Western Wildfire Support Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-1764
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-05-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Appropriations
Atmospheric science and weather
Aviation and airports
Budget process
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Disaster relief and insurance
Ecology
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive agency funding and structure
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Land use and conservation
Military education and training
Military operations and strategy
Motor vehicles
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Research and development
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Transportation safety and security
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-31
text: 

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2023

 
This bill establishes activities to address wildfires.
 
The bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish spatial fire management plans before the end of FY2026.
 
The bill establishes 
 
 
accounts in the Treasury for addressing wildfires,
 
a program to train and certify citizens who wish to be able to volunteer to assist USDA or Interior during a wildland fire incident,
 
 a program to award grants to eligible states or units of local government to acquire slip-on tank and pump units for a surge capacity of resources for fire suppression, 
 
the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species, and 
 
the Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board.
 
 
The bill also 

 
 requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to reimburse a state or federal agency for the costs of wildfire suppression as a result of a fire caused by DOD activity,
 
 requires the Joint Fire Science Program to work with unmanned aircraft test ranges to carry out research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications, 
 
 requires federal and state disaster preparedness programs to include postdisaster assistance, and
 
authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postfire recovery funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted by a wildland fire.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-11-21
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 582.
action_date: 2024-11-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2024-11-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2024-11-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-10-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-311.
action_date: 2023-05-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-05-31
text: Introduced in Senate