Wildfire Defense Act

Bill: 116-hr-5091
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Introduced: 2019-11-14 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency communications systems
Emergency planning and evacuation
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Infrastructure development
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: 

Wildfire Defense Act 

 
This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a community wildfire defense grant program and requires other actions by FEMA, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Forest Service with respect to wildfires.
 
In awarding grants, FEMA must give priority to state and local governments, Indian tribes, and joint authorities that will carry out projects or plans supporting a low-income community in a fire-hazard area or a severe disaster impacted community in a fire-hazard area.
 
The GAO shall publish (1) a report on authorities and programs that are available to protect communities from wildfires; and (2) a study on the potential for a community wildfire defense plan to qualify for a certification identifying a level of wildfire survivability and resilience, and how to incentivize insurance companies to accept the certification.
 
The Forest Service shall develop and publish a map depicting at-risk communities.
 
FEMA shall prepare a report relating to insufficient radio frequencies, barriers to interoperability of radio frequencies, and available products and technologies for overcoming barriers to interoperability for wildland fire management.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2019-11-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Introduced in House