
this subsection referred to as the ‘‘Administrator’’) with 
respect to the Program are as follows: 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, 
with respect to the Program— 
(A) support relevant basic and applied sci-
entific research and modeling; 
(B) ensure the use in the Program of all 
relevant National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration Earth observations data for max-
imum utility; 
(C) explore and apply novel tools and tech-
nologies in the activities of the Program; 
(D) support the translation of research to 
operations, including to Program agencies and 
relevant stakeholders; 
(E) 
facilitate 
the 
communication 
of 
wildland fire research, knowledge, and tools to 
relevant stakeholders; and 
(F) use commercial data where such data 
is available and accessible through existing Fed-
eral government commercial contracts, agree-
ments, or other means, and purchase data that 
is deemed necessary based on consultation with 
other Program agencies. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00469
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
470 
HR 5118 RDS
(2) WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH AND APPLICA-
TIONS.—The Administrator shall support basic and 
applied wildland fire research and modeling activi-
ties, including competitively-selected research, to— 
(A) improve the understanding and pre-
diction of fire environments, wildland fires, as-
sociated smoke, and their impacts; 
(B) improve the understanding of the im-
pacts of climate change and variability on 
wildland fire risk, frequency, and severity; 
(C) characterize the pre-fire phase and 
fire-inducing conditions, such as soil moisture 
and vegetative fuel availability; 
(D) characterize the active fire phase, such 
as fire and smoke plume mapping, fire behavior 
and spread modeling, and domestic and global 
fire activity; 
(E) characterize the post-fire phase, such 
as landscape changes, air quality, erosion, land-
slides, and impacts on carbon distributions in 
forest biomass; 
(F) contribute to advancing predictive 
wildland fire models; 
(G) address other relevant investigations 
and measurements prioritized by the National 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00470
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
471 
HR 5118 RDS
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi-
cine Decadal Survey on Earth Science and Ap-
plications from Space; 
(H) improve the translation of research 
knowledge into actionable information; 
(I) develop research and data products, in-
cluding maps, decision-support information, and 
tools, and support related training as appro-
priate and practicable; 
(J) collaborate with other Program agen-
cies and relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, 
on joint research and development projects, in-
cluding research grant solicitations and field 
campaigns; and 
(K) transition research advances to oper-
ations, including to Program agencies and rel-
evant stakeholders, as practicable. 
(3) WILDLAND FIRE DATA SYSTEMS AND COM-
PUTATIONAL TOOLS.—The Administrator shall— 
(A) identify, from the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration’s Earth 
science data systems, data, including combined 
data products and relevant commercial data 
sets, that can contribute to improving the un-
derstanding, monitoring, prediction, and mitiga-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00471
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
472 
HR 5118 RDS
tion of wildland fires and their impacts, includ-
ing data related to fire weather, plume dynam-
ics, smoke and fire behavior, impacts of climate 
change and variability, land and property 
burned, wildlife and ecosystem destruction, 
among other areas; 
(B) prioritize the dissemination of data 
identified or obtained under this subparagraph 
to the widest extent practicable to support rel-
evant research and operational stakeholders; 
(C) consider opportunities to support the 
Program under section 301 and the Program 
activities under section 302 when planning and 
developing Earth observation satellites, instru-
ments, and airborne measurement platforms; 
(D) identify opportunities, in collaboration 
with Program agencies and relevant stake-
holders, to obtain additional airborne and 
space-based data and observations that may en-
hance or supplement the understanding, moni-
toring, prediction, and mitigation of wildland 
fire risks, and the relevant Program activities 
under section 302, and consider such options as 
commercial solutions, including commercial 
data purchases, prize authority, academic part-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00472
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
473 
HR 5118 RDS
nerships, and ground-based or space-based in-
struments, as practicable and appropriate; and 
(E) contribute to and support, to the max-
imum extent practicable, the centralized, inte-
grated data collaboration environment in ac-
cordance with section 302(2) and any other rel-
evant interagency data systems, by collecting, 
organizing, and integrating the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration’s scientific 
data, data systems, and computational tools re-
lated to wildland fires, associated smoke, and 
their impacts, and by enhancing the interoper-
ability, useability, and accessibility of National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration’s sci-
entific data, data systems, and computational 
tools, including— 
(i) observations and available real- 
time and near-real-time measurements; 
(ii) derived science and data products, 
such as fuel conditions, risk and spread 
maps, and data products to represent the 
wildland-urban interface; 
(iii) relevant historical and archival 
observations, measurements, and derived 
science and data products; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00473
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
474 
HR 5118 RDS
(iv) other relevant decision support 
and information tools. 
(4) NOVEL TOOLS FOR ACTIVE WILDLAND FIRE 
MONITORING AND RISK MITIGATION.—The Adminis-
trator, in collaboration with other Program agencies 
and relevant stakeholders shall apply novel tools and 
technologies to support active wildland fire research, 
monitoring, mitigation, and risk reduction, as prac-
ticable and appropriate. In particular, the Adminis-
trator shall: 
(A) Establish a program to develop and 
demonstrate a unified concept of operations for 
the safe and effective deployment of diverse air 
capabilities in active wildland fire monitoring, 
mitigation, and risk reduction. The objectives of 
the Program shall be to— 
(i) 
develop 
and 
demonstrate 
a 
wildland fire airspace operations system 
accounting for piloted aircraft, uncrewed 
aerial systems, and other new and emerg-
ing capabilities such as autonomous and 
high-altitude assets; 
(ii) develop an interoperable commu-
nications strategy; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00474
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
475 
HR 5118 RDS
(iii) develop a roadmap for the on- 
ramping of new technologies, capabilities, 
or entities; 
(iv) identify additional development, 
testing, and demonstration that would be 
required to expand the scale of operations; 
(v) identify actions that would be re-
quired to transition the unified concept of 
operations in subparagraph (A) into ongo-
ing, operational use; and 
(vi) other objectives, as deemed appro-
priate by the Administrator. 
(B) Develop and demonstrate affordable 
and deployable sensing technologies, in con-
sultation with other Program agencies and rel-
evant stakeholders, to improve the monitoring 
of fire fuel and active wildland fires, wildland 
fire behavior models and forecast, mapping ef-
forts, and the prediction and mitigation of 
wildland fires and their impacts. The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(i) test and demonstrate technologies 
such as infrared, microwave, and active 
sensors suitable for deployment on space-
craft, aircraft, uncrewed aerial systems, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00475
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
476 
HR 5118 RDS
and ground-based and in situ platforms, as 
appropriate and practicable; 
(ii) develop and demonstrate afford-
able and deployable sensing technologies 
that can be transitioned to operations for 
collection of near-real-time localized meas-
urements; 
(iii) develop and demonstrate near- 
real-time 
data 
processing, 
availability, 
interoperability, and visualization, as prac-
ticable; 
(iv) identify opportunities and actions 
required, in collaboration with Program 
agencies and relevant stakeholders, to 
transition 
relevant 
technologies, 
tech-
niques, and data to science operations, 
upon successful demonstration of the feasi-
bility and scientific utility of the sensors 
and data; 
(v) 
transition 
demonstrated 
tech-
nologies, techniques, and data into ongo-
ing, operational use, including to Program 
agencies and relevant stakeholders; 
(vi) prioritize and facilitate, to the 
greatest extent practicable, the dissemina-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00476
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
477 
HR 5118 RDS
tion of these science data to operations, in-
cluding to Program agencies and relevant 
stakeholders; and 
(vii) consider opportunities for poten-
tial partnerships, including commercial 
data purchases, among industry, govern-
ment, academic institutions, and non-profit 
organizations and other relevant stake-
holders in carrying out clauses (i) through 
(vi), as appropriate and practicable. 
(f) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—The 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
shall support environmental research and development ac-
tivities to— 
(1) improve the understanding of— 
(A) wildland fire and smoke impacts on 
communities and public health, including im-
pacts on drinking water and outdoor and indoor 
air quality, and on freshwater ecosystems; 
(B) wildland fire smoke plume characteris-
tics, chemical transformation, chemical com-
position, and transport; 
(C) wildland fire and smoke impacts to 
contaminant containment and remediation; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00477
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
478 
HR 5118 RDS
(D) the contribution of wildland fire emis-
sions to climate forcing emissions; 
(E) differences between the impacts of pre-
scribed fires compared to other wildland fires 
on communities and air and water quality; and 
(F) climate change and variability on 
wildland fires and smoke plumes, including on 
smoke exposure; 
(2) develop and improve tools, sensors, and 
technologies including databases and computational 
models, to accelerate the understanding, monitoring, 
and prediction of wildland fires and smoke exposure; 
(3) better integrate observational data into 
wildland fire and smoke characterization models to 
improve modeling at finer temporal and spatial reso-
lution; 
(4) develop and improve communication of 
wildland fire and smoke risk reduction strategies to 
the public in coordination with relevant stakeholders 
and other Federal agencies; and 
(5) develop and disseminate personal and com-
munity-based interventions to reduce exposure to 
and adverse health effects of wildland fire and 
smoke. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00478
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
479 
HR 5118 RDS
(g) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—The Secretary of 
Energy shall carry out research and development activities 
to— 
(1) create tools, techniques, and technologies 
for— 
(A) withstanding and addressing the cur-
rent and projected impact of wildland fires on 
energy sector infrastructure; 
(B) 
providing 
real-time 
or 
near-time 
awareness of the risks posed by wildland fires 
to the operation of energy infrastructure in af-
fected and potentially affected areas, including 
by leveraging the Department’s high-perform-
ance computing capabilities and climate and 
ecosystem models; 
(C) enabling early detection of, and assess-
ment of competing technologies and strategies 
for addressing, malfunctioning electrical equip-
ment on the transmission and distribution grid, 
including spark ignition causing wildland fires; 
(D) assisting with the planning, safe exe-
cution of, and safe and timely restoration of 
power after emergency power shut offs fol-
lowing wildland fires started by grid infrastruc-
ture; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00479
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
480 
HR 5118 RDS
(E) improving electric grid and energy sec-
tor safety and resilience in the event of multiple 
simultaneous or co-located weather or climate 
events leading to extreme conditions, such as 
extreme wind, wildland fires, extreme cold, and 
extreme heat; 
(F) improving coordination between utili-
ties and relevant Federal agencies to enable 
communication, information-sharing, and situa-
tional awareness in the event of wildland fires 
that impact the electric grid; 
(G) utilizing biomass produced by wildland 
fire risk mitigation and post-fire recovery activi-
ties for bioenergy, including biofuels, in collabo-
ration with relevant stakeholders; and 
(H) predicting wildland fire occurrence, 
spread, and ecosystem impact; 
(2) coordinate data and computational re-
sources across relevant entities to improve our un-
derstanding of wildland fires and to promote resil-
ience and wildland fire prevention in the planning, 
design, construction, operation, and maintenance of 
transmission infrastructure; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00480
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
481 
HR 5118 RDS
(3) consider optimal building energy efficiency 
and weatherization practices, as practicable, in 
wildland fire research; 
(4) utilize the Department of Energy’s National 
Laboratory capabilities, including user facilities, 
earth and environmental systems modeling re-
sources, and high-performance computing and data 
analytics capabilities, to improve the accuracy of ef-
forts to understand and predict wildland fire behav-
ior and occurrence and mitigate wildland fire im-
pacts; and 
(5) foster engagement between the National 
Laboratories and practitioners, researchers, policy 
organizations, utilities, and other entities the Sec-
retary determines to be appropriate to understand 
the economic and social implications of power dis-
ruptions caused by wildland fires, particularly within 
disadvantaged communities and regions vulnerable 
to wildland fires, including rural areas. 
(h) UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.—As part 
of the Program, the Director of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey shall support— 
(1) research and development activities to im-
prove the understanding of— 
(A) wildland fire risk, behavior, and fuels; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00481
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
482 
HR 5118 RDS
(B) impact of pre-fire conditions, such as 
fuel treatments, invasive species and other vege-
tation, on land management and economic land-
scapes; 
(C) post-fire risks including debris flows, 
erosion, and flooding, and effects on water qual-
ity, and revegetation; 
(D) impacts of changing fire regimes due 
to 
climate 
change 
and 
other 
ecosystem 
stressors; and 
(E) fire ecology and behavior; 
(2) development and improvement of tools and 
technologies to address wildland fire science and 
management challenges by— 
(A) Maintaining and expanding geospatial 
data and support for wildfire incidents, mitiga-
tion, and planning; 
(B) improving understanding and response 
to post-fire hazards and risks, including debris- 
flow, stream flow and quality, and revegetation; 
and 
(C) Maintaining, relevant wildland fire 
computational modeling and mapping, capabili-
ties to identify critical information for land 
management, decision support, and policy, and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00482
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
483 
HR 5118 RDS
enhancing such capabilities, as appropriate and 
in consultation and collaboration with other rel-
evant Program agencies; and 
(3) improvement of external communication of 
USGS wildland fire science products with Program 
Agencies and relevant stakeholders. 
SEC. 307. BUDGET ACTIVITIES. 
The Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, the Director of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy, and the Secretary of Energy shall each include in the 
annual budget request to Congress of each respective 
agency a description of the projected activities of such 
agency under the Program for the fiscal year covered by 
the budget request and an estimate of the amount such 
agency plans to spend on such activities for the relevant 
fiscal year. 
SEC. 308. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00483
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
484 
HR 5118 RDS
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. 
(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the Program established under section 301. 
(3) PROGRAM AGENCIES.—The term ‘‘Program 
agencies’’ means any Federal agency with respon-
sibilities under the Program. 
(4) STAKEHOLDERS.—The term ‘‘stakeholders’’ 
means any public or private organization engaged in 
addressing wildland fires, associated smoke, and 
their impacts, and shall include relevant Federal 
agencies, States, territories, Tribes, State and local 
governments, businesses, not-for-profit organiza-
tions, including national standards and building code 
organizations, firefighting departments and organi-
zations, academia, and other users of wildland fire 
data products. 
(5) WILDLAND
FIRE.—The term ‘‘wildland 
fire’’ means any non-structure fire that occurs in 
vegetation or natural fuels and includes wildfires 
and prescribed fires. 
(6) FIRE ENVIRONMENT.—The term ‘‘fire envi-
ronment’’ means surrounding conditions, influences, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00484
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
485 
HR 5118 RDS
and modifying forces of topography, fuel, and weath-
er that determine fire behavior. 
SEC. 309. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for 
carrying out this title— 
(1) $35,800,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(2) $36,100,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(3) $36,400,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(4) $36,700,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(5) $37,100,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this title— 
(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(2) $53,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(3) $56,200,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(4) $59,600,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(5) $63,100,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
(c) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration for carrying out this title— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00485
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
486 
HR 5118 RDS
(A) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(B) $215,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(C) $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(D) $230,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
and 
(E) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Of the amounts author-
ized for each of the fiscal years in paragraph (1), up 
to $10,000,000 may be used to support the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s contribu-
tions to the activities of the Joint Fire Science Pro-
gram in section 202(c)(1)(D) of subtitle A of title II 
of division A. 
(d) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration for carrying out this title— 
(A) $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(C) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(D) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
and 
(E) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00486
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
487 
HR 5118 RDS
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Of the amounts author-
ized for each of the fiscal years in paragraph (1), up 
to $10,000,000 may be used to support National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration research and 
development contributions to the activities of the 
Joint Fire Science Program in section 202(c)(1)(D) 
of subtitle A of title II of division A. 
(e) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental 
Protection Agency for carrying out this title— 
(1) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(2) $11,700,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(3) $12,400,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(4) $13,100,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(5) $13,900,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
(f) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency for carrying out this title— 
(A) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(B) $6,400,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(C) $6,700,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(D) $7,100,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(E) $7,600,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00487
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
488 
HR 5118 RDS
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Of the amounts author-
ized in paragraph (1), up to $10,000,000 for fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028 may be used to support 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s con-
tributions to the activities of the Joint Fire Science 
Program in section 202(c)(1)(D) of subtitle A of 
title II of division A. 
(g) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy up to 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 
to support the Department’s contributions to the activities 
of the Joint Fire Science Program in section 202(c)(1)(D) 
of subtitle A of title II of division A. 
SEC. 310. INCREASE IN ALLOWABLE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL 
DISASTER LOAN FOR MITIGATION. 
Section 7(b)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 636(b)(1)(A)) is amended, in the second proviso, 
by striking ‘‘20 per centum’’ and inserting ‘‘30 percent’’. 
SEC. 311. STUDY ON DISASTER SPENDING; STATE DISASTER 
PLAN UPDATES. 
(a) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY 
ON DISASTER SPENDING.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to identify the 
following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00488
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
489 
HR 5118 RDS
(A) For the 5-year period ending on the 
date of enactment of this Act— 
(i) the total amount of Federal funds 
spent in response to major disasters and 
emergencies declared pursuant to the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
seq.); and 
(ii) the total amount of State and In-
dian tribal government funds spent in re-
sponse to such major disasters and emer-
gencies. 
(B) 10 proposed Federal actions, to in-
clude reinsurance, that, if implemented, would 
most effectively reduce the need for spending 
related to such major disasters or emergencies. 
Such actions shall be listed in order of priority 
under criteria established by the Comptroller 
General, including the following: 
(i) Cost effectiveness. 
(ii) Return on investment. 
(iii) Simplicity or speed of implemen-
tation using existing resources. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00489
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
490 
HR 5118 RDS
(C) The effect that using blockchain may 
have on delivering disaster assistance to State 
and Indian tribal governments. 
(D) Whether insurance protection against 
wildfires will remain available and affordable to 
homeowners. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the covered entities a report con-
taining the results of the study. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘covered entities’’ means— 
(i) Congress; 
(ii) the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency; and 
(iii) for each State and Indian tribal 
government, the head of the agency for 
such State or Indian tribal government 
with jurisdiction over disaster response ac-
tivities. 
(B) The terms ‘‘Indian tribal government’’ 
and ‘‘State’’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00490
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
491 
HR 5118 RDS
(b) STATE DISASTER PLAN UPDATES.—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) With respect to State plans developed under this 
section, the President shall coordinate with each State to 
update such plans to incorporate strategies that decrease 
the time required to prepare for all hazard incidents, in-
cluding the time to evacuate individuals.’’. 
TITLE IV—WILDFIRE GRID 
RESILIENCE ACT 
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Wildfire Grid Resil-
iency Act’’. 
SEC. 402. RESILIENCE ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
carry out a demonstration program, to be known as the 
‘‘Resilience Accelerator Demonstration Program’’ (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Program’’), to make awards 
to eligible entities for projects that demonstrate innovative 
technologies to improve electric grid resilience with respect 
to wildfires. 
(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The Secretary may make 
an award under the Program to facilitate a project that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00491
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
492 
HR 5118 RDS
demonstrates an innovative technology to improve electric 
grid resilience with respect to wildfires, including— 
(1) a project that demonstrates an innovative 
technology for monitoring vegetation management; 
and 
(2) a project that demonstrates an innovative 
technology to enhance the safety of first responders 
who respond to electric grid emergencies. 
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An eligible entity referred 
to in subsection (a) is— 
(1) a National Laboratory; 
(2) an institution of higher education, including 
a historically Black college or university, a Tribal 
College or University, and a minority-serving institu-
tion; 
(3) a private commercial entity; 
(4) a unit of State, local, or Tribal government; 
(5) a nonprofit organization; 
(6) an electric utility or electric cooperative; 
(7) a retail service provider of electricity; 
(8) a partnership or consortium of 2 or more 
entities described in paragraphs (1) through (8); and 
(9) any other entity that the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00492
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
493 
HR 5118 RDS
(1) HISTORICALLY
BLACK
COLLEGE
OR
UNI-
VERSITY.—The term ‘‘historically Black college or 
university’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘part B 
institution’’ in section 322 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(3) 
MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means— 
(A) a Hispanic-serving institution (as de-
fined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))); 
(B) an Alaska Native-serving institution 
(as defined in section 317(b) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))); 
(C) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution 
(as defined in section 317(b) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))); 
(D) a Predominantly Black Institution (as 
defined in section 371(c) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c))); 
(E) an Asian American and Native Amer-
ican Pacific Islander-serving institution (as de-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00493
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
495 
HR 5118 RDS
TITLE V—WILDFIRE INSURANCE 
COVERAGE STUDY 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Wildfire Insurance 
Coverage Study Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 502. NATIONAL WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall, pursuant to the au-
thority under section 1371 of the National Flood Insur-
ance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4122), conduct a study re-
garding wildfire risk in the United States to— 
(1) identify trends in declarations for wildfires 
under the Fire Management Assistance grant pro-
gram under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5187), with respect to geography, costs, 
probability, and frequency of wildfire disasters; 
(2) identify mitigation practices that would as-
sist in reducing premiums for insurance policies cov-
ering damages from wildfires; 
(3) identify existing programs of the Federal 
Government and State governments that measure 
wildfire risk and assess their effectiveness in fore-
casting wildfire events and informing wildfire re-
sponse; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00495
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
496 
HR 5118 RDS
(4) analyze and assess the need for a national 
map for measuring and quantifying wildfire risk. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the Congress a report regarding the findings and conclu-
sions of the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a), 
which shall include a recommendation with regard to the 
need for a national map referred to in subsection (a)(4). 
SEC. 503. GAO STUDY REGARDING INSURANCE FOR WILD-
FIRE DAMAGE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States, in consultation with the Director of the Federal 
Insurance Office and State insurance regulators, shall 
conduct a study to analyze and determine the following: 
(1) EXISTING STATE OF COVERAGE.—With re-
spect to the existing state of homeowners insurance 
coverage and commercial property insurance cov-
erage for damage from wildfires in the United 
States— 
(A) the extent to which private insurers 
have, during the 10-year period ending on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, increased 
rates, cost-sharing provisions, or both for such 
coverage (after adjusting for inflation) and the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00496
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
497 
HR 5118 RDS
geographic areas in which such increased rates, 
cost-sharing, or both applied; 
(B) the extent to which private insurers 
have, during the 10-year period ending on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, refused to 
renew policies for such coverages and the geo-
graphic areas to which such refusals applied; 
(C) the events that have triggered such in-
creased rates and refusals to renew policies; 
(D) in cases in which private insurers cur-
tail coverage, the extent to which homeowners 
coverage and commercial property coverage are 
terminated altogether and the extent to which 
such coverages are offered but with coverage for 
damage from wildfires excluded; and 
(E) the extent to which, and circumstances 
under which, private insurers are continuing to 
provide coverage for damage from wildfires— 
(i) in general; 
(ii) subject to a condition that mitiga-
tion activities are taken, such as hardening 
of properties and landscaping against 
wildfires, by property owners, State or 
local governments, park or forest authori-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00497
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
498 
HR 5118 RDS
ties, or other land management authorities; 
and 
(iii) subject to any other conditions. 
(2) REGULATORY RESPONSES.—With respect to 
actions taken by State insurance regulatory agencies 
in response to increased premium rates, cost-shar-
ing, or both for coverage for damage from wildfires 
and exclusion of such coverage from homeowners 
policies— 
(A) the extent of rate regulation; 
(B) the extent of moratoria on such rate 
and cost-sharing increases and exclusions and 
on nonrenewals; 
(C) the extent to which States require 
homeowners coverage to include coverage for 
damage from wildfires or make sales of home-
owners coverage contingent on the sale, under-
writing, or financing of separate wildfire cov-
erage in the State; 
(D) the extent to which States have estab-
lished State residual market insurance entities, 
reinsurance programs, or similar mechanisms 
for coverage of damages from wildfires; 
(E) any other actions States or localities 
have taken in response to increased premium 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00498
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
499 
HR 5118 RDS
rates, cost-sharing, or both for coverage for 
damage from wildfires and exclusion of such 
coverage from homeowners policies, including 
forestry and wildfire management policies and 
subsidies for premiums and cost-sharing for 
wildfire coverage; 
(F) the effects on the homeownership cov-
erage market of such actions taken by States; 
and 
(G) the effectiveness and sustainability of 
such actions taken by States. 
(3) IMPEDIMENTS IN UNDERWRITING WILDFIRE 
RISK.—With respect to impediments faced by private 
insurers underwriting wildfire risk, what is or are— 
(A) the correlated risks and the extent of 
such risks; 
(B) the extent of private insurers’ inability 
to estimate magnitude of future likelihood of 
wildfires and of expected damages from 
wildfires; 
(C) the extent to which need for affordable 
housing contributes to people relocating to more 
remote, heavily wooded areas with higher wild-
fire risk; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00499
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
500 
HR 5118 RDS
(D) the potential for wildfire losses suffi-
ciently large to jeopardize insurers’ solvency; 
(E) the extent to which, and areas in 
which, risk-adjusted market premiums for wild-
fire risk are so high as to be unaffordable; 
(F) the manners in which the Federal Gov-
ernment and State governments can alleviate 
any of these impediments, including through— 
(i) improved forest management poli-
cies to reduce wildfire risk; 
(ii) improved data to estimate risk; 
(iii) relocating homeowners from wild-
fire zones; 
(iv) allowing insurers to charge risk- 
adjusted premiums for wildfire risk, com-
bined with subsidized premiums for lower- 
income homeowners; and 
(v) taking a last-loss position in rein-
suring wildfire risk; 
(G) the available policy responses if private 
insurers exit the wildfire coverage market and 
the advantages and disadvantages of each such 
response; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00500
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
501 
HR 5118 RDS
(H) the effects of lack of wildfire coverage 
or more expensive wildfire coverage rates, cost- 
sharing, or both— 
(i) on local communities, including on 
low- or moderate-income property owners 
and small businesses; 
(ii) by race and ethnicity; 
(iii) on rebuilding in communities pre-
viously damaged by wildfires; and 
(iv) on the demand for wildfire cov-
erage by property owners; 
(I) the effects of potential State prohibi-
tions on termination of policies due to wildfire 
claims on insurer solvency; and 
(J) the manner in which private insurers 
are modeling or estimating future wildfire risk. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Congress a report identifying the findings 
and conclusions of the study conducted pursuant to sub-
section (a). 
TITLE VI—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 601. EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00501
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
502 
HR 5118 RDS
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5133) is amended— 
(A) by amending subsection (a) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY.— 
In this section, the term ‘underserved community’ means 
a community, or a neighborhood within a community, 
that— 
‘‘(1) is classified as high risk according to cen-
sus tract risk ratings derived from a product that— 
‘‘(A) is maintained under a natural hazard 
assessment program; 
‘‘(B) is available to the public; 
‘‘(C) defines natural hazard risk across the 
United States; 
‘‘(D) reflects high levels of individual haz-
ard risk ratings; 
‘‘(E) reflects high social vulnerability rat-
ings and low community resilience ratings; 
‘‘(F) reflects the principal natural hazard 
risks identified for the respective census tracts; 
and 
‘‘(G) any other elements determined by the 
President. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00502
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
503 
HR 5118 RDS
‘‘(2) is comprised of 50,000 or fewer individuals 
and is economically disadvantaged, as determined by 
the State in which the community is located and 
based on criteria established by the President; or 
‘‘(3) is otherwise determined by the President 
based on factors including, high housing cost burden 
and substandard housing, percentage of homeless 
population, limited water and sanitation access, de-
mographic information such as race, age, and dis-
ability, language composition, transportation access 
or type, disproportionate environmental stressor bur-
den, and disproportionate impacts from climate 
change.’’; 
(B) in subsection (g)(9) by striking ‘‘small 
impoverished communities’’ and inserting ‘‘un-
derserved communities’’; and 
(C) in subsection (h)(2)— 
(i) in the heading by striking ‘‘SMALL 
IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘small impoverished 
community’’ and inserting ‘‘underserved 
community’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made 
by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00503
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
504 
HR 5118 RDS
amounts appropriated on or after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(b) 
GUIDANCE
ON
EXTREME
TEMPERATURE 
EVENTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Administration shall issue guidance 
related to extreme temperature events, including heat 
waves and freezes, and publish such guidance in the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Administration Public As-
sistance Program and Policy Guide. 
(c) HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS.—Section 322 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘, including— 
‘‘(1) identifying the extent to which resilience is 
or will be incorporated into other planning processes, 
including community land use, economic develop-
ment, capital improvement budgets and transpor-
tation planning processes; 
‘‘(2) goals and objectives related to increasing 
resilience over a 5-year period, including benchmarks 
for future work and an assessment of past progress; 
‘‘(3) the building codes in existence at the time 
the plan is submitted and standards that are in use 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00504
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
505 
HR 5118 RDS
by the State for all manner of planning or develop-
ment purposes and how the State has or will comply 
with the standards set forth in section 406(e)(1)(A); 
‘‘(4) the use of nature-based solutions or other 
mitigation activities that conserve or restore natural 
features that can serve to abate or lessen the im-
pacts of future disasters; 
‘‘(5) integration of each local mitigation plan 
with the State, Indian Tribe, or territory plan; and 
‘‘(6) the disparate impacts on underserved com-
munities (as such term is defined in section 203(a)) 
and plans to address any disparities.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) GUIDANCE.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall issue specific guid-
ance on resilience goals and provide technical assistance 
for States, Indian Tribes, territories, and local govern-
ments to meet such goals. 
‘‘(g) ADEQUATE STAFFING.—The Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall ensure 
that ample staff are available to develop the guidance and 
technical assistance under section 322, including hazard 
mitigation planning staff and personnel with expertise in 
community planning, land use development, and consensus 
based codes and hazard resistant designs at each regional 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:28 Jan 04, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00505
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5118.RDS
H5118
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB