[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5782 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5782
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 17, 2025
Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on
Agriculture, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and
Science, Space, and Technology, 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 improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western Wildfire
Support Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--PREPARATION
Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency.
Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training.
Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.
Sec. 104. Study on integrating local firefighters into wildfire
response.
TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.
Sec. 202. Slip-on tank units.
Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire
applications.
Sec. 204. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
Sec. 205. Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies.
TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.
Sec. 302. Post-fire management and recovery.
Sec. 303. Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account.
Sec. 304. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Congressional committees.--The term ``congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
(A) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1702));
(B) units of the National Park System;
(C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
(D) land held in trust by the United States for the
benefit of Indian Tribes or members of an Indian Tribe;
and
(E) land in the National Forest System.
(3) Fireshed.--The term ``fireshed'' means a geographically
delineated forest landscape, within which a fire ignition would
threaten homes, communities, or critical infrastructure.
(4) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974
(16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(5) Resource management plan.--The term ``resource
management plan'' has the meaning given the term in section 101
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6511).
(6) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture.
(7) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of
Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
the Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of
Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Agriculture.
TITLE I--PREPARATION
SEC. 101. FIREFIGHTING ACCOUNT TRANSPARENCY.
(a) Annual Reporting.--Section 104(a) of division O of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(a)), is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``the fiscal year'' and all that follows through ``this
division,'' and inserting ``each fiscal year,''; and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``report with respect to
the additional new budget authority;'' and inserting ``report
on the amounts obligated and the amounts expended from Wildland
Fire Management accounts, including any amounts obligated or
expended using additional new budget authority under section
251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(F)), in the preceding
fiscal year;''.
(b) Inclusions.--Section 104(b) of division O of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(b)), is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``a statistically significant sample of large
fires, including an analysis for each fire'' and inserting
``each catastrophic wildfire described in subsection (c),
including an analysis for each such catastrophic wildfire'';
and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``by fire size'' and all
that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting the
following: ``by--
``(A) the total ground-based operations costs;
``(B) the total aircraft operations costs;
``(C) the total personnel costs;
``(D) the total on-incident and off-incident
support costs;
``(E) the total funding allocated from the Wildland
Fire Management account of the Secretary of the
Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as
applicable) to pay for administrative costs; and
``(F) any other relevant factors, as determined by
the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of
Agriculture (as applicable);''.
(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--Section 104 of division O of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2), is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--A catastrophic wildfire
referred to in subsection (b)(3) is a wildfire incident or wildfire
complex that--
``(1) requires the mobilization or use of Federal
firefighting resources;
``(2)(A) burns at least 100,000 acres of land; or
``(B) burns at least 50,000 acres of land, with a 50
percent or greater portion at high severity; and
``(3)(A) results in total suppression costs of $50,000,000
or more;
``(B) destroys 1 or more primary residences; or
``(C) directly results in the death of 1 or more
individuals.''.
SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRES CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING.
(a) Mutual Aid.--In accordance with section 2 of the Act of May 27,
1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the ``Reciprocal Fire
Protection Act''), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into
reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in furnishing
fire suppression services.
(b) Reimbursements.--Each reciprocal agreement entered into under
subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency
that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided
by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training
or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense in
support of military operations.
(c) Limitation.--Services reimbursable under subsection (b) shall
be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for which
reimbursement is sought.
(d) Application.--Each application from a State agency for
reimbursement for services under subsection (b) shall provide an
itemized request of the services covered by the application, including
the costs of the services.
(e) Funds.--Reimbursements under subsection (b) shall be made from
amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for
operation and maintenance.
(f) Existing Agreements.--An agreement in effect as of the date of
enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered into
under subsection (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the requirements
of such an agreement under this section.
SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING.
(a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary
concerned shall review existing spatial fire management policies for
each fireshed on Federal land and issue, as appropriate, new or revised
policies that incorporate the best available science and planning
tools.
(b) Requirements.--Spatial fire management policies issued under
subsection (a) shall--
(1) be routinely reviewed and updated--
(A) to include forest management activities or
changes in accessibility;
(B) not later than 1 year after the date on which a
wildfire incident has occurred within the applicable
fireshed; and
(C) not less frequently than once every 10 years;
(2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first
responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and high-
value resources;
(3) be consistent with any resource management plan
developed for the applicable fireshed;
(4) in coordination with any State that includes that
fireshed, delineate potential wildland fire operational
delineations that--
(A) identify potential wildfire control locations;
and
(B) specify the places in which risk to wildfire
responders may be elevated as a result of--
(i) exceeding a certain slope for the
landscape;
(ii) containing an excess of hazardous
fuels such that a threat would be posed under
severe fire weather conditions; or
(iii) containing other known hazards;
(5) include a description of the weather conditions for the
fireshed that would comprise severe fire weather conditions;
and
(6) include other prefire planning provisions relevant to
wildfire response, at the discretion of the Secretary
concerned.
(c) Wildfire Consideration During Land Management Planning.--To the
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall include, on a
team carrying out any development or revision of a resource management
plan for Federal land containing 1 more firesheds, an employee that was
involved in the development of the spatial fire management policies for
that fireshed.
SEC. 104. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTEGRATING LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS INTO
WILDFIRE RESPONSE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the
Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in coordination with
the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall--
(1) conduct a study on the gaps in training for structural
firefighters in high wildfire risk areas; and
(2) submit to the congressional committees a report
describing the results of the study conducted under paragraph
(1).
(b) Inclusions.--The report submitted under subsection (a)(2) shall
include--
(1) a summary of existing coordination practices between
Federal wildland firefighters and State, local, or Tribal
firefighters;
(2) an analysis of the differences in best response
practices for State, local, or Tribal firefighters when
responding to a fire incident that threatens a single structure
as compared to a wildfire that threatens a community;
(3) existing training modules, or gaps in existing training
modules, available through the National Fire Academy to train
State, local, or Tribal firefighters on best response practices
for a wildfire that threatens a community; and
(4) an estimated cost and spending plan to address any gaps
in existing training modules described in paragraph (3).
TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
SEC. 201. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.
To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall--
(1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment,
such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in
areas at risk of wildfire;
(2) expand the use of satellite data to improve wildfire
detection and response;
(3) expedite any permitting required by the Secretary
concerned for the installation, maintenance, or removal of
wildfire detection equipment;
(4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess wildland fires
in their incipient stages to determine the appropriate initial
response actions;
(5) review permitting described in paragraph (3) and
procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment
within the context of modern and innovative technology; and
(6) annually provide a forum for companies engaging in the
development and testing of emergent wildland fire technology to
engage with wildland fire managers.
SEC. 202. SLIP-ON TANKER UNITS.
(a) Financial Assistance for Acquisition of Firefighting Slip-On
Tanker Units.--Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``and Indian
Tribes'' after ``local governments''.
(b) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives an annual report on the implementation of
section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), including a description of--
(A) the total number of slip-on tanker units
purchased with financial assistance provided by the
Secretary of the Interior under that section in the
preceding year, by State;
(B) the number of requests received by the
Secretary of the Interior for financial assistance
under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in
the preceding year; and
(C) any barriers identified by the Secretary of the
Interior to the ability of local governments and Indian
Tribes to participate in the pilot program established
under that section.
(2) Timing.--
(A) Initial report.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall submit the first report required under paragraph
(1) not later than October 1, 2026.
(B) Sunset.--The requirements of this subsection
shall expire on October 1, 2028.
(c) Integration Into Wildfire Response.--The Secretaries, in
coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on tanker
units provided under section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), shall--
(1) in coordination with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire
Administration, promulgate guidance for the mobilization of
slip-on tanker units for wildfire response;
(2) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker
units into resource tracking systems; and
(3) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire
Administration regarding any necessary training for operators
of slip-on tanker units.
SEC. 203. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM FIRE
APPLICATIONS.
(a) Definition of Unmanned Aircraft System.--In this section, the
term ``unmanned aircraft system'' means an unmanned aircraft and
associated elements (including, if applicable, communication links and
the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required
for the operator to operate safely and efficiently.
(b) Research.--The Secretaries shall, acting through the Joint Fire
Science Program, work with universities and other research institutions
to carry out research and development on the wildfire response
applications of unmanned aircraft systems.
(c) Testing.--The Secretaries may coordinate with the Administrator
of the Federal Aviation Administration to test an unmanned aircraft
system developed under this section at an unmanned aircraft test range
in accordance with section 44803 of title 49, United States Code.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretaries such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.
SEC. 204. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) Drone.--The term ``drone'' means an unmanned aircraft
system owned by a private individual or entity.
(3) Drone incursion.--The term ``drone incursion'' means
the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the
Administrator has issued a temporary flight restriction because
of a wildfire.
(b) Study Required.--The Administrator, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study on the
effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to
land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of
Agriculture.
(c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required under
subsection (b), the Administrator shall--
(1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar
years--
(A) the number of occurrences in which a drone
incursion interfered with wildfire suppression; and
(B) the estimated effect of each occurrence
described in subparagraph (A) on--
(i) the length of time required to achieve
complete suppression;
(ii) any associated delay in the fielding
of aerial firefighting response units; and
(iii) the amounts expended by the Federal
Government; and
(2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various
actions to prevent drone incursions, including--
(A) the use of counter-drone radio towers;
(B) the use of reasonable force to disable, damage,
or destroy a drone;
(C) the seizure of a drone, including seizure with
a net device; and
(D) the dissemination of educational materials
relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire
suppression.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the congressional
committees, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives a report describing--
(1) the findings of the study required under subsection
(b); and
(2) any recommendations relating to those findings.
SEC. 205. STUDY ON MODERNIZING WILDFIRE RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretaries shall conduct a study on--
(1) necessary improvements to radio communications systems
and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed fire
operations, including--
(A) an assessment of the quality and reliability of
existing radio infrastructure;
(B) for any instance in which existing radio
communications infrastructure has failed, an assessment
of the impacts on forest management or wildfire
response activities;
(C) a comparison of existing options to improve on-
the-ground communications; and
(D) a cost analysis and estimated timeline to
install the most feasible option identified under
subparagraph (C);
(2) real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools
for operational firefighters, including--
(A) standards and requirements for such tools to
ensure interoperability between Federal firefighting
entities and applicable State, local, Tribal, or other
partners;
(B) any requirements for additional remote sensing
and mapping capabilities to fully leverage such
situational awareness tools; and
(C) a cost comparison between commercially
available systems and internally developed systems; and
(3) wildland fire predictive modeling, including--
(A) an analysis of the data required to reduce
predictive error for existing or developing models;
(B) an analysis of computing needs to more swiftly
or accurately model wildland fire using existing or
developing models;
(C) the feasibility of using artificial
intelligence for wildland fire modeling; and
(D) existing or developing wildland fire predictive
models that could assist with establishing safe
conditions for igniting a prescribed fire.
(b) Submission and Public Availability.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit
to the congressional committees and make publicly available the results
of the study conducted under subsection (a).
TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) post-disaster assistance.''.
(b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative
agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a
State agency designated or established under subsection (c) to
establish, update, or operate a website to provide information
relating to post-disaster recovery funding and resources to a
community or an individual impacted by a major disaster or
emergency.
``(2) Management.--A website established, updated, or
operated under this subsection shall be--
``(A) managed by the State agency; and
``(B) suitable for the residents of the State of
the State agency.
``(3) Content.--The Administrator may provide funding to a
State agency under this subsection to establish, update, or
operate a website that provides only 1 or more of the
following:
``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local sources
of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that
may be available to a community after a disaster or
emergency.
``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local sources
of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that
may be available to an individual impacted by a major
disaster or emergency.
``(C) A technical guide that lists and explains the
costs and benefits of alternatives available to a
community to mitigate the impacts of a major disaster
or emergency and prepare for sequential hazards, such
as flooding after a wildfire.
``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that receives funding or
technical assistance to establish, update, or operate a website
under this subsection shall cooperate with the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency in establishing, updating, or
operating the website under this subsection.
``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to
establish, update, or operate a website under this subsection
shall update the website not less frequently than once every
180 days.''.
SEC. 302. POST-FIRE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall establish 1 or
more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in
this section as a ``BAER Team'') to coordinate immediate post-wildfire
emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts.
(b) Requirements.--A BAER Team shall--
(1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to
determine burn severity;
(2) identify and remove, as necessary, dead or dying trees
that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals, communities,
or critical infrastructure;
(3) stabilize or remove hazardous materials resulting from
a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals,
communities, or the environment;
(4) conduct emergency landscape stabilization and erosion
prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure public
safety;
(5) prevent the proliferation and spread of invasive
species;
(6) assist with informing the public of hazards resulting
from a wildfire;
(7) collaborate, as necessary, with activities under
section 303; and
(8) conduct such other work as the Secretary concerned
determines to be necessary.
(c) Duration.--To the maximum extent practicable, a BAER Team shall
coordinate and respond to immediate post-wildfire emergency
stabilization and erosion planning needs for a period of not more than
1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire.
(d) Funding.--The Secretary concerned may use to carry out this
section funds made available by section 40803(c)(16) of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(16)).
SEC. 303. LONG-TERM BURNED AREA REHABILITATION ACCOUNT.
(a) Establishment of Account.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account
for the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter for
the account established by subsection (a) such sums as are necessary to
carry out the activities described in subsection (d), not to exceed
$100,000,000.
(c) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2026 and each
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit
through the budget request of the President and in accordance with
subsection (b), a request for amounts in the National Forest System
appropriation account to carry out the activities described in
subsection (d).
(d) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use
amounts in the account established by subsection (a) for rehabilitation
projects located at sites impacted by a wildfire or post-wildfire
flooding primarily on Federal land, but may include areas on non-
Federal land, that--
(1) restore the functions of an ecosystem, including--
(A) identifying areas where natural regeneration is
unlikely to occur;
(B) revegetation and reforestation, including
coordinating any necessary site preparation, salvage
harvesting, and replanting;
(C) watershed restoration;
(D) invasive species mitigation and removal; and
(E) wildlife habitat restoration; or
(2) repair or replace infrastructure or facilities critical
for land management activities.
(e) Duration of Activities.--A rehabilitation project under
subsection (d) shall--
(1) begin not earlier than the date on which the wildfire
was contained; and
(2) be completed not later than 5 years after the date on
which the wildfire was contained.
(f) Agreement Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may enter to
agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out activities
described in subsection (d).
(2) Cost share.--The non-Federal share of the costs of
implementing activities under an agreement entered into under
paragraph (1)--
(A) shall be not more than 20 percent; and
(B) may include in-kind contributions.
(3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection--
(A) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to enter
into agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out
activities described in subsection (d); or
(B) limits the effect of the prioritization
requirements under subsection (g).
(g) Prioritization of Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which funding requests
are submitted under this section based on downstream effects on water
resources.
(h) Reporting.--Beginning in fiscal year 2027, and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall annually submit to
Congress a report on the burned area recovery work performed using--
(1) amounts from the account established by subsection (a);
(2) amounts made available under the Act of June 9, 1930
(16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.); and
(3) amounts from the Reforestation Trust Fund established
by section 303(a) of Public Law 96-451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a(a)).
SEC. 304. PRIZE FOR WILDFIRE-RELATED INVASIVE SPECIES REDUCTION.
Section 7001(d) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b note; Public Law 116-9)
is amended--
(1) by striking ``paragraph (8)(A)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``paragraph (9)(A)'';
(2) by striking ``paragraph (8)(B)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``paragraph (9)(B)'';
(3) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
``(8) Theodore roosevelt genius prize for management of
wildfire-related invasive species.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Board.--The term `Board' means the
Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species
Technology Advisory Board established by
subparagraph (C)(i).
``(ii) Prize competition.--The term `prize
competition' means the Theodore Roosevelt
Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-
related invasive species established under
subparagraph (B).
``(B) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Western Wildfire Support Act
of 2025, the Secretary shall establish under section 24
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize competition, to be known
as the `Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the
management of wildfire-related invasive species'--
``(i) to encourage technological innovation
with the potential to advance the mission of
the National Invasive Species Council with
respect to the management of wildfire-related
invasive species; and
``(ii) to award 1 or more prizes annually
for a technological advancement that manages
wildfire-related invasive species.
``(C) Advisory board.--
``(i) Establishment.--There is established
an advisory board, to be known as the
`Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive
Species Technology Advisory Board'.
``(ii) Composition.--The Board shall be
composed of not fewer than 9 members appointed
by the Secretary, who shall provide expertise
in--
``(I) invasive species;
``(II) biology;
``(III) technology development;
``(IV) engineering;
``(V) economics;
``(VI) business development and
management;
``(VII) wildfire; and
``(VIII) any other discipline, as
the Secretary determines to be
necessary to achieve the purposes of
this paragraph.
``(iii) Duties.--Subject to clause (iv),
with respect to the prize competition, the
Board shall--
``(I) select a topic;
``(II) issue a problem statement;
``(III) advise the Secretary
regarding any opportunity for
technological innovation to manage
wildfire-related invasive species; and
``(IV) advise winners of the prize
competition regarding opportunities to
pilot and implement winning
technologies in relevant fields,
including in partnership with
conservation organizations, Federal or
State agencies, federally recognized
Indian Tribes, private entities, and
research institutions with expertise or
interest relating to the management of
wildfire-related invasive species.
``(iv) Consultation.--In selecting a topic
and issuing a problem statement for the prize
competition, the Board shall consult widely
with Federal and non-Federal stakeholders,
including--
``(I) 1 or more Federal agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of invasive species;
``(II) 1 or more Federal agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of wildfire;
``(III) 1 or more State agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of invasive species;
``(IV) 1 or more State agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of wildfire;
``(V) 1 or more State, regional, or
local wildlife organizations, the
mission of which relates to the
management of invasive species; and
``(VI) 1 or more wildlife
conservation groups, technology
companies, research institutions,
institutions of higher education,
industry associations, or individual
stakeholders with an interest in the
management of wildfire-related invasive
species.
``(v) Requirements.--The Board shall comply
with all requirements under paragraph (9)(A).
``(D) Administration by the national invasive
species council.--The Secretary, acting through the
Executive Director of the National Invasive Species
Council, shall administer the prize competition and
perform the duties described in paragraph (9)(B)(i).
``(E) Judges.--
``(i) Appointment.--The Secretary shall
appoint not fewer than 3 judges who shall,
except as provided in clause (ii), select the 1
or more annual winners of the prize
competition.
``(ii) Determination by secretary.--The
judges appointed under clause (i) shall not
select any annual winner of the prize
competition if the Secretary makes a
determination that, in any fiscal year, none of
the technological advancements entered into the
prize competition merits an award.
``(F) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days
after the date on which a cash prize is awarded under
this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report on the prize competition that
includes--
``(i) a statement by the Board that
describes the activities carried out by the
Board relating to the duties described in
subparagraph (C)(iii);
``(ii) a description of the 1 or more
annual winners of the prize competition; and
``(iii) a statement by 1 or more of the
judges appointed under subparagraph (E) that
explains the basis on which the 1 or more
winners of the prize competition was selected.
``(G) Termination of authority.--The Board and all
authority provided under this paragraph shall terminate
on December 31, 2028.''; and
(5) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``or (7)(C)(i)'' and inserting
``(7)(C)(i), or (8)(C)(i)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ``and the
amount of the initial cash prize awarded for a
year under paragraph (8)'' after ``subparagraph
(B)(i)(IX)''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Additional wildfire cash prizes.--
If the Secretary determines that funds are
available for an additional cash prize under
the prize competition under paragraph (8) for a
year, the Secretary shall determine the amount
of the additional cash prize.''.
<all>