[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 647 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 647
To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire
research centers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 20, 2025
Mr. Lujan (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Sheehy, and Mr. Padilla)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire
research centers, 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 ``Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire
Research Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(C) any other committee of Congress with the
authority to facilitate the development of wildland
fire research.
(3) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Center
Coordination Board established by section 3(c)(1).
(4) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the
meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(5) Chief.--The term ``Chief'' means the Chief of the
Forest Service.
(6) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Wildland Fire
Leadership Council established by the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary of Agriculture.
(7) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science
agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 103(f) of
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.
6623(f)).
(8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(9) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(10) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term
``land-grant colleges and universities'' has the meaning given
that term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3103).
(11) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution defined in any of
paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(12) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(13) Regional center.--The term ``regional center'' means a
regional wildland fire research center established under
section 3.
(14) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means a time range
between 3 months and 2 years.
(15) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce.
(16) Subseasonal.--The term ``subseasonal'' means a time
range between 2 weeks and 3 months.
(17) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization''
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
(18) Wildland fire.--The term ``wildland fire'' means any
non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels
and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition
or prescribed fire.
(19) Wildland fire management agencies.--The term
``wildland fire management agencies'' means--
(A) the Forest Service;
(B) the Bureau of Land Management;
(C) the National Park Service;
(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
and
(E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(20) Wildland fire research.--The term ``wildland fire
research'' means research to better understand--
(A) the causes and consequences of wildland fires,
including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that
increase the risk of catastrophic events;
(B) the spread and behavior of wildland fires,
including fires in the wildland-urban interface;
(C) the efficacy of mitigation strategies for
wildland fires;
(D) the impact of wildland fires on public health,
safety, and the environment;
(E) the rehabilitation and restoration of affected
ecosystems after wildland fires; and
(F) the development of mitigation strategies and
techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire
managers and firefighters.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH CENTERS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator and the Chief, shall establish a competitive process for
the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research
centers in accordance with subsection (b).
(b) Selection and Establishment of Regional Centers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not fewer than
7 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and
universities at which to establish a regional center to
coordinate the development of wildland fire research.
(2) Criteria for selection.--
(A) In general.--In establishing a regional center
at an institution of higher education or land-grant
college or university under this section, the Secretary
shall prioritize the selection of institutions,
colleges, or universities that meet not fewer than one
of the following criteria:
(i) Have existing programs of record in
wildland fire research.
(ii) Have existing partnerships with
research institutions of the Federal Government
and other academic institutions and entities
relating to wildland fire research.
(iii) Participate in or lead a program
under the Joint Fire Science Program.
(iv) Are a minority-serving institution.
(B) Regions.--The Secretary shall establish not
fewer than one regional center in each of the following
regions of the United States:
(i) Alaska.
(ii) California.
(iii) The Northern Rockies.
(iv) The Pacific Northwest.
(v) The Pacific Islands.
(vi) The Southeast.
(vii) The Southwest.
(3) Purpose.--Each regional center, with respect to the
region covered by the regional center, shall--
(A) to the extent practical, coordinate research
with other wildland fire research entities, such as
other academic institutions, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
Department of Energy, the United States Geological
Survey, and State and regional research organizations;
(B) improve the understanding of wildland fire
through wildland fire research that can be applied by
wildland fire management agencies;
(C) develop technologies and other tools to
understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire,
including--
(i) models to predict fire potential and
the spread and behavior of wildland fire and
smoke;
(ii) models to predict how vegetation will
respond to changes in the environment and
wildland fire;
(iii) the integration of technologies to
predict the spread and behavior of wildland
fire and smoke in as near-real-time as
possible; and
(iv) other innovations to be integrated
into operational decision support systems
relating to wildland fire;
(D) develop technologies and other tools to safely
support land treatments to reduce the severity of
wildland fire;
(E) leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the
impact of smoke on communities and wildland
firefighters;
(F) improve the understanding of post-fire risk to
the landscape, including flash flooding potential and
watershed impacts;
(G) test and operate models to support land
management decision-making, including through--
(i) operating models to support management
of wildland fire and vegetation;
(ii) the demonstration of integration
technologies to support management of wildland
fire in as near-real-time as possible; and
(iii) the incorporation of decision science
and social science that examines the perception
and adoption of information related to wildland
fire risk;
(H) develop a career pathway training program with
respect to carrying out wildland fire research;
(I) develop data management protocols to allow for
full and open exchange of data pursuant to the
principles of findability, accessibility,
interoperability, and reusability (commonly referred to
as the ``FAIR principles'') and archive and access that
data; and
(J) make its work and data fully and openly
available.
(c) National Center Coordination Board.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established a coordination
board, to be known as the ``National Center Coordination
Board''.
(2) Composition.--
(A) Members.--
(i) In general.--The Board shall be
composed of one member representing each
regional center.
(ii) Appointment.--Each member under clause
(i) shall be selected by the relevant regional
center.
(B) Chair.--The Administrator and the Chief shall
serve as the Co-Chairs of the Board.
(3) Duties.--The Board shall--
(A) establish wildland fire science, data
management, and sharing protocols, and technological
research priorities in cooperation with each regional
center and informed by the operational needs of
wildland fire management agencies;
(B) coordinate data collection efforts supporting
the efforts of each regional center, including--
(i) building data layers across each region
described in subsection (b)(2)(B); and
(ii) providing updates on the development
of wildland fire research models;
(C) ensure the coordination of, and avoid
unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the
regional centers and the activities of institutions of
higher education, land-grant colleges and universities,
Federal science agencies, and State research
organizations with respect to wildland fire research,
including--
(i) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(ii) the National Laboratories;
(iii) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(v) the United States Fire Administration;
(vi) the United States Geological Survey;
and
(vii) any other relevant entity with
specialized expertise in wildland fire
research; and
(D) support end-to-end applications that assist
wildland fire management agencies in adopting
technologies and incorporating research findings
produced by the regional centers.
(4) Meetings.--
(A) Board meetings.--The Board shall meet
quarterly.
(B) Public meetings.--
(i) In general.--The Board shall hold
public meetings with affected stakeholders to
solicit information from the general public
regarding the development and implications of
wildland fire research.
(ii) Frequency.--Not less frequently than
annually, the Board shall hold at least one
public meeting in each State covered by a
region described in subsection (b)(2)(B).
(5) Term.--A member of the Board shall be appointed for a
term of 4 years, except that of the members first appointed,
the Secretary shall ensure that approximately--
(A) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 4
years;
(B) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 3
years; and
(C) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 2
years.
(6) Vacancies.--
(A) In general.--A vacancy on the Board--
(i) shall not affect the powers of the
Board; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment was made by not later
than 180 days after the date on which the
vacancy occurs.
(B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen
to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired
term of the member replaced.
(7) Recommendations.--Not less frequently than annually,
the Board shall submit to the Secretary and the Council
recommendations to improve wildland fire research to be
included in the report described in subsection (e).
(d) Advisory Boards.--
(1) In general.--There is established an advisory board at
each regional center, to be known as the ``Regional Advisory
Board''.
(2) Composition.--
(A) In general.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall
consist of members from, or with responsibility
covering, the region covered by the relevant regional
center, including at minimum--
(i) one regional representative from each
wildland fire management agency, appointed by
that agency;
(ii) one representative from the Council,
appointed by the Council;
(iii) one representative from a State
government agency from each State located in
that region, appointed by the Governor of that
State;
(iv) one representative from an Indian
Tribe or Tribal organization from that region,
elected under subparagraph (B)(i)(II); and
(v) additional representatives elected
under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II).
(B) Elected membership.--
(i) Tribal membership.--
(I) Subcommittee.--Each Regional
Advisory Board shall solicit and
approve, on at least an annual basis,
nominations for individuals from
organizations specified in subparagraph
(A)(iv) to serve as a representative on
a subcommittee to the Regional Advisory
Board for the purposes of subclause
(II).
(II) Election.--The subcommittee
described in subclause (I) for a
Regional Advisory Board shall elect, on
an annual basis, one member of the
subcommittee to serve as a member of
the Regional Advisory Board under
subparagraph (A)(iv) for an annual
term.
(ii) Additional members.--
(I) Subcommittee.--Each Regional
Advisory Board shall solicit and
approve, on at least an annual basis,
nominations for individuals with
operational expertise in wildland fire
mitigation and management to serve as a
representative on a subcommittee to the
Regional Advisory Board for the
purposes of subclause (II), including
representatives from, as applicable--
(aa) institutions of higher
education or land-grant
colleges and universities;
(bb) nongovernmental
organizations;
(cc) private industry;
(dd) the wildland
firefighter community,
including organizations that
represent the interests of
wildland firefighters; and
(ee) Southwest Ecological
Restoration Institutes
established under section 5(a)
of the Southwest Forest Health
and Wildfire Prevention Act of
2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704(a)).
(II) Election.--The subcommittee
described in subclause (I) for a
Regional Advisory Board may elect a
member or members of the subcommittee
to serve as a member of the Regional
Advisory Board under subparagraph
(A)(v) for an annual term.
(3) Compensation.--Each member of a Regional Advisory Board
shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
(4) Duties.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall--
(A) ensure and support the coordination of wildland
fire research between the relevant regional center and
Federal and State land management agencies in that
region;
(B) communicate the operational needs of Federal
and State land management agencies and wildland fire
management agencies in that region to the relevant
regional center and to the Board;
(C) advise, in coordination with the relevant
regional center, on research goals and objectives; and
(D) assist the relevant regional center with the
dissemination of research outputs and data to Federal
and State land management agencies and wildland fire
management agencies in that region.
(5) Meetings.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet
quarterly in conjunction with the Board meeting under
subsection (c)(4)(A).
(6) Term.--Unless specified otherwise, a member of a
Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.
(7) Vacancies.--
(A) In general.--A vacancy on a Regional Advisory
Board--
(i) shall not affect the powers of the
Regional Advisory Board; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment was made by not later
than 180 days after the date on which the
vacancy occurs.
(B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen
to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired
term of the member replaced.
(e) Report on Wildland Fire Research.--Not later than each of 2
years and 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary and the Council, in consultation with the Board, shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing--
(1) the progress each regional center has made in the
development of wildland fire research; and
(2) recommendations to improve wildland fire research.
(f) Consultation.--In carrying out the requirements of this
section, the Secretary shall consult with--
(1) Federal science agencies;
(2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
(3) the Council.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Regional centers.--For establishing and
administering the regional centers established under
subsection (a), there is authorized to be
appropriated--
(i) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(ii) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(iii) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(iv) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
(v) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.
(B) Board.--For the Board established under
subsection (c), there is authorized to be appropriated
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
(2) Eligible use of funds.--A regional center may use
amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of
appropriations under paragraph (1)(A) for construction or the
acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out the
requirements of this Act.
(3) Flexibility.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Secretary shall adjust appropriations under paragraph
(1) between the regional centers established under
subsection (a) as needed to account for differences in
administrative costs and research challenges specific
to a particular region.
(B) Notice.--Before adjusting appropriations under
subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Administrator
shall--
(i) include that adjustment in the budget
justification materials submitted by the
Administrator and the Chief in support of the
budget of the President (as submitted to
Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United
States Code) for that fiscal year; and
(ii) provide notice of that adjustment to
the appropriate committees of Congress.
(4) Transfer of funds.--A Federal science agency may
transfer, as necessary, additional appropriated amounts to a
regional center for the purpose of carrying out wildland fire
research described in subsection (b)(3)(B).
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