[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4852 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4852
To increase the preparation of structural firefighters to assist in
wildfire and wildland-urban interface fire response efforts and the
coordination of firefighting teams across all levels of government, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Harder of California (for himself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and
in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and
Infrastructure, Armed Services, and Education and Workforce, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase the preparation of structural firefighters to assist in
wildfire and wildland-urban interface fire response efforts and the
coordination of firefighting teams across all levels of government, 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 ``Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. TRAINING PLAN AND GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE UNITED STATES FOREST
SERVICE.
(a) Establishment of National Training Plan.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, in
consultation with the entities described in subsection (b), shall
publish a plan to train structural firefighters in the United States,
including such firefighters employed by the Federal Government, to
respond safely and effectively to incidents of the following:
(1) Wildfire.
(2) Fire in the wildland-urban interface.
(b) Entities Described.--The entities described in this subsection
are the following:
(1) The Secretary of the Interior.
(2) The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Fire
Coordination (as established under section 3(a)).
(3) The Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire
Prevention and Control of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
(c) Guidelines.--The plan published under subsection (a) shall
include guidelines for a training curriculum that incorporates the
following:
(1) Such training materials as may be developed by the
Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and
Control pursuant to section 7 of the Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206).
(2) The material for courses S-130 and S-190 (or any
substantially similar successor course) developed by the
National Wildlife Coordinating Group.
(d) Training Development Grants.--The Secretary of Agriculture,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may make a grant, on a
competitive basis, to an eligible entity to carry out a training
program for structural firefighters with a curriculum that--
(1) adheres to the plan published under subsection (a); and
(2) satisfies the guidelines referred to in subsection (c).
(e) Eligibility.--An entity is an eligible entity and eligible to
apply for a grant described in subsection (d) if the entity is a
nonprofit organization that provides training or development programs
for structural firefighters with demonstrated experience with respect
to each of the following:
(1) Developing curricula for classroom and practical
training of structural firefighters.
(2) Delivering teaching or training programs, both in-
person and online, to structural firefighters on topics related
to fireground safety and wildfire operations.
(3) Collaboration with national nonprofit organizations to
support research on firefighting safety and the health and
wellness of firefighters.
(f) Applications.--An eligible entity may apply to the Secretary of
Agriculture, in a form and manner determined by the Secretary, for a
grant under this section if the application includes a certification
that the training program referred to in subsection (d) is to be
carried out in consultation with each of the following:
(1) Firefighting personnel of State and local fire service
agencies, including such personnel with supervisory
responsibilities or heads of such agencies.
(2) Volunteer firefighters.
(3) State and local officials who maintain and enforce
building codes.
(4) Researchers with experience investigating firefighting
injuries and fatalities.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026
through 2031.
(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary of Agriculture,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may obligate
and expend, for each fiscal year specified in paragraph (1),
not more than 2.5 percent of the amount authorized to be
appropriated under such paragraph for technical assistance.
(3) Carryover.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section shall remain available until expended.
SEC. 3. COORDINATION OF WILDFIRE AND WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE
OPERATIONS.
(a) Under Secretary of Agriculture for Fire Coordination.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Department
of Agriculture a position known as the Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Fire Coordination (referred to in this section
as the ``Under Secretary''), who shall be appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(2) Duties.--
(A) Fire preparedness and response.--The Under
Secretary shall serve as the principal adviser to the
Secretary of Agriculture for any matter that relates to
the coordination of Federal, State, and local
governments in preparing for, and responding to,
incidents of the following:
(i) Wildfire.
(ii) Fires occurring in the wildland-urban
interface.
(B) Integration and effectiveness of firefighting
efforts.--The Under Secretary shall coordinate with the
Chief of the Forest Service with respect to the
following:
(i) Improving the effectiveness of
firefighting operations conducted by the
Secretary of Agriculture.
(ii) Advising the Secretary of Agriculture
regarding the coordination described in
subparagraph (A).
(C) Other duties.--The Under Secretary shall
exercise such other functions, and perform such other
duties, as may be required by law or prescribed by the
Secretary of Agriculture.
(b) Wildland Fire Leadership Council; National Wildfire
Coordinating Group.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture and
the Secretary of the Interior shall take such necessary actions
to ensure that a representative of a national labor
organization representing State and local firefighters is a
member of the following:
(A) The Wildland Fire Leadership Council.
(B) The National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
(2) Application.--A representative described in paragraph
(1) may be a member of the Wildland Fire Leadership Council and
the National Wildfire Coordinating Group at the same time if
the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior
determine such is appropriate.
SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon
request from a qualified agency head, the Secretary of Defense may
authorize firefighters in the Department of Defense to conduct
operations, or to assist the qualified agency head in conducting
operations, in response to incidents of wildfire or fire in the
wildland-urban interface.
(b) Reimbursement.--A qualified agency head who makes a request to
the Secretary of Defense under subsection (a) shall reimburse the
Secretary for the costs of the services provided by the Secretary
pursuant to the request, at rates determined, and agreed to, by the
Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the
Interior.
(c) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on any financial and
logistical barriers to conducting the operations, or providing the
assistance, described in subsection (a).
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(A) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives.
(C) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives.
(D) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate.
(E) The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate.
(F) The Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Qualified agency head.--The term ``qualified agency
head'' means any of the following:
(A) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(B) The Secretary of the Interior.
(C) The head of any other relevant agency, as
determined by the Secretary of Defense.
SEC. 5. FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND SAFETY RESEARCH IN THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.
Section 22 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 671) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(i) Program of Firefighter Health and Safety Research.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a research
and development program with respect to accomplish the
following:
``(A) To protect the respiratory health of
firefighters responding to incidents of wildfire or
fires in the wildland-urban interface.
``(B) To identify and measure per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as
`PFAS') and other carcinogens which may be present in
any of the following:
``(i) Areas affected by--
``(I) incidents of wildfire or fire
in the wildland-urban interface; or
``(II) firefighting operations
conducted in response to such
incidents.
``(ii) Protective equipment used by
firefighters responding to such incidents.
``(iii) Any other setting, as determined by
the Director in accordance with paragraph
(2)(B).
``(2) Consultation with stakeholders.--
``(A) In general.--In carrying out this subsection,
the Director shall consult with the following:
``(i) The Administrator of the United
States Fire Administration.
``(ii) The Secretary of Agriculture.
``(iii) Representatives from such nonprofit
organizations or labor unions representing
firefighters and fire officers in the public
sector.
``(B) PFAS exposure investigations.--In identifying
any other setting under paragraph (1)(B)(iii), the
Director shall consult with the following:
``(i) The entities specified in
subparagraph (A).
``(ii) Stakeholders from the industries
that manufacture equipment for, or provide
assistance to, firefighters.
``(iii) Structural firefighters who have
responded to incidents of wildfire or fires in
the wildland-urban interface.
``(iv) The Secretary of the Interior.
``(v) The Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
``(3) Reports to congress.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this subsection and annually
thereafter, the Director shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the following:
``(A) The progress of the Director in carrying out
this subsection.
``(B) Any research findings identified as a result
of the research conducted under this subsection.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this subsection.
``(5) Definition of appropriate congressional committees.--
In this subsection, the term `appropriate congressional
committees' means the following:
``(A) The Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives.
``(B) The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate.''.
SEC. 6. MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
Section 327(d) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165f(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``Administration'' and inserting
``Administrator''; and
(B) by inserting ``, subject to paragraph (4)''
after ``participation''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Criteria for mental health assistance.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall include
the following in the criteria described in paragraph
(1):
``(i) Criteria specifying that a task force
with firefighters or other emergency responders
as members shall include, as members of the
task force, mental health practitioners
qualified to treat, monitor, or assess such
firefighters or other emergency responders for
post-traumatic stress injuries or other mental
or behavioral health conditions attributable to
service in the task force.
``(ii) Criteria for each member of a task
force to be trained in peer mental health
support services and to provide such services
to an emergency responder serving in the task
force.
``(iii) Criteria establishing that the peer
mental health support services referred to in
clause (ii) include the following:
``(I) Identification of warning
signs of post-traumatic stress
injuries.
``(II) Recognition of symptoms of
behavioral health conditions.
``(III) Application of de-
escalation methods.
``(IV) Referral to mental health
practitioners when appropriate.
``(B) Consultation.--The Administrator may consult
with nonprofit organizations to develop the criteria
described in subparagraph (A) and provide grants to
such organizations to provide training to task forces
to comply with such criteria.
``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--From
amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section, the Administrator may obligate and expend not
more than $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026
through 2031 to carry out this paragraph.''.
SEC. 7. SUPPLEMENTAL FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Fire Coordination, in consultation
with the chief executives of each State in which a respective potential
recipient is located, may award grants on a competitive basis directly
to--
(1) fire departments, for the purpose of protecting the
health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel
throughout the United States against fire, fire-related
hazards, and other hazards; and
(2) nonaffiliated EMS organizations (as defined in section
33(a) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974
(15 U.S.C. 2229(a))) to support the provision of emergency
medical services.
(b) Maximum Grant Amounts.--
(1) Population.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of
Agriculture may not award a grant under this section in excess
of amounts as follows:
(A) In the case of a recipient that serves a
jurisdiction of 100,000 people or fewer, the amount of
the grant to such recipient shall not exceed $1,000,000
in any fiscal year.
(B) In the case of a recipient that serves a
jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people but not more
than 500,000 people, the amount of the grant award to
such recipient shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any
fiscal year.
(C) In the case of a recipient that serves a
jurisdiction with more than 500,000 but not more than
1,000,000 people, the amount of the grant awarded to
such recipient shall not exceed $3,000,000 in any
fiscal year.
(D) In the case of a recipient that serves a
jurisdiction with more than 1,000,000 people but not
more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of the grant
awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $6,000,000
for any fiscal year.
(E) In the case of a recipient that serves a
jurisdiction with more than 2,500,000 people, the
amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not
exceed $9,000,000 in any fiscal year.
(2) Aggregate.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided under
subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Agriculture may not
award a grant under this section in a fiscal year in an
amount that exceeds the amount that is one percent of
the available grand funds in such fiscal year.
(B) Exception.--The Secretary of Agriculture may
waive the limitation in subparagraph (A) with respect
to a grant recipient if the Secretary determines that
such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in
an amount that exceeds the limit under the
subparagraph.
(c) Use of Grant Funds.--Each recipient of a grant under this
subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following
purposes:
(1) To obtain personal protective equipment suitable for
responding to incidents of wildfire or fires in the wildland-
urban interface.
(2) To train firefighting personnel in responding to
incidents of wildfire or fires in the wildland-urban interface.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations for Grants.--There is
authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to make
grants under this section.
SEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON OPERATIONS INVOLVING WILDFIRES AND FIRES
IN THE WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Fire
Coordination, in consultation with such nonprofit organizations or
labor organizations representing firefighters as determined appropriate
by the Under Secretary, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that contains information relating to the
following:
(1) The extent to which local fire service providers train
personnel to respond to wildfires and fires in the wildland-
urban interface.
(2) The effectiveness of such training.
(3) Obstacles that prevent the coordination described in
section 3(a)(2)(A), with specific case studies to illustrate
such obstacles.
(b) Definition of Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this
Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the
following:
(1) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives.
(2) The Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives.
(3) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives.
(4) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate.
(5) The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(6) The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate.
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