Agriculture Committee, Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This legislation, titled the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act , establishes a new grant program to enhance community safety and resilience against wildfires. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Forest Service, the program provides funding to eligible entities, including States, Indian Tribes, and local governments, to either develop or implement comprehensive community protection and wildfire resilience plans. Priority for these grants will be given to communities located in areas with a high risk for fire or wildfire, as identified by State or Federal hazard maps. The grant program offers two main types of funding: up to $10,000,000 for carrying out projects detailed in an existing resilience plan, and up to $250,000 for developing a new plan. Projects funded can include improving early detection technology, public education, evacuation planning, hardening critical infrastructure, and establishing defensible spaces. While implementation grants generally require a 25% non-Federal cost-share, this can be waived or reduced, and plan development grants have no cost-share requirement. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $1,000,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to support these initiatives. Beyond the grant program, the Act includes several other key provisions. It mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on existing Federal wildfire protection programs and their implementation challenges, as well as a GAO study on wildfire survivability certifications and methods to incentivize insurance companies to accept them. The bill also updates the definition of an "at-risk community" and requires FEMA to regularly publish a map of these communities. Furthermore, it directs a report on radio communication interoperability for wildfire management and amends the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program to explicitly allow funding for structure hardening projects.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
This legislation, titled the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act , establishes a new grant program to enhance community safety and resilience against wildfires. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Forest Service, the program provides funding to eligible entities, including States, Indian Tribes, and local governments, to either develop or implement comprehensive community protection and wildfire resilience plans. Priority for these grants will be given to communities located in areas with a high risk for fire or wildfire, as identified by State or Federal hazard maps. The grant program offers two main types of funding: up to $10,000,000 for carrying out projects detailed in an existing resilience plan, and up to $250,000 for developing a new plan. Projects funded can include improving early detection technology, public education, evacuation planning, hardening critical infrastructure, and establishing defensible spaces. While implementation grants generally require a 25% non-Federal cost-share, this can be waived or reduced, and plan development grants have no cost-share requirement. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $1,000,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to support these initiatives. Beyond the grant program, the Act includes several other key provisions. It mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on existing Federal wildfire protection programs and their implementation challenges, as well as a GAO study on wildfire survivability certifications and methods to incentivize insurance companies to accept them. The bill also updates the definition of an "at-risk community" and requires FEMA to regularly publish a map of these communities. Furthermore, it directs a report on radio communication interoperability for wildfire management and amends the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program to explicitly allow funding for structure hardening projects.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.