119 HR 5782 IH: Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
2025-10-17
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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.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
. (b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I—Preparation
Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency.
Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training.
Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.
Sec. 104. Study on integrating local firefighters into wildfire response.
TITLE II—Wildfire detection and suppression support
Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.
Sec. 202. Slip-on tank units.
Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications.
Sec. 204. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
Sec. 205. Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies.
TITLE III—Post-fire recovery support
Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.
Sec. 302. Post-fire management and recovery.
Sec. 303. Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account.
Sec. 304. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction.
2.In this Act: (1)The term congressional committees means—
(A)the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B)the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2)The term Federal land means— (A)public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));
(B)units of the National Park System; (C)units of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
(D)land held in trust by the United States for the benefit of Indian Tribes or members of an Indian Tribe; and (E)land in the National Forest System.
(3)The term fireshed means a geographically delineated forest landscape, within which a fire ignition would threaten homes, communities, or critical infrastructure. (4)The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(5)The term resource management plan has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511). (6)The term Secretaries means—
(A)the Secretary of the Interior; and (B)the Secretary of Agriculture.
(7)The term Secretary concerned means— (A)the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B)the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture. <enum>I</enum><header>Preparation</header> <section id="HEF93025EBAAB445FBCACD9ECCF8EB6C7"><enum>101.</enum><header>Firefighting account transparency</header> <subsection id="H0702DC2F55D547168F8AF2BFB4A1DEB8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual reporting</header><text>Section 104(a) of division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748a-2">43 U.S.C. 1748a–2(a)</external-xref>), is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H839D22FA6FCA4985A2D34F5BDC85F303"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>the fiscal year</quote> and all that follows through <quote>this division,</quote> and inserting <quote>each fiscal year,</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA22855523B194AB2A1E43976DA4FC9EA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>report with respect to the additional new budget authority;</quote> and inserting <quote>report on the amounts obligated and the amounts expended from Wildland Fire Management accounts, including any amounts obligated or expended using additional new budget authority under section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/901">2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(F)</external-xref>), in the preceding fiscal year;</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H24639E4C5DFE43AC8BB8F746E8D03BA0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>Section 104(b) of division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748a-2">43 U.S.C. 1748a–2(b)</external-xref>), is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HBC6FEE25EA914FDCBF95202E79B884B1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>a statistically significant sample of large fires, including an analysis for each fire</quote> and inserting <quote>each catastrophic wildfire described in subsection (c), including an analysis for each such catastrophic wildfire</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6B33DC52F5E942C3A3B1D45B51BE8F08"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>by fire size</quote> and all that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting the following: “by—</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H177A07497AA14EC9B7196E3E9A367DC8"> <subparagraph id="HC318D0EE18DB4352B5A07D8BC6B913EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the total ground-based operations costs;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H27014E677C154D8E90D94FBB5766B81C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the total aircraft operations costs;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6F32201EDBCA441E8FCC3EB8AF7B3CFF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the total personnel costs;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H83CEE367E3D747B99448BFE31D582856"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the total on-incident and off-incident support costs;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7A254D45B87541BDB4AB5EF9089BF37D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the total funding allocated from the Wildland Fire Management account of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as applicable) to pay for administrative costs; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HEF4077441ACE4A7B98E961F6EAB75181"><enum>(F)</enum><text>any other relevant factors, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as applicable);</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB1CE07CA750F4FA38DBD649BCF3111D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Catastrophic wildfire described</header><text>Section 104 of division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748a-2">43 U.S.C. 1748a–2</external-xref>), is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7DB7206292C54A829C3A59FE3877671D">
<subsection id="H07CFE212FF55444EAA6243C003F7C9D4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Catastrophic wildfire described</header><text>A catastrophic wildfire referred to in subsection (b)(3) is a wildfire incident or wildfire complex that—</text> <paragraph id="H27456CF48A0D4E73859CBA170DF2EAB9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>requires the mobilization or use of Federal firefighting resources;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H693A53F721BB45BB81E01F9274D17A75"><enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H43531739174240BD8E1F3C691BC7DDE9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>burns at least 100,000 acres of land; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H393450AA4D8E4AF4B143A23A51ECDD47" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>burns at least 50,000 acres of land, with a 50 percent or greater portion at high severity; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0636E728F905496E9D76921220AC2953"><enum>(3)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HCB8331E164914371A955213965E9889F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>results in total suppression costs of $50,000,000 or more;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD75A3B050AE04EB8AD53CBB9E6FAEFCE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>destroys 1 or more primary residences; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA62D23DAEF144BB9A6F0E879D6095484" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>directly results in the death of 1 or more individuals.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="HFEAB036B263F4709A151AB2025B4A2B5"><enum>102.</enum><header>Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training</header> <subsection id="HB7D13CBB4D044FA08615DA9342B2872D"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Mutual aid</header> <text>In accordance with section 2 of the Act of May 27, 1955 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1856a">42 U.S.C. 1856a</external-xref>) (commonly known as the <quote>Reciprocal Fire Protection Act</quote>), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in furnishing fire suppression services.</text>
</subsection>
<subsection id="H50DAB61094B04203B18A677FA4C5F8E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reimbursements</header><text>Each reciprocal agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense in support of military operations.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HAB9A4482F5BE4A69A9D6F2BC6382DE75"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Services reimbursable under subsection (b) shall be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for which reimbursement is sought.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H593EC5C6E4BC4F6F98F7C10F67C3B8D7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application</header><text>Each application from a State agency for reimbursement for services under subsection (b) shall provide an itemized request of the services covered by the application, including the costs of the services.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HF30E147877D34FD8A36AB3DA114347DA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funds</header><text>Reimbursements under subsection (b) shall be made from amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HAD93BB7C82FA48819E14DD3C8C1CA2BD"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Existing agreements</header><text>An agreement in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered into under subsection (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the requirements of such an agreement under this section.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H25A82D9FB22549B28112C916FAEAE7C1"><enum>103.</enum><header>Strategic wildland fire management planning</header> <subsection id="HDFB8DBF5E7604A8391EE9F3ECA92B3E1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary concerned shall review existing spatial fire management policies for each fireshed on Federal land and issue, as appropriate, new or revised policies that incorporate the best available science and planning tools.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HBF48C3354E2649528E1E5F6C99B56C72"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Spatial fire management policies issued under subsection (a) shall—</text> <paragraph id="H414E1EAFCE23472A8FAA36AC01D848EF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be routinely reviewed and updated—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1AE7EEB050FB4EAAB81E6DE843781C0B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to include forest management activities or changes in accessibility;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC37FBEA1616743EFB1DD7C14DA83BDE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 1 year after the date on which a wildfire incident has occurred within the applicable fireshed; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA232E6E7DCAA4D4E921C8D9323A62279"><enum>(C)</enum><text>not less frequently than once every 10 years;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H69C3B5017BC54D23AFA73927ACC7E477"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and high-value resources;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD3D2C6CE432C42489008890C05B1D306"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be consistent with any resource management plan developed for the applicable fireshed;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H82E4525EFA9845A2A86392D5FE2D2965"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in coordination with any State that includes that fireshed, delineate potential wildland fire operational delineations that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6ED53FBA22E0419EA17FDA23B63423D7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify potential wildfire control locations; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6C4467F6F249438689389B75620E3CC1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>specify the places in which risk to wildfire responders may be elevated as a result of—</text>
<clause id="H91DD66993CF746AAA57A5F94CFE4A553"><enum>(i)</enum><text>exceeding a certain slope for the landscape;</text></clause> <clause id="H2767089A5EC240E2A5CE5F02DFAA2C33"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>containing an excess of hazardous fuels such that a threat would be posed under severe fire weather conditions; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HD8A82CD7C7814CA59063EF3B64F9CE54"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>containing other known hazards;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H65B212CDA2DA4633A4CE27607BA9A10D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>include a description of the weather conditions for the fireshed that would comprise severe fire weather conditions; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFABC2EB852A24746A7D858C04BDCB45E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>include other prefire planning provisions relevant to wildfire response, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H066C82E6555E4176923FA243BBE78D09"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Wildfire consideration during land management planning</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall include, on a team carrying out any development or revision of a resource management plan for Federal land containing 1 more firesheds, an employee that was involved in the development of the spatial fire management policies for that fireshed.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HAB19EC3FB71149A897CA3E562FF2BAA3"><enum>104.</enum><header>Study and report on integrating local firefighters into wildfire response</header>
<subsection id="HF74F0AD9F99349819F50C126E2615780"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in coordination with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC6B535F8C4F4477CBCF6BDFB6F49FA82"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct a study on the gaps in training for structural firefighters in high wildfire risk areas; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2AF02FFBAC5046C8AB54D7A3BE040395"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the congressional committees a report describing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HBDF08A9D24FD45F4851086B7B887591E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The report submitted under subsection (a)(2) shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="H3F1082E7252A4F2C978CE2BA0311AC21"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a summary of existing coordination practices between Federal wildland firefighters and State, local, or Tribal firefighters;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA003DE742CCE499A998AF3CC8EDEB3AF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an analysis of the differences in best response practices for State, local, or Tribal firefighters when responding to a fire incident that threatens a single structure as compared to a wildfire that threatens a community;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEE3ADF4AC769457389C6412C0D1116D8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>existing training modules, or gaps in existing training modules, available through the National Fire Academy to train State, local, or Tribal firefighters on best response practices for a wildfire that threatens a community; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HED81A902331A4110968470DF89E08944"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an estimated cost and spending plan to address any gaps in existing training modules described in paragraph (3).</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Wildfire detection and suppression support</header>
<section id="HCAF1F880EA1A4F71B62EB5D24DA71409"><enum>201.</enum><header>Wildfire detection equipment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall—</text> <paragraph id="H8CC6D143954F4A5C8421BCA9500C798D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7307586C11AF4CFFA2EBBD73739559D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>expand the use of satellite data to improve wildfire detection and response;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0874CD4F98174515A91E7EBAABCBFBA6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>expedite any permitting required by the Secretary concerned for the installation, maintenance, or removal of wildfire detection equipment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H84EECE1AF17F496384FCC6960BFEB2B8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess wildland fires in their incipient stages to determine the appropriate initial response actions;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB8F2AAC4F688466EA8DE909E372D9054"><enum>(5)</enum><text>review permitting described in paragraph (3) and procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment within the context of modern and innovative technology; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H825E37D53ED445969CD617A3B3312B66"><enum>(6)</enum><text>annually provide a forum for companies engaging in the development and testing of emergent wildland fire technology to engage with wildland fire managers.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="H6F240BDFDB604CAA9A861AE4F13604E1"><enum>202.</enum><header>Slip-on tanker units</header> <subsection id="H17A2219E3A424AD083A71330E9C0DA1D"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Financial assistance for acquisition of firefighting slip-On tanker units</header> <text>Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>and Indian Tribes</quote> after <quote>local governments</quote>.</text>
</subsection>
<subsection id="H42AF7105209B4855BD059D0656B0A99A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting requirement</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H419D541722DC4ACA8754CC4F56ACCA40"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an annual report on the implementation of section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)</external-xref>), including a description of—</text> <subparagraph id="H458547BA2B8E46AB98E6FE94E48FCE6A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the total number of slip-on tanker units purchased with financial assistance provided by the Secretary of the Interior under that section in the preceding year, by State;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9B5A56E8E6C144A5B2C917B25EB07420"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number of requests received by the Secretary of the Interior for financial assistance under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in the preceding year; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1F72AB27A44545E7A771FAE83F62A44C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any barriers identified by the Secretary of the Interior to the ability of local governments and Indian Tribes to participate in the pilot program established under that section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFB769F4F46BF4479B3CF6DE3C728D2D9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timing</header>
<subparagraph id="HAC4F0237FCC747308FD75D3549F06794"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Initial report</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall submit the first report required under paragraph (1) not later than October 1, 2026.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC69F2B759C724825A3A912B16650FA54"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The requirements of this subsection shall expire on October 1, 2028.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HFE8010DFD2DE410A8F2AB172215562C7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Integration into wildfire response</header><text>The Secretaries, in coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on tanker units provided under section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)</external-xref>), shall—</text> <paragraph id="H05AB365545B041F5BCE21F9DFF57DBBE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in coordination with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration, promulgate guidance for the mobilization of slip-on tanker units for wildfire response;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC56A55E108CB46FA92192F09A012A7AB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker units into resource tracking systems; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H686585F8E84443B6B3293ED05A5ECE31"><enum>(3)</enum><text>collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration regarding any necessary training for operators of slip-on tanker units.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H3471392F677F4143ABAF050EE02A71A5"><enum>203.</enum><header>Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications</header>
<subsection id="H955DAF05BA9348B8943106EA5EC0B35B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of unmanned aircraft system</header><text>In this section, the term <term>unmanned aircraft system</term> means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including, if applicable, communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HA88851E1F3A346F18B9151F9B3918EA8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research</header><text>The Secretaries shall, acting through the Joint Fire Science Program, work with universities and other research institutions to carry out research and development on the wildfire response applications of unmanned aircraft systems.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HCB5B9FED7C424EFD8079EACA4D3360D5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Testing</header><text>The Secretaries may coordinate with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to test an unmanned aircraft system developed under this section at an unmanned aircraft test range in accordance with section 44803 of title 49, United States Code.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HAFC123D72CFB4279B85063EB91ED9C3E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretaries such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HA142FCEE86D44E1DACC1BBCDB32E4434"><enum>204.</enum><header>Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression</header>
<subsection id="H8E956E50B5574987AB41ACB2DD9596E2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="HC5D75C2DD1F241A7929B3B5D490ABF70"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H19BCC65DA1E44FDBA357F1CD81E28CBE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Drone</header><text>The term <term>drone</term> means an unmanned aircraft system owned by a private individual or entity.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFDE050D01B514E6980970C4A32E45AFC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Drone incursion</header><text>The term <term>drone incursion</term> means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the Administrator has issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H3A3E0AF8B5D446D7A0A94A0BA4E7D3D4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study required</header><text>The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HD0EC24CE7F094556AB593B07F9C7A406"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Study contents</header><text>In conducting the study required under subsection (b), the Administrator shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HCAD76E3644214B1E8ED3B87977A54D40"><enum>(1)</enum><text>determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar years—</text> <subparagraph id="HA6BF14F46B544D05A9957C3142BAE8C3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of occurrences in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8EB42F33360B4FD29DFCA871A740AF54"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the estimated effect of each occurrence described in subparagraph (A) on—</text> <clause id="H61A7BC08EBAC4DB3A35D6D63FCD2EAFA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the length of time required to achieve complete suppression;</text></clause>
<clause id="H87B123DC90364E6BBEB6146520A1A55F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any associated delay in the fielding of aerial firefighting response units; and</text></clause> <clause id="HBDFF8FEDA97D4406ABE12D10DEB38713"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the amounts expended by the Federal Government; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H64942ED6DDB3477F9BA45146A2E42F34"><enum>(2)</enum><text>evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various actions to prevent drone incursions, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H3B8848CEB0CE4B15A1C3B2F3747EB093"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the use of counter-drone radio towers;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0F1CFA3434954D1CA2F017825D19DBAE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the use of reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy a drone;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H47E647F38A0A4671A963C76F9D7C9697"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the seizure of a drone, including seizure with a net device; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H53497908608B42D997C962051B0961A1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the dissemination of educational materials relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H1CB07291FF304A4E8616A532F001CB8A"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the congressional committees, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing—</text>
<paragraph id="H463562BC08264DEC923EFD1AEFDD3ABA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the findings of the study required under subsection (b); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H770D38071A364F308160BE2FB6BD9966"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any recommendations relating to those findings.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H5CA2273F76344BF7AAB056F56185166E"><enum>205.</enum><header>Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies</header>
<subsection id="H0E2C14FD44104DCABA066EB83CA92DD5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretaries shall conduct a study on—</text> <paragraph id="H79D17A5C2DEA4670B80BBA028A589AE2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>necessary improvements to radio communications systems and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed fire operations, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H271C6DB444F24FD19C941C07A59D1E0F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an assessment of the quality and reliability of existing radio infrastructure;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF322F4E55F6F4ED9959FCA981776B30A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for any instance in which existing radio communications infrastructure has failed, an assessment of the impacts on forest management or wildfire response activities;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H00574C60B4EC474B95337383352543B5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a comparison of existing options to improve on-the-ground communications; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H992FE57F64D54A71B3025001E727404C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a cost analysis and estimated timeline to install the most feasible option identified under subparagraph (C);</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8E21046168064409A51A3C169AFAA689"><enum>(2)</enum><text>real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools for operational firefighters, including—</text> <subparagraph id="HC3B0E49BD7154ED096085EAB1E67DADD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>standards and requirements for such tools to ensure interoperability between Federal firefighting entities and applicable State, local, Tribal, or other partners;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8EF9A77ADA694C469A93A9B6E41C8EA3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any requirements for additional remote sensing and mapping capabilities to fully leverage such situational awareness tools; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HFB4618D9918D433AB0021CEFCCEBC8BB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a cost comparison between commercially available systems and internally developed systems; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD64697C1106D4DF7863A8C82F5A0BDCF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>wildland fire predictive modeling, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H37D829B172FE47E7B595A1D087611336"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an analysis of the data required to reduce predictive error for existing or developing models;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H03C9EE8DE3E848D58C1D1FE7D2953175"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an analysis of computing needs to more swiftly or accurately model wildland fire using existing or developing models;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H02AAC31C56D34EA2B0D510C99A126DF2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the feasibility of using artificial intelligence for wildland fire modeling; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD094A2044B514D87BF7650FDE24F3046"><enum>(D)</enum><text>existing or developing wildland fire predictive models that could assist with establishing safe conditions for igniting a prescribed fire.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB4233C5E609146B6A103A8B3D680A851"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Submission and public availability</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the congressional committees and make publicly available the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).</text></subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Post-fire recovery support</header>
<section id="HA76E48CB8E724DD1814DADE40909F474"><enum>301.</enum><header>Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance</header>
<subsection id="HF33FFC3CAC894FDE8FA9C1AD3B43D406"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Use of services of other agencies</header><text>Section 201(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5131">42 U.S.C. 5131(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HA2D1775431C14483AF9F0388A4D4C1A4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H327DD1D9F71C4DD4BE52929BEB8B6C99"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5EFA1F1B3D5E43028C803C3897A48041"> <paragraph id="H5FED29F61AB24A92A15AABD130514FF2"><enum>(8)</enum><text>post-disaster assistance.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HDF01FD13332E4AFE992D2F89349FAABA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Funding for online guides for assistance</header><text>Section 201 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5131">42 U.S.C. 5131</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H64BA75CD20644088808BAFFC71027372"> <subsection id="H155DA2B17A5E4AE7AF6F51B424C5693F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funding for online guides for assistance</header> <paragraph id="HD473DD046CB64404B96F7C1962C859FB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a State agency designated or established under subsection (c) to establish, update, or operate a website to provide information relating to post-disaster recovery funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted by a major disaster or emergency.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7A51989284A847AB841918ABD7A4D7B7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Management</header><text>A website established, updated, or operated under this subsection shall be—</text> <subparagraph id="HCBAEB013272446B8A558851DA5DE7F79"><enum>(A)</enum><text>managed by the State agency; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF31ED1B65F5043B69E96920D6C29DA4B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>suitable for the residents of the State of the State agency.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDBC90B172CBF4AF3BD05784572691292"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Content</header><text>The Administrator may provide funding to a State agency under this subsection to establish, update, or operate a website that provides only 1 or more of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HB499EECA66BA488392FD5383C3C24E7E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A list of Federal, State, and local sources of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that may be available to a community after a disaster or emergency.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H790098E784E74D4E92480E647CB2C0DC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A list of Federal, State, and local sources of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that may be available to an individual impacted by a major disaster or emergency.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7531B6A2AA544B87AF319A626742FEFF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A technical guide that lists and explains the costs and benefits of alternatives available to a community to mitigate the impacts of a major disaster or emergency and prepare for sequential hazards, such as flooding after a wildfire.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6E67756C1B6441B3AA42A01B82F8025B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>A State agency that receives funding or technical assistance to establish, update, or operate a website under this subsection shall cooperate with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in establishing, updating, or operating the website under this subsection.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6DE9C131D10544D9AF2F18341CAAE324"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>A State agency that receives funding to establish, update, or operate a website under this subsection shall update the website not less frequently than once every 180 days.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="HC328A122CE7A4507AD57F3626DD89CBE"><enum>302.</enum><header>Post-fire management and recovery</header> <subsection id="HB350C287AB3E41D78BEE318CF333BAC1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall establish 1 or more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in this section as a <term>BAER Team</term>) to coordinate immediate post-wildfire emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HC339C6A5F2564DFEA4ADF52BF69D5328"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A BAER Team shall—</text> <paragraph id="HCB9A154B56FC4ECE86041CD25ABA6074"><enum>(1)</enum><text>survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to determine burn severity;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA0495D992FAE4B9A8C7D691417C24920"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify and remove, as necessary, dead or dying trees that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals, communities, or critical infrastructure;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7F3523BA93544321B061204BB7B8E2A6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>stabilize or remove hazardous materials resulting from a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals, communities, or the environment;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF5B5F7E8E0874B90891B7C0037FAF4AA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>conduct emergency landscape stabilization and erosion prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure public safety;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFBD299D58FE6429CA8E523062B556617"><enum>(5)</enum><text>prevent the proliferation and spread of invasive species;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H71CE9DC70B4F49C9B0511AB234A5E26F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>assist with informing the public of hazards resulting from a wildfire;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD0AB9527AEC246A6A2914484C87C0359"><enum>(7)</enum><text>collaborate, as necessary, with activities under section 303; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA996B9C530C24CE6888D04B785D96980"><enum>(8)</enum><text>conduct such other work as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H7313B87B101141BE83A33F99B9DB44E0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, a BAER Team shall coordinate and respond to immediate post-wildfire emergency stabilization and erosion planning needs for a period of not more than 1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H8C36E34ADAFD4D51BFB53D353D860E3D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>The Secretary concerned may use to carry out this section funds made available by section 40803(c)(16) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(16)</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section> <section id="HBE7608F685A44DC68A366429D53FA4AC"><enum>303.</enum><header>Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account</header> <subsection id="HB146503718FA433295301A3C13A2037A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of account</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account for the Department of Agriculture.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HE73D94391DDB401C9DE45EB0E6758C6E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter for the account established by subsection (a) such sums as are necessary to carry out the activities described in subsection (d), not to exceed $100,000,000.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H0DCB9ED8D4714580A7D16910D54520FC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Presidential budget requests</header><text>For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit through the budget request of the President and in accordance with subsection (b), a request for amounts in the National Forest System appropriation account to carry out the activities described in subsection (d).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HEF468A13837C4E84BEC9EF234ADEBE94"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorized activities</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall use amounts in the account established by subsection (a) for rehabilitation projects located at sites impacted by a wildfire or post-wildfire flooding primarily on Federal land, but may include areas on non-Federal land, that—</text> <paragraph id="HF1ECE4CD11BA422C830812DB41A32B8B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>restore the functions of an ecosystem, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7DEAFE923A2C426EB681F5D06C9B583A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifying areas where natural regeneration is unlikely to occur;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6FBF77CCAAFE4C748AF204033BB2F5D8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>revegetation and reforestation, including coordinating any necessary site preparation, salvage harvesting, and replanting;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HAB17BD9FF29B41BE9FDEFAAA1216096D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>watershed restoration;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H62888CCFD5D94D3CB6F925530F2C86CA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>invasive species mitigation and removal; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8D850A75DDFE41E3BDE6868A3DEC9AAE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>wildlife habitat restoration; or</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5E3E821BD12C45F1B45408261F05D664"><enum>(2)</enum><text>repair or replace infrastructure or facilities critical for land management activities.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H468776FEF09941F3B3D4BD79E4AA9C25"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Duration of activities</header><text>A rehabilitation project under subsection (d) shall—</text> <paragraph id="H1978EF7DBCA243F5842C8A2EEBFCF3B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>begin not earlier than the date on which the wildfire was contained; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H118BA4CEF8C1420494C5562AA1BA7B11"><enum>(2)</enum><text>be completed not later than 5 years after the date on which the wildfire was contained.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HCC7D18894D7740F6BC231DF27F9126CA"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Agreement authority</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE8DD57B2C01B445098E74EB522EBCF50"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture may enter to agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out activities described in subsection (d).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H14B25EF616FA465FB70A2F955ED564CD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Cost share</header><text>The non-Federal share of the costs of implementing activities under an agreement entered into under paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph id="HB394EF4E8EA14EFAA01557B6D8CFB02A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be not more than 20 percent; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC9DEC8E84529480BAB585FC35EC26630"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may include in-kind contributions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7CA2F890A61F4C0AA6F2BEFD95F527B0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><text>Nothing in this subsection—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H344E392169194AFD8B46793932A8C3F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requires the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out activities described in subsection (d); or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB4747CB346684372A872888F558EF763"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">limits the effect of the prioritization requirements under subsection (g).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7E9D2F1A610243D29C48E134624CD024"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Prioritization of funding</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which funding requests are submitted under this section based on downstream effects on water resources.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H1E507F51A17942E9814BE500512F3370"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Beginning in fiscal year 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall annually submit to Congress a report on the burned area recovery work performed using—</text>
<paragraph id="H64079A71611948C2A5E6711B9E49D895"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts from the account established by subsection (a);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H19619EDB76674F168FD2684FAE5542D0"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text>amounts made available under the Act of June 9, 1930 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/576">16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text>
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="H54B20BB79E5242369CE77015BA49A5C7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>amounts from the Reforestation Trust Fund established by section 303(a) of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/96/451">Public Law 96–451</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1606a">16 U.S.C. 1606a(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H8D2191A1ACC147B0BBB157BE7CCC5B27"><enum>304.</enum><header>Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7001(d) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/742b">16 U.S.C. 742b</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/116/9">Public Law 116–9</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9D1C213587CA455C86A6980080A1241D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>paragraph (8)(A)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>paragraph (9)(A)</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H29583B8CCE164D40891A30523A88C8E1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>paragraph (8)(B)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>paragraph (9)(B)</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H875054FAF4D74FF68A898E60A844D61C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9C43CD11CF2D4EF3B558F55A9E1D9A21"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFA5144DCA17F4EB5AFF85BBC834A4600">
<paragraph id="HF8A6811C57E44725933F6845B0322917"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Theodore roosevelt genius prize for management of wildfire-related invasive species</header>
<subparagraph id="HF41019792CBD4980850CC88E62B47711"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this paragraph:</text> <clause id="H9899F02A02B44DF999553A3701C8E900"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Board</header><text>The term <term>Board</term> means the Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board established by subparagraph (C)(i).</text></clause>
<clause id="H2D2CEE544F704464AF708B2BE9DFB381"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Prize competition</header><text>The term <term>prize competition</term> means the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species established under subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD7885E2F87B34F449ABF711C74B243D6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025</short-title>, the Secretary shall establish under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/3719">15 U.S.C. 3719</external-xref>) a prize competition, to be known as the <quote>Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species</quote>—</text>
<clause id="HBA66E5310C254E978411DF5787E7FB2B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to encourage technological innovation with the potential to advance the mission of the National Invasive Species Council with respect to the management of wildfire-related invasive species; and</text></clause> <clause id="H966959C19D72452DAB79024CCD43AA60"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to award 1 or more prizes annually for a technological advancement that manages wildfire-related invasive species.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0BB4756409DD444FBF669DF859ABD900"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Advisory board</header>
<clause id="H48B2B0024B58455C90219F5B1E17C1B4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established an advisory board, to be known as the <quote>Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board</quote>.</text></clause> <clause id="H14CD309CF68D4DA08AC304DEC87BAB6E"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The Board shall be composed of not fewer than 9 members appointed by the Secretary, who shall provide expertise in—</text>
<subclause id="HB8891B2AED404F71BDBBFC9D6FDB8E68"><enum>(I)</enum><text>invasive species;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H1A16036FCBE7436796C960F540E5CA92"><enum>(II)</enum><text>biology;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H075268B30C4E46CCAE0ED83B5C19C271"><enum>(III)</enum><text>technology development;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H5CB2B4CFAD98412E92AB9D2063890040"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>engineering;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HF422D3F40E354A48B19A77179674E64A"><enum>(V)</enum><text>economics;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H768B3F25B59149358B5895A4F649E6E7"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>business development and management;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HAA77DC7871A14265980A07A306BC5583"><enum>(VII)</enum><text>wildfire; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H87207F8364FC43AB9EF068040BCC3168"><enum>(VIII)</enum><text>any other discipline, as the Secretary determines to be necessary to achieve the purposes of this paragraph.</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H8C7DCDEC02894F41B28EEABE8A7E64B7"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Subject to clause (iv), with respect to the prize competition, the Board shall—</text> <subclause id="HF66377521D494A02A869607E520AC08F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>select a topic;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HFC0B2694ABB2461CAB2DA0952356AE12"><enum>(II)</enum><text>issue a problem statement;</text></subclause> <subclause id="HEB69DA25DD4D4C41B63EE5D01BF31EBE"><enum>(III)</enum><text>advise the Secretary regarding any opportunity for technological innovation to manage wildfire-related invasive species; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H70532F1AA58341E08884AB0AA4BF63AD"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>advise winners of the prize competition regarding opportunities to pilot and implement winning technologies in relevant fields, including in partnership with conservation organizations, Federal or State agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, private entities, and research institutions with expertise or interest relating to the management of wildfire-related invasive species.</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="H561772484897403CAC29330D70383251"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In selecting a topic and issuing a problem statement for the prize competition, the Board shall consult widely with Federal and non-Federal stakeholders, including—</text>
<subclause id="H6C16FB3E47834B379139BD0EA548E550"><enum>(I)</enum><text>1 or more Federal agencies with jurisdiction over the management of invasive species;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H27E968F253F6441AA81BF5DE7A10A944"><enum>(II)</enum><text>1 or more Federal agencies with jurisdiction over the management of wildfire;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H88C9B3B1AF384E029BB08919E2FAF039"><enum>(III)</enum><text>1 or more State agencies with jurisdiction over the management of invasive species;</text></subclause> <subclause id="HD99E6DD9AA9D42988753E89BB9BA6FA0"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>1 or more State agencies with jurisdiction over the management of wildfire;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H97E1A498B73E42898C02F2F749BBBE2A"><enum>(V)</enum><text>1 or more State, regional, or local wildlife organizations, the mission of which relates to the management of invasive species; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H1384B89AB41241549D6152C34D0806AC"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>1 or more wildlife conservation groups, technology companies, research institutions, institutions of higher education, industry associations, or individual stakeholders with an interest in the management of wildfire-related invasive species.</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H92FA67B9903B430E8F222A204F7AEDA9"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The Board shall comply with all requirements under paragraph (9)(A).</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H888408A24F484A9CA1A6BBA0936CBEAA"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Administration by the national invasive species council</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Executive Director of the National Invasive Species Council, shall administer the prize competition and perform the duties described in paragraph (9)(B)(i).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB2D2202F7BFD49738F009E9FACFA3BCE"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Judges</header>
<clause id="HEE998065C73A4AC29C560A0297DA0866"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>The Secretary shall appoint not fewer than 3 judges who shall, except as provided in clause (ii), select the 1 or more annual winners of the prize competition.</text></clause> <clause id="H90A3CA7A9F1841DCA8BDDF7DF9E0BE09"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Determination by secretary</header><text>The judges appointed under clause (i) shall not select any annual winner of the prize competition if the Secretary makes a determination that, in any fiscal year, none of the technological advancements entered into the prize competition merits an award.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H10769EB576C541AF9B9FBDA2B2AFA09D"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Report to congress</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date on which a cash prize is awarded under this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the prize competition that includes—</text> <clause id="H1BDD8BBE99554AB287EED37333D14D50"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a statement by the Board that describes the activities carried out by the Board relating to the duties described in subparagraph (C)(iii);</text></clause>
<clause id="H405BD41ABF0E43CC8168237BBFF51C1A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a description of the 1 or more annual winners of the prize competition; and</text></clause> <clause id="H60CE6B151CE949EFB45319B812E11BF0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a statement by 1 or more of the judges appointed under subparagraph (E) that explains the basis on which the 1 or more winners of the prize competition was selected.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE394A94745A44C58B9DBA4C58097FEC7"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Termination of authority</header><text>The Board and all authority provided under this paragraph shall terminate on December 31, 2028.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H01503F3120BD40628DCB05C83AD2B27E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2F05D4C6E82443A989920646AE9ABDFE"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>or (7)(C)(i)</quote> and inserting <quote>(7)(C)(i), or (8)(C)(i)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B3B5894D80A47EF9D8D39A9CBF37AE4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5EDF98F114D342F7B5A1F62128A372D3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by inserting <quote>and the amount of the initial cash prize awarded for a year under paragraph (8)</quote> after <quote>subparagraph (B)(i)(IX)</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFB0EF993F0D64D9086A13DC580B5BF08"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCA9BDB64584249B5BFA3FC824EAAE0AD">
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDC1F678BA6684EB59DF731462A143BBA"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Additional wildfire cash prizes</header><text>If the Secretary determines that funds are available for an additional cash prize under the prize competition under paragraph (8) for a year, the Secretary shall determine the amount of the additional cash prize.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section>