119 HR 1923 IH: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
2025-03-06
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025
.2.The table of contents for this Act is the following:Sec. 1. Short title.Sec. 2. Table of Contents.Sec. 3. Definition of Report.Title I—Workforce DevelopmentSec. 101. Middle Fire Leaders Academy (Report Recommendation 55).Sec. 102. Wildfire workforce grant program (Report Recommendation 88).Title II—Wildland Firefighter SupportSec. 201. Fire Service Retention and Retirement Portability (Report Recommendation 86).Sec. 202. Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program (Report Recommendation 87).Title III—Wildfire Smoke and Public HealthSec. 301. National Smoke Monitoring and Alert System (Report Recommendation 44).Sec. 302. Health risk assessment for Wildfire Smoke Exposure (Report Recommendation 100).Title IV—Fire Mitigation and Technology Sec. 401. Improvements to wildfire forage loss programs (Report Recommendation 59).Sec. 402. Improvements to FEMA Programs (Report Recommendations 66 and 64).Sec. 403. The Wildland Dynamic Risk Mapping Program (Report Recommendation 118).Sec. 404. Improvements to grant programs for community wildfire risk reduction and postfire recovery efforts (Report Recommendation 142).Sec. 405. Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center (Report Recommendations 104, 105, 106).Sec. 406. Interagency Data Collaboration Environment (Report Recommendation 107).Sec. 407. Requirements related to payment timing for certain programs addressing wildfire damages (Report Recommendation 61).3.In this Act, the term Report means the Report of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, dated September 2023.<enum>I</enum><header>Workforce Development</header><section id="HF0F3954E1ACD4F368A4FB9576FCAA83D"><enum>101.</enum><header>Middle Fire Leaders Academy (Report Recommendation 55)</header><subsection id="H17859AC9A49048B38A12728212FEA683"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Middle Fire Leaders Academy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than a 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief of the Forest Service, in coordination with National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall create a Middle Fire Leaders Academy which shall be open to Federal and non-Federal wildland fire response workforce employees. The Middle Fire Leaders Academy shall provide—</text><paragraph id="HD98D047AB62E4DA3BD442B25A10F1BB8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>rapid training and certification for emerging wildfire and beneficial fire leaders; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE138757A3A644E49C2276AC6C106592"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">additional and expanded training of sufficient quality to enable managers and decision makers responsible for addressing wildfire incidents and prescribed burns to make informed decisions regarding the beneficial application and management of fire, including managing local fire regimes and other forms of beneficial fire use.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H19933DAA83D74F2BBA1A0CF6462B84DD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.</text></subsection></section><section id="HCA40196EACCB4E67B76F3267863095EB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header>Wildfire workforce grant program (Report Recommendation 88)</header><subsection id="H6AC572727EF5493DA5A69A4D2D1D33C0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out a program described in subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="HDB7F36ADB53548F3A296DC5CE84341C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.</text></subsection><subsection id="H761855FD51BC4B148D52969016A66D3F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall carry out an educational or vocational program that leads to a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential in wildfire emergency management, including—</text><paragraph id="H513A47F22A194608883B801460CF48AD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>agricultural landscape planning relating to wildfire resilience;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF96B5C803F464CEE8011409E997EB0F1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>natural resource management relating to wildfire resilience;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2A8ADAC1EA16490383E1AC46F55BC9BB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>emergency management;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD4F135AA9F8D44608CC7DA0E6FA5154C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>emergency medical technician services;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3C8E7199DDC24F118180DDD6F28DCE2B"><enum>(5)</enum><text>paramedic services;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5BA26ADB0EAD494B8FE78112D5351871"><enum>(6)</enum><text>fire science;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1A7D947D8A942A5BDA028B4F94AB6CC"><enum>(7)</enum><text>firefighting; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8061BF4EBDD7449D958347C60677B2D6"><enum>(8)</enum><text>community planning relating to wildfire resilience;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7D7A61857365463B9079889CCA8C791E"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">short- and long-term post fire recovery safety and operations training for structural firefighters assigned to wildfire incidents; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H146B4FF7939145778B4FC01E0F6378C1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>any other program that trains individuals in the wildfire mitigation, response, or recovery workforce. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2BCA49FFCB5E4583AD1EDA28EC1921DE"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="HD1D767EC8DDC499184E350073A7F81FD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Accredited local academy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>accredited local academy</term> means a partnership, between a local fire suppression organization and the office of the Fire Marshall of a State, that delivers a State Fire Training program. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD5A7ADECAC824D858A3B55F4A52156B0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Accredited regional training program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>accredited regional training program</term> means a partnership, between a junior or community college or institution of higher education and the office of the Fire Marshall of a State, or the State Wildland Firefighting Agency or in combination of Federal Land Management Agencies, that delivers an approved State Fire Training program within a given region.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H99003811F0094C3ABB41D1888B93CCED"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="H31D74A28A33D4A7782A2DDE0919934C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a junior or community college;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC48F2DCEB2434EDCA7475111B23CF8F2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an institution of higher education;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0262E5FF3F2348B7B3DAC79AC0DC4D60"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an accredited regional training program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72D0140C5CD74A98AF5CE597F99E128E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an accredited local academy; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H53BDE66679E148C58337AFAD3E3A14E1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a nonprofit entity with experience administering education and training programs for fire service personnel.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1520783A3CFC4A4F9C4EC58458A797CC"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Institution of higher education</header><text>The term <term>institution of higher education</term> has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1002">20 U.S.C. 1002</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H72C6380F3B494BE5A7B28B684174351D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Junior or community college</header><text>The term <term>junior or community college</term> has the meaning given such term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1058">20 U.S.C. 1058</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H87261E0073C44950BEDD1D019D3386C3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.</text></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Wildland Firefighter Support</header><section id="H3A07ED4E7CEC4606A74286B172B5E8FF"><enum>201.</enum><header>Fire Service Retention and Retirement Portability (Report Recommendation 86)</header><subsection id="H53C90E490FFC46709FB1E0C3863A0D0F" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Continuing accrual of service for firefighters</header><paragraph id="H1506C75C7CF3434CA00040D6E1DF5C72" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Federal employees’ retirement system</header><text>Section 8401(14) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="HEF2EB2CF437F420C83DD5E21F3EC6944" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HE1D1428ACD304763A39B566BCBFE37A7" commented="no"><enum>(14)</enum><text>the term <term>firefighter</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="H8DE533CFFE7E491A86E70AD46C3BD946" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an employee, the duties of whose position—</text><clause id="H5A09213CFDFF43D4A1C187FF7F9664C7" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are primarily to perform work directly connected with the control and extinguishment of nonwildland fires; and</text></clause><clause id="H5C49ED5C298D4A25BF9E9A3727835E46" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are sufficiently rigorous that employment opportunities should be limited to young and physically vigorous individuals, as determined by the Director considering the recommendations of the employing agency;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H104A4A758E2D41029F99C8A40E28D73D" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an employee, the duties of whose position—</text><clause id="H4CD7CC7A03D9464B9F36875E4FB66FF7" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are primarily to perform work directly connected with the control and extinguishment of wildland fires; and</text></clause><clause id="HAAE1BABA27604FF3A300EDCF1520B5AD" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are sufficiently rigorous that employment opportunities should be limited to young and physically vigorous individuals, as determined by the Director considering the recommendations of the employing agency;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF91B075D56354C748F81387D2E56BB8A" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an employee who—</text><clause id="H498E5DB143A5470496C3406834BD5412" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is transferred directly to a supervisory or administrative position after performing duties described in subparagraph (A) for at least 3 years; and</text></clause><clause id="HC820BD7A1AB340E095653B59910E76FD" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>while serving in such supervisory or administrative position, has no break in service; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H759C8228DD3B47AEAA1E2AEDC750C547" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an employee who—</text><clause id="H8A4EC98A79FB497C8F8100E267769D5A" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>occupies a supervisory or administrative position after performing duties described in subparagraph (B) for not less than 3 years; and</text></clause><clause id="HF5EEF2A0FF954978B483DD13D51661B1" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has not more than 24 months in total time of breaks in service;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H2AC41AB76E464B85B42461193A1C17AE" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Service before date of enactment</header><subparagraph id="HE9237AA2314E4522960BF8D180624D5A" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the requirements under subparagraph (B), service performed before the date of enactment of this Act by an individual who, on the date of enactment of this Act, is an employee (as defined in section 8401(11) of title 5, United States Code) shall, for the purposes of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/84">chapter 84</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, be treated as service performed by a firefighter if—</text><clause id="H4CA53667DCFF47C78BF7EF7078F5AE81" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such service was performed during the period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on the day before the date of enactment of this Act;</text></clause><clause id="H4B171DD8AF79486DA357BEB2D5341966" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>at the time of performing such service—</text><subclause id="H817EFFF17A4448E793BF8EEE67199764" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the individual did not meet the requirements to be a firefighter under section 8401(14) of title 5, United States Code, because of a break in service; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H6D060FB231F84158A0A73310555CFECC" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>would have met the requirements to be a firefighter under section 8401(14)(D) of title 5, United States Code, as amended by this Act; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H5BF398EF810443DBBBB2682CE513EF46" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>appropriate deductions and withholdings under sections 8422 and 8423 of title 5, United States Code, were made during such service.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9545374278F7436B9FD406251314E72F" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Credit for service</header><text>To receive credit for eligible service under subparagraph (A), the applicable individual shall—</text><clause id="H9784445BD491472495DC1369128FBDDA" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>before the date on which the individual separates from service in the agency in which the individual holds a position on the date of enactment of this Act, submit a written election to the agency employing the individual;</text></clause><clause id="HF4D55F0F5E5742778E949298D378CCDD" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the individual is not employed by the agency that employed the individual when the service described in subparagraph (A) was performed, submit a written election to such agency; and</text></clause><clause id="H88EF72A15DBB4D308B07D57E72F0AA58" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>remit to the agency that employed the individual when such service was performed the additional amount that would have been deducted during the period of prior service under section 8422 of title 5, United States Code, from the pay of the individual if the amendments made by paragraph (1) had been in effect during the prior service, plus any applicable interest computed under section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H690936AF40134EF88557A8F82C3EBD9A" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Government contributions</header><text>If an individual remits payment under subparagraph (B)(iii) with respect to service described in subparagraph (A), the agency that employed the individual when such service was performed shall remit to the Office of Personnel Management (for deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund) the total additional amount of Federal contributions that would have been paid under section 8423 of title 5, United States Code, if the amendments made by paragraph (1) had been in effect during the prior service, plus any applicable interest computed in accordance with section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H82DBF47B538C49649960C61E1A8670C1" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Notification and assistance requirements</header><text>The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall—</text><clause id="H8F19B4B414C64044882F15F1E25CF59A" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to inform individuals entitled to have any service credited under this subsection, or to have any annuity computed under this subsection, of the entitlement to the credit or computation; and</text></clause><clause id="H5E2E2BD206FE4D4991AD89F86C380F20" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>upon request, assist any individual described in clause (i) in obtaining such information in the possession of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, as may be necessary to verify the entitlement of the individual to have any service credited, or to have any annuity computed, pursuant to this subsection.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B2904763089426D8270B22ABDA370D6" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit or require the making of any contribution to the Thrift Savings Fund that would not otherwise have been permitted or required but for the enactment of this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H63A7590EDB004F35ACD58E62457A1755" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Retention of enhanced retirement benefits during period of non-Federal service</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 104(e)(2) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5323">25 U.S.C. 5323(e)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>Any Federal wildland firefighter (as that term is defined in section 201(d) of the Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025) who retains coverage, rights, and benefits under such chapter 83 or 84 pursuant to this paragraph shall retain enhanced retirement benefits under either such chapter.</quote>. </text></subsection><subsection id="H9A680B982E354A45B37E17015003DC8B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Job-Sharing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Federal wildland firefighter or wildland fire support personnel may occupy a position in the civil service (as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code) and a position with a Tribal government under a job-share agreement even if the position with a Tribal government is classified at a level higher than the civil service position, including any level that is above that of the highest level applicable to the General Schedule. </text></subsection><subsection id="H4CBF61BD6B8246B19119020960B3CF30"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Federal wildland firefighter</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Federal wildland firefighter</term> means a person who is—</text><paragraph id="H57C89157698C4F12B7F64C022AB30A1B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in a temporary, seasonal, or permanent position at the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior or as a Tribal firefighter who;</text><subparagraph id="H37AA99FE871C447D9C3FC89CD3379270"><enum>(A)</enum><text>maintains group, emergency incident management, or fire qualifications, as established annually by the Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H41C0A573C6614575A35F0FE596BBBB1D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>primarily engages in or supports wildland fire management activities, including forestry and rangeland technicians and positions concerning aviation, engineering heavy equipment operations, dispatch, or fire and fuels management; or</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7907E44CFD5A4A67AF6385645DF1BEA5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a Federal firefighter stationed on military installations under the Department of Defense who engages in or supports wildland fire management activities, including forestry and rangeland technicians and positions concerning aviation, engineering heavy equipment operations, dispatch, or fire and fuels management.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H060BE0577D59415AB3218C4779137379"><enum>202.</enum><header>Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program (Report Recommendation 87)</header><subsection id="HBF494218F1304C78B7B50D751BB987E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development of Program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall develop a Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program (referred to in this section as the <quote>Program</quote>) to provide assistance to the next of kin of—</text><paragraph id="H0F8EB35FB55E45E09F38C93A0CD4B141" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">firefighters who, while in the line of duty, suffer illness or are critically injured or killed; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBBC4524950674572B7B9767105CE52FA" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>wildland fire support personnel critically injured or killed in the line of duty.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB8DF5101DE2B4265BC8D9822DBB45504"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Aspects of Program</header><text>The Program shall address the following:</text><paragraph id="H2734B757590A4E2F91AFF20D859E87A4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The initial and any subsequent notifications to the next of kin of a firefighter or wildland fire support personnel who—</text><subparagraph id="H4F8882B3F29F4EA9B83C03473B87BF64"><enum>(A)</enum><text>was killed in the line of duty; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1DBAC601D4504F1DBEA6E8B038745777"><enum>(B)</enum><text>requires hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a line-of-duty injury or illness.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H696947624EC241A4804C198FE92A190C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The reimbursement of next of kin for expenses associated with travel to visit a firefighter or wildland fire support personnel who—</text><subparagraph id="HCC708949B5654BE1A285492A3A0AA1EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>was killed in the line of duty; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H721C76D6A5554AA8B023D530F29A56F7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>requires hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a line-of-duty injury or illness.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7D4F5A844D524CA2B3C6B308AF2A2E3E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The qualifications, assignment, training, duties, supervision, and accountability for the performance of casualty assistance responsibilities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5EF9E35B0DBB4A92BFF5DA853EC5BC33"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The relief or transfer of casualty assistance officers, including notification to survivors of critical injury or illness in the line of duty and next of kin of the reassignment of such officers to other duties.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1F8F418C324F49F3A659E0E290A2943F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Centralized, short-term and long-term case management procedures for casualty assistance, including rapid access by survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel and casualty assistance officers to expert case managers and counselors.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6B91A24C30C64FB0B1B758BFD53E1A38"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The provision, through a computer accessible website and other means and at no cost to survivors and next of kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel, of personalized, integrated information on the benefits and financial assistance available to such survivors from the Federal Government.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC733222AAAD24580AB154B1589A36C2A"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The provision of information to survivors and next of kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel on mechanisms for registering complaints about, or requests for, additional assistance related to casualty assistance.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC9971F23067D406D89C22FF8E90EAC54"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Liaison with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, and the Social Security Administration to ensure prompt and accurate resolution of issues relating to benefits administered by those agencies for survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H71F55EC887E64E48BEF491EFB31B9B3F"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data collection regarding the incidence and quality of casualty assistance provided to survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H04A4803D6CF446B4BAD5AEABF84F65E9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Line of Duty Death benefits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Program shall not affect existing authorities for Line of Duty Death benefits for Federal firefighters and wildland fire support personnel.</text></subsection><subsection id="HAA13D6DE362A437BAB0DFA7D7611385F" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Next of Kin defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>next of kin</term> means person or persons in the highest category of priority as determined by the following list (categories appear in descending order of priority):</text><paragraph id="HE58B4CBBF8084A5C894EF7641A95256A" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Surviving legal spouse.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3BC7015D643248C7BBE301C659AF935E" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Children (whether by current or prior marriage) age 18 years or older in descending precedence by age.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD5833BBF4CB44385B26509BF0C0CF41D" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Father or mother, unless by court order custody has been vested in another (adoptive parent takes precedence over natural parent);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8C6E393CCE7C411C9EC1DDC2229CA970" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Siblings (whole or half) age 18 years or older in descending precedence by age.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H57A1FD4CC2284C7E8FBEF839AF9E2E2E" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Grandfather or grandmother.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H972FADADB39949AE9CACAF5DD5C86607" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Any other relative (precedence to be determined in accordance with the civil law of descent of the deceased former member’s State of domicile at time of death).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF34C036F00554C29A7C95CD4FB53EFF5"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of Appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.</text></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Wildfire Smoke and Public Health</header><section id="HA315CC128D0A4CFE8FD8641760703802"><enum>301.</enum><header>National Smoke Monitoring and Alert System (Report Recommendation 44)</header><subsection id="HE0F570734E87426CB05D960AE0595575" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service, and in conjunction with the Secretary of Agriculture acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall establish a nationally consistent smoke monitoring and alert system to provide consistent, real-time information and forecasts on air quality impacts from wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment. </text></subsection><subsection id="H6646B8A3E1984FCE99C0BB678D5FD460" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increase in smoke sensors</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), to ensure adequate and accessible data, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall increase the availability and use of air monitoring devices for wildfire smoke, including, to distinguish wildfire smoke from other forms of air pollution, increasing the availability and use of—</text><paragraph id="H6F1BF8F0025442B69E86E93B7FBE6BA0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>speciation monitors; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H38EE6669830F49CCB7576FD4987A41B7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>nonregulatory air monitors.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H80FFEE86299940469912D5AE721C11A1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of satellites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall explore the use of satellites. </text></subsection><subsection id="HA380C16EFDAE4C9A89E3522DFB26E0C6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Public county-Resolution smoke alert system for public health and roadways safety</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service and in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall establish a public county-resolution smoke alert system for public health and roadways safety which shall be based on levels of particulate matter. The system established under this subsection shall be in addition to the National Weather Service Dense Smoke Advisories, which are based on visibility. </text></subsection><subsection id="H874CD3F445EB4B33A73EE86E113F9B65" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Collection and dissemination of air quality and smoke alert information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), the Director of the National Weather Service shall collect all air quality forecasts, including through AirNow, public notifications, and alerts for smoke issued by Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial air agencies and disseminate them through weather forecast office networks to enable the Wireless Emergency Alerts System to be extended to support smoke communications to protect public health. </text></subsection><subsection id="H5EBEB037BE6E43C2BDA73922BEDF4067" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Forest Service personnel and smoke monitoring equipment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), 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 coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, shall expand the personnel and smoke monitoring equipment of the Forest Service to increase the capacity of the Forest Service to assess wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment, and carry out prescribed fires. </text></subsection><subsection id="H18B75B700323431E90A8EFD59F9B7FD4" commented="no"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program personnel and smoke monitoring equipment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall expand the personnel (including air resource advisors) of, and smoke monitoring equipment available to, the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program established under section 1114(f) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748b-1">43 U.S.C. 1748b–1(f)</external-xref>). </text></subsection><subsection id="H776021B67F694D579FC96985725E1CEB" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Expansion of emergency response capacity</header><paragraph id="H33AFC81DA1C44839A911EE906DE70C3B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall expand the emergency response capacity, including personnel and equipment, of the Environmental Protection Agency—</text><subparagraph id="H4A11087B032F480B82046DF2EF740371" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to measure air pollution from wildfires that involve combustion of hazardous materials; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H08F244C65327452BA8C0327B87D4B26E" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to communicate information during smoke events resulting from wildfires.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H23B215C2264D4CCF8E23422EF729B1B3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <term>hazardous materials</term> means explosive, flammable, combustible, corrosive, oxidizing, toxic, infectious, or radioactive materials that, when involved in an accident and released in sufficient quantities, put some portion of the general public in immediate danger from exposure, contact, inhalation, or ingestion. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1E618A3E93FB4290A7E1EE27F457E536" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Improvements to existing systems</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), in order to maintain the Environmental Protection Agency AirNow framework and technology as a state-of-the-art, real-time resource for providing robust and actionable information to protect public health from wildfire smoke, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall, as the Administrator determines appropriate, improve and modernize such AirNow framework and technology, including by making improvements to and otherwise modernizing AirNow.gov, AirNow-Tech, the AirNow Environmental Protection Agency and Forest Service Fire and Smoke Map, AirNow Forecast Submittal System, and the AirNow mobile app. </text></subsection><subsection id="H260A506FD59E4C888109838493058ADC" display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $32,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.</text></subsection></section><section id="H8CD0444F544B47E6AC9EDBC6018BB45F" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header>Health risk assessment for Wildfire Smoke Exposure (Report Recommendation 100)</header><subsection id="HE6CD3F36B5704EFF8F2654B80B97647D" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Director of the Office of Wildland Fire, shall complete a human health risk assessment for worker exposure to wildfire smoke to estimate the nature and probability of adverse health effects in workers who may be exposed to hazards from wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment.</text></subsection><subsection id="HFB5835702C064E15BE6106F38E7349C3" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements for assessment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The human health risk assessment required under subsection (a) shall address the following:</text><paragraph id="HD657E21B6982459C9B68C627DDBBD15F" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The health problems for workers that may be caused by exposure to wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF9A50AE10BEA451AAFBFC164E538A4AA" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The probability that workers will experience health problems when exposed to different concentrations of wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H03887B0C98E84A56B9308E11DC6EEEB9" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chemicals that workers are exposed to from wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment, as well as the overall level and duration of such exposure.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDCD5EA3CCF9F4BF588F729B002F619EB" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The differences in worker susceptibility to health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6DD1A835C8C146059C0CBC0C529A060F" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The effectiveness of mitigating both acute and cumulative exposures to wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment, in decreasing adverse health effects from such wildfire smoke.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H76A8DEBFF71B4FD89599EC8409035A4D" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Best practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after completing the human health risk assessment under subsection (a), the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shall develop and publish best practices to mitigate worker exposure to wildfire smoke, including wildfire smoke in the built environment. Such best practices shall be informed by the human health assessment completed under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="HF98ADBFA5F7B459F90BDAEAB9E2F9CB4" display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028.</text></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Fire Mitigation and Technology </header><section id="H3C9641C60C1F48CAB5DCC7A67EE7CF6C" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>401.</enum><header>Improvements to wildfire forage loss programs (Report Recommendation 59)</header><subsection id="HF488A8A96D1D44219DD7E6FF9981F5C1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Livestock forage program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1501(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/9081">7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(4)(A)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>(including a prescribed fire, beneficial fire, and wildfire managed for resource objectives)</quote> before the period.</text></subsection><subsection id="HC913C305C5DA431FA6D8CFFD18606518"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Emergency livestock assistance program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1501(d)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/9081">7 U.S.C. 9081(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>and wildfires</quote> and inserting <quote>wildfires, beneficial fires, prescribed fires, and wildfires managed for resource objectives</quote>. </text></subsection></section><section id="HB586644913884741ADF0AB08E24A11B9" commented="no"><enum>402.</enum><header>Improvements to FEMA Programs (Report Recommendations 66 and 64)</header><subsection id="H6BB75708B16E45E394222B3D6660DAB0" changed="not-changed"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5165b">42 U.S.C. 5165b</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A8B01EBDD0D46A4807FE76167D4FF47"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)(2)—</text><subparagraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H259779ACD70843F193038DB5D32C7437"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H449707B594224754939E04940E5DA0AA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>provide the following percentage rates</quote> and inserting “provide—</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF45611815C64C139C1F8B73397FA426"><subparagraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H50414CA1D2704A9AA7CB5749E55812E3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">excess funds for management costs as described in subsection (c); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6AAAD38D5B0648A9B4283715C58BC4A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the following percentage rates</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H00B3DA143DFB486780BED8DC7FF47EC3" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAF2489C65E3F4842AAE378AB54CD2042" changed="not-changed"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (b) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF6D580CE6F3744578F9768E73DAC8F63" changed="not-changed"><subsection id="HEFF05BCA9BF64C6B9D188CA112EADB19" changed="not-changed"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of excess funds for management costs</header><paragraph id="H2BE2207A149B45469A011FAA456E6485" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>excess funds for management costs</term> means the difference between—</text><subparagraph id="H96C1F74E8A7D4EC893351E575DF74E06" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of the applicable specific management costs authorized under subsection (b)(1) and subsection (b)(2)(B); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFF4DC7B6295541189D611E92356C4629" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text>as of the date on which the grant award is closed, the amount of funding for management costs activities expended by the grantee or subgrantee receiving the financial assistance for costs described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0DD9C3A6276D48AD8AB689324FED44BE" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability of excess funds for management costs</header><text>The President may make available to a grantee or subgrantee receiving financial assistance under section 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 any excess funds for management costs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD7167890F3CA45DFACA01A359B46882C" changed="not-changed"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>Excess funds for management costs made available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2) may be used for—</text><subparagraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H77B31A3AB2D040FDB77F1F4B1318426C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">activities associated with building capacity to prepare for, recover from, or mitigate the impacts of a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13700B1DA5AC496594FFB6B184D48481"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">management costs associated with any—</text><clause changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H221A03E8FBF84586B72E3BBD0F4F2F6B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">major disaster;</text></clause><clause changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H121128E5F0364545B02E3DBE52202459"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">emergency;</text></clause><clause changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDD4651425BAF4538A432761AD70B7640"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">disaster preparedness measure; or</text></clause><clause changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE53535F745DC4998B4A766B668FE6783"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">mitigation activity or measure authorized under section 203, 204, 205, or 404.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0DA7782A7ADB4E89AED5CB70302C510B" changed="not-changed"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Availability</header><text>Excess funds for management costs made available to a grantee or subgrantee under paragraph (2) shall remain available to the grantee or subgrantee until the date that is 5 years after the date on which the excess funds for management costs are made available under paragraph (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2A8816CEFD494D159C1CAD7DDF66B44C" changed="not-changed"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any grant award in relation to a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>, 5191)—</text><paragraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCBCB9E26085A45339532A0FB2E6C411D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the declaration of which is made on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H90CECC74DF464C70B621BEF11F8E9451"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that is funded with amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9BE8833FC3FD486F8552CF6360FD0285"><enum>(c)</enum><header>GAO study</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H65037B446474448083A39E1DC9708402"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on the actual management costs described in section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5165b">42 U.S.C. 5165b</external-xref>) during the period of a major disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>) to determine whether the amount set aside for those management costs after the date of enactment of this Act is appropriate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H041F72878CBA4825840DC832F046BA06"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that includes the management costs described in section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5165b">42 U.S.C. 5165b</external-xref>) for each disaster declared under during the period of a major disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>) during the 5-year period preceding the date of the report, the amount set aside for those management costs, the use of those management costs, the length of each disaster, and the reason for the length of each disaster.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6133EC0AE6264004B1C119F944E3DD79"><enum>(d)</enum><header>No additional funds</header><text>No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="H828AF113200749538C5CC98D68FB1E2D" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Treatment of multiple events stemming from same wildfire</header><paragraph id="HF600691B004E4089A8EDFCC92E348DE2" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Major disaster assistance programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170">42 U.S.C. 5170</external-xref>) is amended—</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H7B4F3BC64A2F439397EE12CD0FDD0F46" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H7170A9C12039419BB911A33BEA00A78B" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Wildland fire major disaster declaration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an initial wildland fire major disaster declaration under this section, the declaration shall include any landslide, mudslide, flood, or other natural disaster event which stems from the wildland fire occuring within the 3-year period beginning on the first date of the wildland fire.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HD6B4BE279C0A4AECAB647898A50BD031" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Emergency assistance programs</header><text>Section 501 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5191">42 U.S.C. 5191</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H225B3E3B56774559AC379E9FEC21A95B" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HBCC361CC587847E2AFDCF8A9F50A866A" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Wildland fire major disaster declaration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an initial wildland fire major disaster declaration under this section, the declaration shall include any landslide, mudslide, flood, or other natural disaster event which stems from the wildland fire occuring within the 3-year period beginning on the first date of the wildland fire.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H7F411462C6B84DF7B53A7C894241D04B" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to events occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFDE4D96BAA9248F0BF24B28A94B06EE0" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Fire management assistance program policy</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall recommend such regulations or guidance as are necessary to make eligible assessments and emergency stabilization to protect public safety, including for the fire management assistance program under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5187">42 U.S.C. 5187</external-xref>), irrespective of the incident period for a declared fire.</text></subsection><subsection id="HC9690AC9AA8F48D190BE8FE22E93704F"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Changes to public assistance policy guide</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall amend the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to include guidance on wildfire-specific recovery challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water resources.</text></subsection><subsection id="H20BFA258BE5E4F20B0808DEE31ECE3E1"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Mitigation cost Effectiveness</header><paragraph id="HFA775558E9DE4F81A10A2D7F286B217E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost effectiveness of projects intended to mitigate the impacts of wildfire under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>; 5170c), including—</text><subparagraph id="H9D7DF8CE9B7B4F86A23C90170299C5D0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the establishment of precalculated benefits criterion for common defensible space mitigation projects for wildfire mitigation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C9301A178E149F7BEA2E1BF82CF2CBB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the use of nature-based infrastructure in wildfire mitigation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B2004BC257A41A590C04E81FF905585"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">considerations for vegetation management for wildfire mitigation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4AD44668690D488190DC5EB8BF014217"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reducing the negative effects of wildfire smoke on public health; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98315E8459974ADA8E62D37707DF8541"><enum>(E)</enum><text>lessening the impact of wildfires on water infrastructure.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8063E4BFB4DE4F4594F3D188AA51D3F7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Updated criteria</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such guidance as is necessary to—</text><subparagraph id="H096F6E39A87F4512B84374D5EAAA077F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>update criteria for evaluating the cost effectiveness of mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>; 5170c) based on the results of the review conducted under paragraph (1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H19E0F65BA1F9413B80C6DF98CD3EB5B8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prioritize such projects based on the criteria updated under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC83EEB0C9EFB457E8F8F4BC6DF8EAF89" commented="no"><enum>403.</enum><header>The Wildland Dynamic Risk Mapping Program (Report Recommendation 118)</header><subsection id="HB856F19662B940F2B792EB31B840576A" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall work jointly with the National Aeronautical and Space Agency, United States Geological Survey, United States Fire Administration, universities, and National Laboratories to—</text><paragraph id="H7A4526ED4C324443AADB99D357D1387C" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop dynamic risk and hazard maps for the wildland and built environments in the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4D7B38757A424208B7105DDACC3C89BB" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure that such dynamic risk maps are updated as required to reflect each wildfire season—</text><subparagraph id="HF42FBEC9168A46A494736E149C7FEE70" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>changes in the natural environment, such as postflood or fire alterations; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H849067239FD54976BD093DF81FB3A787" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>rapidly changing environmental conditions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3CDF979842364B1094A3EE4FFFB07F64" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">measure changes in fuels moisture on the temporal scale; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H48B65D8204FA460AAE315450643EF8D3" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilize both remote sensing technologies and on the ground monitoring.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HECB83CB56E0746E2955B6EF0B4AFE3C5" display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.</text></subsection></section><section id="H4E1BFE84ED384FD2A0C86EEBF86844C2" commented="no"><enum>404.</enum><header>Improvements to grant programs for community wildfire risk reduction and postfire recovery efforts (Report Recommendation 142)</header><subsection id="H3E275376A437407785E3F7DEC17667BD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall, with respect to the grant programs for community wildfire risk reduction and postfire recovery efforts carried out by each such Secretary—</text><paragraph id="H6B16E3326210491690CFF7B4AD2EC7F9" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>increase the accessibility of such grant programs;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H234CDB03296C426DB0A7851B143153C1" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reduce the complexity of the application process for grants under such programs, including—</text><subparagraph id="HA99046230CA844F7816A894FA559D8CD" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by reducing the amount of information required to apply; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H30B2B6DC08964250B09E7D1110B22D05" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, enabling auto-populating fields in the online applications for such grants;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H390005F411E24B6489F3D32708A02CC6" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reduce administrative burden with respect to such grant programs, including by—</text><subparagraph id="H3924C625F5654A67A802D8B2E9B660C3" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>aligning program applications to reduce separate applications for similar programs; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6480806711FD4C4D9E072410892A0B5A" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>developing a common section for applications to reduce duplicative questions;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H129DC2C93F6B4610A53FDC04584311D0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>review the statutory and administrative barriers that impede the ability of communities to quickly access funds under each such grant program; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H75AF370F69844997A021A914D0A1FEB9" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increase technical assistance provided to applicants, recipients, and subrecipients; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7E42127FF37B45C6ACDF22D64B362BAF"><enum>(6)</enum><text>increase outreach to potential applicants for such grant programs, including by—</text><subparagraph id="H4565860AE25B4B27986A995317D21652" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>providing appropriate dedicated staff to assist individuals and communities in identifying and applying for grants under such grant programs; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBA0D3991E01F44C9AF3A860D4C242E95" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notifying potential applicants of eligibility and open application seasons with respect to such grant programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC1F1F596746E4BF9ADF00A3347C8C617" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Secretaries defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>Secretaries</term> means the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.</text></subsection></section><section id="H8A26BACCCCAB48EEA8D790B9E6CDFD75"><enum>405.</enum><header>Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center (Report Recommendations 104, 105, 106)</header><subsection id="HD163726801694B83BC49F17FDF15E1FE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><paragraph id="H1F8F1503ABB34423B0A21AE442279758"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than a 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall establish a joint office, which shall be known as the <quote>Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7A05DD4CD18D404083FAF534B7973189"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Structure</header><text>The Joint Office shall be comprised of the following branches:</text><subparagraph id="H0172838CE684489CAF37FE8F1AE5FCA8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Technology and Engineering</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technology and Engineering, which shall—</text><clause id="HA81FC1E591CE44E1A6C290D7B3FDDC17"><enum>(i)</enum><text>focus on modeling and the building and testing of technology; and</text></clause><clause id="HA587292E2B7F4CCC8ECCDDA00CD942A0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may enter into public-private partnerships.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H563FCB075C1E4FBE83F29945DD8BA815"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Data Services</header><text>Data Services, which shall—</text><clause id="H6252006073354A8486D4CDA671C79ADA"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be responsible for testing artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to support managers, firefighters, and public health officials on the ground, including producing decision consequence data, modeling risk, and suggesting resources based on fire and smoke conditions at the time and place of ignition detection; and</text></clause><clause id="H07D034C3AE314CC197D046AF4C062DA6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>working with State, local, and Tribal entities on data sharing.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H56616E70B7F24E14B22D4F2D164741FA"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Analysis and Prediction</header><text>Analysis and Prediction.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H552324572EF246CCA573561031DD4BE5"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Education and Consultation</header><text>Education and Consultation, which shall be responsible for incident management.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC6EEAA7ABBB441D59A3EB08EA85D0633"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Other</header><text>Any other branch determined necessary or appropriate by the Board.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFE7C89D76E9C4FAC827D429138FB62B5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Functions of Joint Office</header><paragraph id="H45DAF7C3F1D44F8BAE100987326DEA96"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="H131B3D8EE39B4E2BAE403ECEA7226F32"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Availability of products and information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Joint Office shall make available any products and information developed by the Joint Office to—</text><clause id="H1F6C9E53A60647448DAFE5EE753B744E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>geographic area coordination centers;</text></clause><clause id="HF6F2023A259D43B2B570B2F149AFD093"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>incident management teams;</text></clause><clause id="HF474B8272BAF429B9C345B977AF2B962"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>land managers;</text></clause><clause id="H1687CAB9EEA847DD8676D0F13DAC8E9E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>air quality and water provider agencies; </text></clause><clause id="H52DF1673E4294628AFDEECC894D17463"><enum>(v)</enum><text>State, local, and Tribal governments; and</text></clause><clause id="H1232A3B066334D6E87AA23C1A99AF8CF"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">public health agencies.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5AEE031FCF24BD8B2B27BA3BBAB8414"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Services and support</header><text>The Joint Office shall provide real-time, science-based, and data-rich scientific and technical analytic services, decision support, and predictive services to inform land and fuels management, community risk reduction, and fire management and response, including the following:</text><clause id="HFC601D20451C491A9E165C5332C4B059" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Prefire mitigation and risk reduction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prefire mitigation and risk reduction activities for landscapes and communities, including through assessments and modeling of—</text><subclause id="H6D97C64CB76840A3B61163E28E882679"><enum>(I)</enum><text>climate condition;</text></subclause><subclause id="HEC40F57280C242C49EF777AD5DA2782C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>fuels;</text></subclause><subclause id="H0369DBA07FC14DEFB04EBF5D9F2A08EA"><enum>(III)</enum><text>home ignition;</text></subclause><subclause id="H1C9C44E7E4D040FBB336596FF751A8F6"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>structure-to-structure spread; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H879DD35A50844923B6293A17C95D1538"><enum>(V)</enum><text>values at risk.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H04ADF46B68C94C94BDE88C844802CB75"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Public health and safety during and after fire</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Activities that better protect public health and safety during and after a fire, including mapping services and data provision to support evacuation decisions in communities at risk and air quality monitoring and forecast data to support health risk information that helps protect the public from smoke impacts associated with fire.</text></clause><clause id="H2DB46760A6114069A4A36D8283707D71"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Fire response and management</header><text>Fire response and management, including—</text><subclause id="HF9EF98C272C741958C01B7DB906A0490"><enum>(I)</enum><text>response preparedness and initial attack readiness for new fires;</text></subclause><subclause id="HF2168F193510484A90861CE92FB9516C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>deployment of response resources; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H6F3A9A414052430BBB7121EF7AF53F44"><enum>(III)</enum><text>firefighter movement decisions during active fire management.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H1199E980406845C0BD73A72A1395E1FD"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Postfire activities</header><text>Postfire activities, including—</text><subclause id="H3D2FC48FC1E8446294DE7CE69DBDB59C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>vegetation recovery;</text></subclause><subclause id="HFA20AD5EAF774C02BB435C207ED46FE6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>debris flows and flooding;</text></subclause><subclause id="H5171CBA545524C229F2B710D3602CAAF"><enum>(III)</enum><text>watershed protection; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HD6532B633C7148F7BEFBA393F02E9887"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>ecosystem health.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBF2C04E8C01F4C5B905FE1C6256137F4"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Coordination of functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with each of the agencies specified in subparagraphs (B) through (J) of subsection (c)(1), shall operate as a collective entity to produce accessible products and services for a variety of users and uses in fire management, including by—</text><clause id="H3F181A665F40442897C76EA98D60456E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>developing timely, manager-focused models, technologies, assessments, and forecasts to support fire operational decisionmaking, and short- and long-term fire planning; and</text></clause><clause id="H75CA62A7A7434883BF4806B2F161C206"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">integrating the existing specialties of the constituent land management, community preparedness, and public health agencies.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H706A31CB25B9454980BCC716C3B81C18" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Technological common operating environment</header><subparagraph id="H95C2094FEC6846B4B46494B848367715" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Joint Office shall develop a technological common operating environment for practitioners across the spectrum of risk mitigation, prescribed fire, response, and postdisaster response to shepherd the creation of highly dynamic decision support tools.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA50B002E2741426C81FC5278E067E233" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public health information</header><text>The Joint Office shall ensure that public health information that is essential to integrate into this common operating environment is provided to ensure its products accurately reflect the depth and breadth of the wildfire issues. Information provided shall include air quality data and forecasts and information pertaining to the built environment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H50F41631815B4CA5BF4C4E01B4094D4C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Board of the Joint Office</header><paragraph id="H9D33EE5605694657B0C862EEE3F2952A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Number and appointment</header><text>The Joint Office shall be governed by a board, comprised of 12 members, as follows:</text><subparagraph id="HE7C1246C832D4B65BC24598098D4F32F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, appointed by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC3DE22062E7A4A0D92A2204E22847A68"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the United States Fire Administration, appointed by the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05DF3900C74E48D9846DAC52E2FF49B7"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, appointed by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0FE8CE88F57D4AC191CA52046E886277"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the National Weather Service, appointed by the Director of the National Weather Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H78DD40A9805E4F1FB0FC40A65088E679"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the Forest Service, appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H17299987D76940FB8066A2DFF3A6376A" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the Department of the Interior, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2D89FEFC9CE54DC8BC784476397F1C4F"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Land Management, appointed by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3DB7B9BC990544FA923AD9E351655BB8"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, appointed by the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2E94C07473A84D2C8E5D3827045798ED"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the National Park Service, appointed by the Director of the National Park Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3E312EB95B94432E9721DAF2BD05F2F2"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One member who is a career employee of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, appointed by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAC2AD387B9B6423A9CFB878598F7D810"><enum>(K)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Two members who are non-Federal representatives of the wildfire community, appointed by the Board. Their initial terms can be 1 year each.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9714ABF79E5D42E98BAC02C3D5E3023C"><enum>(L)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Two members who are State representations of the wildfire community, appointed by the Board. Their initial terms can be 1 year each.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H31B0A505CCA1403EACD72E9CA67F20BA" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terms</header><subparagraph id="HFCBC5231EA6C443B8E46FAA8B7D0095F" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each member shall be appointed for a term of 5 years, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCC3C6A352E9E44C4BF644B3C9F002571" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Terms of initial appointees</header><text>Of the members first appointed—</text><clause id="H18E4222E18A04379BAC164D58D1E5A95" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the members appointed under subparagraphs (I), (J), and (K) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed for terms of 1 year;</text></clause><clause id="H413672BA7E3640A29E320D4B29620F9C" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the members appointed under subparagraphs (D) and (G) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed for terms of 2 years;</text></clause><clause id="HEDDBD7457C6E417491462416AF9A2D6F" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the members appointed under subparagraphs (F) and (H) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed for terms of 3 years; and</text></clause><clause id="H94DEBF0EBEAA434CAB811756781DA4A2" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the members appointed under subparagraphs (C) and (E) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed for terms of 4 years.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF4C48F4306BE45E09B329BC253C2F359" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text>Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office. A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC7AA7A91BBB4CA6BF8941B792C1C970" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prohibition of compensation of Federal employees</header><text>Members of the Board who are career employees of the United States may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Board.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HECCF78BB64D648B79406F525D8D1D718" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Travel expenses</header><text>Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2FD0BA08390A42CBB9A07446DE7AA9D8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>Nine members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H56B0956446EE493E88827A1E006A1323" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Chairperson; Vice Chairperson</header><text>The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by the members of the Board. The term of office of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be 1 year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6536CC714A4E4E07ADE52914A8B5AF72"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text>The Board shall meet at least quarterly and at a call of a majority of its members.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H04931A70E313446CAC927F75E1416B46" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Director and staff of Joint Office; experts and consultants</header><paragraph id="H3F48F540BD10439B907B390B7C11A9EF" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Director</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Joint Office shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the Board. To the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Director shall be paid at a rate of basic pay not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule. The budget and decisionmaking authority for the Joint Office is vested in the Director. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7751E6A48D0548EBA2E51DE9884BCE88"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Operating Officer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With the approval of the Board, the Director may appoint a Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Operating Officer.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB473856B37244D08BE0B4AF13E34FA1A" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Staff</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With the approval of the Board, the Director may appoint at least 100 personnel and may appoint such additional personnel as the Director considers appropriate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H560AEFB2F8D94C76AB127D30BB7DDDCB" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Applicability of certain civil service laws</header><text>The Director and staff of the Joint Office shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB35BA6BB60934B07B7FF57A5012FAF75" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Experts and consultants</header><text>With the approval of the Joint Office, the Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay under the General Schedule.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H30EB0D39177A4EA1A9CA77AE2C177E3C" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Staff of Federal agencies</header><text>Upon request of the Director, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Joint Office to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H73ADB39DC1354932A58D0FCC5F88AF1D" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Contract authority</header><text>The Joint Office may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for supplies and services.</text></subsection><subsection id="H897E55EFC55545DFBF081E0C8D1A55E9"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out its functions under this section, the Joint Office is encouraged to consult with and share relevant data with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautical and Space Agency, the United States Geological Survey, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1632216951A5473D8D8559BF7EE7B877"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:</text><paragraph id="HA3E6210AF81B4F1CB616ADEC14211300"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Joint Office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Joint Office</term> means the Joint Office of the Fire Environment Center established under subsection (a)(1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H74E0BAC49A5A49DAB7B6D264F430464C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Board</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Board</term> means the Board of the Joint Office established by subsection (c).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9EAC655078FB42758C205371F65F0A8A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Director</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Director</term> means the Director of the Joint Office required by subsection (d).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE0B8BE13A6234132AA93EF24F4619605" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.</text></subsection></section><section id="HCB6D4B2D8DB947808D859CE9ECD446D0" commented="no"><enum>406.</enum><header>Interagency Data Collaboration Environment (Report Recommendation 107)</header><subsection id="H5DA4F5074D7146D2A14B05C7AB33E012" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Expansion of information system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than a 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall expand the National Emergency Response Information System to include real-time information and analytics tools relating to prescribed fires as well as wildfires that do not impact structures and infrastructure. The expansion of this system shall be compatible with, and shared with, existing wildland fire information collection at the Fire Environment Center established under section 405. </text></subsection><subsection id="H4AFD12FEF1F843518C27E8DAE2E5BD16" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Wildfire Digital Data Center</header><paragraph id="HA211D9544F214C09ABD611E56B6088DC" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Creation</header><text>The Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall create a data center to be known as the <quote>Wildfire Digital Data Center</quote>. The Wildfire Digital Data Center shall be a public, government, scientific research data catalog and repository available to assist the wildfire communities research and share data.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFC0714CBC51844A7AA17482560C758EC" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Data and modeling collaboration environment</header><text>The Wildfire Digital Data Center shall provide a data and modeling collaboration environment for researchers across the wildfire community to engage with data across agencies and disciplines.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1C49A7106A84E79A7A7E90FDE7434EC" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Open access</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that the Wildfire Digital Data Center is in compliance with the guidance on public access policies as specified in the Memorandum from the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the Executive Office of the President that was issued on August 25, 2022.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAC83519E5B74496DB251F2BCF5D8A4F4" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Information to be included in Wildfire Digital Data Center repository</header><text>The Wildfire Digital Data Center shall include in its repository information on the following areas:</text><subparagraph id="HDFCED5A18EC64518A376F1284BBA24F2" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Outcomes and impacts of wildfire and associated management actions.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B71E269F505481887A7A698B2F4B61B" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Real-time data on new fire starts.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6218E5DAC4104CE69FC26D8A2E43D806" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The effectiveness of wildfire risk mitigation measures.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1FE5F6808A4C424790C8C309CF7FBA21" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Public health research related to wildland fire and fires in the built environment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9A27FE79AA1249DEB0878BCDCAF134BC" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Information to be included on website</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to include on the publicly accessible website of the Wildfire Digital Data Center—</text><subparagraph id="H307B2528F3184C78A3D4A6C6FB5327BF" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>information on postwildfire impacts and State and Federal programs and funding opportunities to address such impacts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H91C51FC5E904480BA23A43E4EBDFA679" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>State and Federal best practices relating to the short- and long-term mitigation of wildfire; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6ADF5FAE94744905B34BB6BC1030638E" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>with respect to wildfire, information on ecological recovery, assessment science, and State and Federal emergency declaration processes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC83B8262CD3243D2BC427617EE0D45F0" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the ownership of individual agencies over their data sources.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H305D8BD3076E4ACF8B7E766A1FDD9D5E" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable requirement</header><paragraph id="HAAF2F551DC5C40F29ACD8118DF870C60" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Access requirement for U.S. Department of the Interior Library along with the National Emergency Training Center Library and National Forest Service Library</header><text>Through the Wildfire Digital Data Center, the U.S. Department of the Interior Library along with the National Emergency Training Center Library and National Forest Service Library shall provide services to make federally funded wildland and structural fire research data systems and data products findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCD3EA1213609494DA05F1F760BE183AF" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The services required by subparagraph (A) shall be integrated with the National Emergency Response Information System of the United States Fire Administration to better collect data and model the built environment.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF20C81A8B7574E8C9A08A84FC9D833AF" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.</text></subsection></section><section id="HE8AF3E3F17E44C0E9CCC82C07192C270" commented="no"><enum>407.</enum><header>Requirements related to payment timing for certain programs addressing wildfire damages (Report Recommendation 61)</header><subsection id="H417B565840174964B4664B1CC4E38C6F" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Emergency forest restoration program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 407(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2206">16 U.S.C. 2206</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HCC1BFFB8525A4483958CDF95DB655500" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF3ED2FB7CC7B4FFBAFCB6DA21D0F9A30" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H0EE1AC8F1F2548A9AC7D589BD743867D" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H7AE26721AC294005AFC35777BB727DE0" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HE115B9E553754EB789F9BD6D0DED39F1" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HCAB7F47C0F564B069CD41C2D8FAD71CC" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payments for emergency measures to address wildfire</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an application for a payment by an owner of nonindustrial private forest land who carries out emergency measures to restore the land after the land is damaged by a wildfire, if the Secretary approves such application, the Secretary shall provide payment to such owner not later than 90 days after the date on which the application was submitted to the Secretary.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H28FC39DD9360462CAEF56E8B09C42C8D" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Emergency watershed program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2203">16 U.S.C. 2203</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H4B3C8C87B3DF4109A56C950588655629" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HABF359BDC9E643DE8DBC84F9EF830AC8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Payments for emergency watershed protection measures To address wildfire damage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an application for a payment for emergency watershed protection measures addressing a sudden impairment of a watershed caused by a wildfire, if the Secretary approves such application, the Secretary shall provide such payment not later than 90 days after the date on which the application was submitted to the Secretary.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H7A86BB7CA49047EF8F93C8635AD2C8EC" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Community facilities direct loan and grant programs</header><paragraph id="H2DC8A1565CE74EF0AB6A438E63CDFC46"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Direct loan program</header><text>Section 306(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1926">7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>If the Secretary approves an application for an essential community facilities loan under this paragraph that is submitted by an owner of nonindustrial private forest land (as defined in section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978) who carries out emergency measures (as defined in such section) to restore the land after the land is damaged by a wildfire and the Secretary approves the application, the Secretary shall provide the loan to the owner within 90 days after date the application is submitted.</quote></text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEB6391BF59EE4608B04506EFDED94194"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Grant program</header><text>Section 306(a)(19) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1926">7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HB0A3052CA0E14051ABFD322A9BF00474" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="H7EA2FBA481124FC68EE15E30E0AFF54B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Payments for emergency measures to address wildfire</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary approves an application for a grant under this paragraph that is submitted by an owner of nonindustrial private forest land (as defined in section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978) who carries out emergency measures (as defined in such section) to restore the land after the land is damaged by a wildfire and the Secretary approves the application, the Secretary shall provide the grant to the owner within 90 days after date the application is submitted.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4829C61EF81D4B428FA0D15666F3E5E4" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Disaster relief and mitigation programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5121">42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H56A8569CFDAC4E9F99BBE912B2A1C14B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 203, by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H409C288276E14F04B359F0A9E4C72E53"><subsection id="H5FE210F846374F208DF5A6E74842E4CA"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Assistance for wildfire mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the President approves an application for financial assistance under this section to implement predisaster hazard mitigation measures related to the mitigation of wildfires, the President shall provide such assistance within 90 days after the date such application is submitted.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H97F748DDD7524C388CEA495A9FBF4F08"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 404, by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC2C0F090A9CA4B6983859CBDF160B3A5"><subsection id="HF96BF948EC9C4871BA76EF5C76FA1BBF"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Assistance for wildfire mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the President approves an application for hazard mitigation assistance under this section that is related to the mitigation of wildfires, the President shall provide such assistance within 90 days after the date such application is submitted.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HF6C655727D094E59BD188D02741620F6"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 407(e), by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HB70E46EE127348BA83CA097B49AB9D83" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HFD70F9B493014056BC3642525B1A3F20"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Payments related to wildfire</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2), if the President approves an application for a grant under this section to remove debris or wreckage resulting from a wildfire, such grant shall be paid in full no later than the date that is 90 days after the last day such wildfire occurred. </text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H50779A8111BF493DB5EC8BAF9D37DA52"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 408—</text><subparagraph id="H36BABA8CD19848D88D708D27F5694A15"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as subsections (j) and (k), respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3155F994DC614A7D8A04752958CEB9AA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (h) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA4ED5EB8DB9847FBAB360CFB62D4714C"><subsection id="H71840BB909D042B896F05CC1C45116BA"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Payments related to wildfire</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the President approves an application for financial assistance under this section for necessary expenses or serious needs related to a wildfire, the President shall provide such assistance within 90 days after the last day such wildfire occurred.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5707C721FE3D4F0CA94196C7F83C36E0" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Small Business Administration disaster loan program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Small Business Administration Disaster Loan program under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HF8B3609B25904D7EA03B0D31397B831B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating the second paragraph (16) (relating to statute of limitations) as paragraph (17); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7491E984483F4A4880E640ECD0ADC8CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (17) (as so redesignated), the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H74F9CE525C1A4579A56F3335B888CB31" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HC06B5E5BAA4942E7A8F814E616332D09"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Emergency measures to address wildfire</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Administrator approves an application for a loan under this subsection that is submitted by an owner of nonindustrial private forest land (as defined in section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978) who carries out emergency measures (as defined in such section) to restore the land after the land is damaged by a wildfire, the Administrator shall ensure that such loan is disbursed not later than 90 days after date of such approval.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section>