Expressing support for the recognition of May 1 through May 7, 2022, as Wildfire Preparedness Week, the national event educating the public on fire safety and preparedness, and supporting the goals of a Wildfire Preparedness Week.

Bill: 117-hres-1081
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2022-04-29
Policy area: Emergency Management
Latest action: action_date: 2022-04-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-04-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution supports (1) the goals of Wildfire Preparedness Week; and (2) resources and educational initiatives that communicate how affected communities can take preventative measures such as instituting early warning systems and reducing unplanned human ignitions, as well as how to safely and efficiently evacuate people and their animals.</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1081 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2022 Mrs. Torres of California (for herself, Mr. Aguilar , Mr. Takano , Ms. Matsui , Mr. Costa , Mr. Panetta , Mr. Vargas , Mr. McNerney , Mr. Huffman , Ms. Chu , Ms. Jacobs of California , Mr. Levin of California , Ms. Bass , Ms. Eshoo , Mr. Swalwell , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Correa , Mrs. Napolitano , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Harder of California , Ms. Sánchez , Mr. Lieu , Mr. Carbajal , Ms. Lofgren , and Mr. Schiff ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources RESOLUTION Expressing support for the recognition of May 1 through May 7, 2022, as Wildfire Preparedness Week, the national event educating the public on fire safety and preparedness, and supporting the goals of a Wildfire Preparedness Week.

Whereas Wildfire Preparedness Week increases awareness of the threat of wildfires and knowledge of lifesaving tactics; Whereas Wildfire Preparedness Week, like other designated weeks or days for natural disasters, promotes educational initiatives, encourages community programming, and increases overall knowledge and preparedness; Whereas Wildfire Preparedness Week aligns with the State of California and President Biden’s suppression efforts through resource management and bolsters the economy by creating a more permanent firefighting workforce; Whereas firefighters are on the frontlines and are at an increased risk of developing cancer and respiratory diseases because they are exposed to smoke and hazardous chemicals in the line of duty; Whereas, in 2021, there were 58,985 wildfires that burned 7,125,643 acres, with 8,835 wildfires and over 2,600,000 acres burned in California, over 674,222 acres burned in Washington, and 828,777 acres burned in Oregon; Whereas nearly 85 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans; Whereas, since January 2, 2022, 20,006 wildfires have burned 834,238 acres in the United States; Whereas the wildfire season in California increases every year in length and frequency of fires; and Whereas preventative measures exist to help individuals and communities increase their fire resilience through— (1) evacuation planning and assistance for people and their animals; (2) vegetation and forest management; and (3) limited use of combustibles during high heat or drier seasons, including fireworks, exhaust, and open flames: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the goals of Wildfire Preparedness Week; (2) supports resources and educational initiatives that communicate how affected communities can take preventative measures such as instituting early warning systems and reducing unplanned human ignitions, as well as how to safely and efficiently evacuating people and their animals; and (3) encourages increased awareness of and preparedness for the threat of wildfires and subsequent suppression efforts.