[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4191 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4191

 To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire 
               research centers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 18, 2024

Mr. Lujan (for himself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Commerce to create regional wildland fire 
               research centers, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire 
Research Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (C) any other committee of Congress with the 
                authority to facilitate the development of wildland 
                fire research.
            (3) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Center 
        Coordination Board established by section 3(c)(1).
            (4) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (5) Chief.--The term ``Chief'' means the Chief of the 
        United States Forest Service.
            (6) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Wildland Fire 
        Leadership Council established by Executive Order 13976 (43 
        U.S.C. 1748b note; relating to establishing the Wildland Fire 
        Management Policy Committee).
            (7) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science 
        agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 103(f) of 
        the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
        6623(f)).
            (8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (9) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (10) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term 
        ``land-grant colleges and universities'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        3103).
            (11) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution defined in any of 
        paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
            (12) Regional center.--The term ``regional center'' means a 
        regional wildland fire research center established under 
        section 3.
            (13) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means a time range 
        between 3 months and 2 years.
            (14) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
            (15) Subseasonal.--The term ``subseasonal'' means a time 
        range between 2 weeks and 3 months.
            (16) Tribal organization.--the term ``Tribal organization'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian 
        Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
        5304).
            (17) Wildland fire.--The term ``wildland fire'' means any 
        non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels 
        and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition 
        or prescribed fire.
            (18) Wildland fire management agencies.--The term 
        ``wildland fire management agencies'' means--
                    (A) the Forest Service;
                    (B) the Bureau of Land Management;
                    (C) the National Park Service;
                    (D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
                and
                    (E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
            (19) Wildland fire research.--The term ``wildland fire 
        research'' means research to better understand--
                    (A) the causes and consequences of wildland fires, 
                including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that 
                increase the risk of catastrophic events;
                    (B) the spread and behavior of wildland fires, 
                including fires in the wildland-urban interface;
                    (C) the efficacy of mitigation strategies for 
                wildland fires;
                    (D) the impact of wildland fires on public health, 
                safety, and the environment;
                    (E) the rehabilitation and restoration of affected 
                ecosystems after wildland fires; and
                    (F) the development of mitigation strategies and 
                techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire 
                managers and firefighters.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
Administrator and the Chief, shall establish a competitive process for 
the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research 
centers in accordance with subsection (b).
    (b) Selection and Establishment of Regional Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not fewer than 
        7 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and 
        universities at which to establish a regional center to 
        coordinate the development of wildland fire research.
            (2) Criteria for selection.--
                    (A) In general.--In establishing a regional center 
                at an institution of higher education or land-grant 
                college or university under this section, the Secretary 
                shall prioritize the selection of institutions, 
                colleges, or universities that meet not fewer than one 
                of the following criteria:
                            (i) Have existing programs of record in 
                        wildland fire research.
                            (ii) Have existing partnerships with 
                        research institutions of the Federal Government 
                        and other academic institutions and entities 
                        relating to wildland fire research.
                            (iii) Participate in or lead a program 
                        under the Joint Fire Science Program.
                            (iv) Are a minority-serving institution.
                    (B) Regions.--The Secretary shall establish not 
                fewer than one regional center in each of the following 
                regions of the United States:
                            (i) Alaska.
                            (ii) California.
                            (iii) The Northern Rockies.
                            (iv) The Pacific Northwest.
                            (v) The Pacific Islands.
                            (vi) The Southeast.
                            (vii) The Southwest.
            (3) Purpose.--Each regional center, with respect to the 
        region covered by the regional center, shall--
                    (A) to the extent practical, coordinate research 
                with other wildland fire research entities, such as 
                other academic institutions, the Environmental 
                Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the 
                National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
                Department of Energy, the United States Geological 
                Survey, and State research organizations;
                    (B) improve the understanding of wildland fire 
                through wildland fire research that can be applied by 
                wildland fire management agencies;
                    (C) develop technologies and other tools to 
                understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, 
                including--
                            (i) models to predict fire potential and 
                        the spread and behavior of wildland fire and 
                        smoke;
                            (ii) models to predict how vegetation will 
                        respond to changes in the environment and 
                        wildland fire;
                            (iii) the integration of technologies to 
                        predict the spread and behavior of wildland 
                        fire and smoke in as near-real-time as 
                        possible; and
                            (iv) other innovations to be integrated 
                        into operational decision support systems 
                        relating to wildland fire;
                    (D) develop technologies and other tools to safely 
                support land treatments to reduce the severity of 
                wildland fire;
                    (E) leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the 
                impact of smoke on communities and wildland 
                firefighters;
                    (F) improve the understanding of post-fire risk to 
                the landscape, including flash flooding potential and 
                watershed impacts;
                    (G) test and operate models to support land 
                management decision-making, including through--
                            (i) operating models to support management 
                        of wildland fire and vegetation;
                            (ii) the demonstration of integration 
                        technologies to support management of wildland 
                        fire in as near-real-time as possible; and
                            (iii) the incorporation of decision science 
                        and social science that examines the perception 
                        and adoption of information related to wildland 
                        fire risk;
                    (H) develop a career pathway training program with 
                respect to carrying out wildland fire research;
                    (I) develop data management protocols to allow for 
                full and open exchange of data pursuant to the 
                principles of findability, accessibility, 
                interoperability, and reusability (commonly referred to 
                as the ``FAIR principles'') and archive and access that 
                data; and
                    (J) make its work and data fully and openly 
                available.
    (c) National Center Coordination Board.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established a coordination 
        board, to be known as the ``National Center Coordination 
        Board''.
            (2) Composition.--
                    (A) Members.--
                            (i) In general.--The Board shall be 
                        composed of one member representing each 
                        regional center.
                            (ii) Appointment.--Each member under clause 
                        (i) shall be selected by the relevant regional 
                        center.
                    (B) Chair.--The Administrator and the Chief shall 
                serve as the Co-Chairs of the Board.
            (3) Duties.--The Board shall--
                    (A) establish wildland fire science, data 
                management, and sharing protocols, and technological 
                research priorities in cooperation with each regional 
                center and informed by the operational needs of 
                wildland fire management agencies;
                    (B) coordinate data collection efforts supporting 
                the efforts of each regional center, including--
                            (i) building data layers across each region 
                        described in subsection (b)(2)(B); and
                            (ii) providing updates on the development 
                        of wildland fire research models; and
                    (C) ensure the coordination of, and avoid 
                unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the 
                regional centers and the activities of institutions of 
                higher education, land-grant colleges and universities, 
                Federal science agencies, and State research 
                organizations with respect to wildland fire research, 
                including--
                            (i) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration;
                            (ii) the National Laboratories;
                            (iii) the National Aeronautics and Space 
                        Administration;
                            (iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;
                            (v) the United States Fire Administration;
                            (vi) the United States Geological Survey; 
                        and
                            (vii) any other relevant entity with 
                        specialized expertise in wildland fire 
                        research; and
                    (D) support end-to-end applications that assist 
                wildland fire management agencies in adopting 
                technologies and incorporating research findings 
                produced by the regional centers.
            (4) Meetings.--
                    (A) Board meetings.--The Board shall meet 
                quarterly.
                    (B) Public meetings.--
                            (i) In general.--The Board shall hold 
                        public meetings with affected stakeholders to 
                        solicit information from the general public 
                        regarding the development and implications of 
                        wildland fire research.
                            (ii) Frequency.--Not less frequently than 
                        annually, the Board shall hold at least one 
                        public meeting in each State covered by a 
                        region described in subsection (b)(2)(B).
            (5) Term.--A member of the Board shall be appointed for a 
        term of 4 years, except that of the members first appointed, 
        the Secretary shall ensure that approximately--
                    (A) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 4 
                years;
                    (B) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 3 
                years; and
                    (C) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 2 
                years.
            (6) Vacancies.--
                    (A) In general.--A vacancy on the Board--
                            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
                        Board; and
                            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
                        the original appointment was made by not later 
                        than 180 days after the date on which the 
                        vacancy occurs.
                    (B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen 
                to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired 
                term of the member replaced.
            (7) Recommendations.--Not less frequently than annually, 
        the Board shall submit to the Secretary and the Council 
        recommendations to improve wildland fire research to be 
        included in the report described in subsection (e).
    (d) Advisory Boards.--
            (1) In general.--There is established an advisory board at 
        each regional center, to be known as the ``Regional Advisory 
        Board''.
            (2) Composition.--
                    (A) In general.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall 
                consist of members from, or with responsibility 
                covering, the region covered by the relevant regional 
                center, including at minimum--
                            (i) one regional representative from each 
                        wildland fire management agency, appointed by 
                        that agency;
                            (ii) one representative from the Council, 
                        appointed by the Council;
                            (iii) one representative from a State 
                        government agency from each State located in 
                        that region, appointed by the governor of that 
                        State;
                            (iv) one representative from an Indian 
                        Tribe or Tribal organization from that region, 
                        elected under subparagraph (B)(i)(II); and
                            (v) additional representatives elected 
                        under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II).
                    (B) Elected membership.--
                            (i) Tribal membership.--
                                    (I) Subcommittee.--Each Regional 
                                Advisory Board shall solicit and 
                                approve, on at least an annual basis, 
                                nominations for individuals from 
                                organizations specified in subparagraph 
                                (A)(iv) to serve as a representative on 
                                a subcommittee to the Regional Advisory 
                                Board for the purposes of subclause 
                                (II).
                                    (II) Election.--The subcommittee 
                                described in subclause (I) for a 
                                Regional Advisory Board shall elect, on 
                                an annual basis, one member of the 
                                subcommittee to serve as a member of 
                                the Regional Advisory Board under 
                                subparagraph (A)(iv) for an annual 
                                term.
                            (ii) Additional members.--
                                    (I) Subcommittee.--Each Regional 
                                Advisory Board shall solicit and 
                                approve, on at least an annual basis, 
                                nominations for individuals with 
                                operational expertise in wildland fire 
                                mitigation and management to serve as a 
                                representative on a subcommittee to the 
                                Regional Advisory Board for the 
                                purposes of subclause (II), including 
                                representatives from--
                                            (aa) institutions of higher 
                                        education or land-grant 
                                        colleges and universities;
                                            (bb) nongovernmental 
                                        organizations;
                                            (cc) private industry; and
                                            (dd) the wildland 
                                        firefighter community, 
                                        including organizations that 
                                        represent the interests of 
                                        wildland firefighters.
                                    (II) Election.--The subcommittee 
                                described in subclause (I) for a 
                                Regional Advisory Board may elect a 
                                member or members of the subcommittee 
                                to serve as a member of the Regional 
                                Advisory Board under subparagraph 
                                (A)(v) for an annual term.
            (3) Compensation.--Each member of a Regional Advisory Board 
        shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
            (4) Duties.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall--
                    (A) ensure and support the coordination of wildland 
                fire research between the relevant regional center and 
                Federal and State land management agencies in that 
                region;
                    (B) communicate the operational needs of Federal 
                and State land management agencies and wildland fire 
                management agencies in that region to the relevant 
                regional center and to the Board;
                    (C) advise, in coordination with the relevant 
                regional center, on research goals and objectives; and
                    (D) assist the relevant regional center with the 
                dissemination of research outputs and data to Federal 
                and State land management agencies and wildland fire 
                management agencies in that region.
            (5) Meetings.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet 
        quarterly in conjunction with the Board meeting under 
        subsection (c)(4)(A).
            (6) Term.--Unless specified otherwise, a member of a 
        Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.
            (7) Vacancies.--
                    (A) In general.--A vacancy on a Regional Advisory 
                Board--
                            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
                        Regional Advisory Board; and
                            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
                        the original appointment was made by not later 
                        than 180 days after the date on which the 
                        vacancy occurs.
                    (B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen 
                to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired 
                term of the member replaced.
    (e) Report on Wildland Fire Research.--Not later than each of 2 
years and 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary and the Council, in consultation with the Board, shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing--
            (1) the progress each regional center has made in the 
        development of wildland fire research; and
            (2) recommendations to improve wildland fire research.
    (f) Consultation.--In carrying out the requirements of this 
section, the Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) Federal science agencies;
            (2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
            (3) the Council.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Regional centers.--For establishing and 
                administering the regional centers established under 
                subsection (a), there is authorized to be 
                appropriated--
                            (i) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                            (ii) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                            (iii) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                            (iv) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
                            (v) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
                    (B) Board.--For the Board established under 
                subsection (c), there is authorized to be appropriated 
                $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
            (2) Eligible use of funds.--A regional center may use 
        amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of 
        appropriations under paragraph (1)(A) for construction or the 
        acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out the 
        requirements of this Act.
            (3) Flexibility.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary shall adjust appropriations under paragraph 
                (1) between the regional centers established under 
                subsection (a) as needed to account for differences in 
                administrative costs and research challenges specific 
                to a particular region.
                    (B) Notice.--Before adjusting appropriations under 
                subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Administrator 
                shall--
                            (i) include that adjustment in the budget 
                        request of the Administrator and the Chief for 
                        that fiscal year; and
                            (ii) provide notice of that adjustment to 
                        the appropriate committees of Congress.
            (4) Transfer of funds.--A Federal science agency may 
        transfer, as necessary, additional appropriated amounts to a 
        regional center for the purpose of carrying out wildland fire 
        research described in subsection (b)(3)(B).
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