Smoke-Ready Communities Act of 2021
Bill: S.2661 | Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Smoke-Ready Communities Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to air pollution control agencies to support the development and implementation of programs that support local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of wildfire smoke.

To amend the Clean Air Act to establish a grant program for supporting 
local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating about, or 
  mitigating the environmental and public health impacts of wildfire 
                     smoke, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Smoke-Ready Communities Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. SMOKE-READY COMMUNITIES.

    Part A of title I of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 132. SMOKE-READY COMMUNITIES.

    ``(a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Administrator may make grants under this section to 
air pollution control agencies to support air pollution control 
agencies in developing and implementing programs that support local 
communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public 
about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of 
wildfire smoke.
    ``(b) Eligible Activities.--In carrying out a program described in 
subsection (a), an air pollution control agency may use funds from a 
grant received under this section for--
            ``(1) activities related to the monitoring of, the 
        interpretation of, and communicating with the public about data 
        related to ambient air quality conditions that are caused by 
        wildfire smoke;
            ``(2) conducting community outreach in areas that are prone 
        to poor air quality that is attributable to elevated levels of 
        particulate matter and other harmful components of wildfire 
        smoke;
            ``(3) the deployment of air quality monitoring equipment in 
        a manner that is sufficient to evaluate an increased prevalence 
        of poor air quality that is attributable to elevated levels of 
        particulate matter and other harmful components of wildfire 
        smoke;
            ``(4) equipping public buildings with air filtration 
        systems that are capable of removing particulate matter and 
        other harmful components of wildfire smoke from the air so that 
        the public buildings may serve as cleaner air spaces during 
        wildfire smoke events and other poor air quality events;
            ``(5) the purchase, storage, and distribution of face masks 
        and personal protective equipment, including N-95 filtering 
        facepiece respirators, portable air filtration systems, and 
        other masks and equipment that are capable of removing 
        particulate matter and other harmful components of wildfire 
        smoke from the air;
            ``(6) subgrants or providing other financing to private or 
        other public entities with demonstrated financial need--
                    ``(A) to acquire protective gear; or
                    ``(B) to carry out weatherization measures to 
                mitigate air infiltration; and
            ``(7) such other activities that the Administrator 
        determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
        section.
    ``(c) Allocation of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Administrator shall establish a formula to distribute grants 
        under this section among air pollution control agencies.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In establishing the formula required 
        under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider--
                    ``(A) the vulnerability of communities within a 
                State to wildfire smoke; and
                    ``(B) the degree to which a State is prone to poor 
                air quality that is attributable to elevated levels of 
                particulate matter from wildfire smoke.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.''.
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