[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1308 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1308

   Designating May 2026 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2026

Mrs. Torres of California (for herself, Mr. Obernolte, and Mr. Valadao) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating May 2026 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness Month''.

Whereas wildfires across the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the 
        United States territories have increased in scale, complexity, and 
        severity, fire seasons have lengthened in many parts of the United 
        States to encompass the entire year, and wildfire has become a threat in 
        regions of the United States that have little or no history of wildfire;
Whereas, in the United States from 2016 to 2025, 634,052 wildfires burned, 
        consuming a total of 70,543,367 acres;
Whereas, in the United States from January 1 to May 1, 2026, 1,848,210 acres 
        have burned, which is 94 percent higher than the previous 10-year 
        average, and 24,066 wildfires have been reported, which is 50 percent 
        higher than the previous 10-year average;
Whereas, from May 2026 to August 2026, over 40 percent of States in the United 
        States are expected to face above normal risk for significant wildfire 
        events;
Whereas nearly 85 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by 
        humans;
Whereas Federal wildfire suppression efforts cost over $3,000,000,000 per year, 
        and the total cost of wildfire damage across the United States is 
        estimated to be tens to hundreds of billions of dollars per year;
Whereas significant investments in proactive planning, mitigation, and risk 
        reduction are necessary for the United States to counteract increasingly 
        severe wildfire risk, damage, and loss;
Whereas firefighters are on the front lines and are at an increased risk of 
        developing cancer and respiratory diseases because they are exposed to 
        smoke and hazardous chemicals in the line of duty;
Whereas the effects of long-term exposure to wildfire smoke will harm more 
        people, as particulate pollution triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks, 
        and strokes, and can kill;
Whereas preventative measures exist to help individuals and communities increase 
        their fire resilience through--

    (1) reducing the risk of home ignition by using fire-resistant 
construction materials and maintaining yard vegetation;

    (2) community planning that reduces home wildfire exposure and 
increases access for firefighters;

    (3) evacuation planning and assistance for people and their animals;

    (4) vegetation and forest management; and

    (5) limited use of combustibles during high heat or drier seasons, 
including fireworks, exhaust, and open flames; and

Whereas a nationally designated Wildfire Preparedness Month--

    (1) increases awareness of the threat of wildfires and knowledge of 
lifesaving and fire mitigation practices; and

    (2) promotes educational initiatives, encourages community programming, 
and increases overall knowledge and preparedness: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Wildfire Preparedness Month'';
            (2) encourages increased awareness of, and preparedness 
        for, the threat of wildfires and subsequent suppression efforts 
        at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels of government, 
        including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities, and by 
        nongovernmental organizations and communities; and
            (3) supports resources and educational initiatives that 
        communicate how communities at risk of exposure to wildfire 
        hazards can take preventative measures, including, home 
        hardening, land management practices that reduce or remove 
        highly flammable grasses and shrubs, instituting or enhancing 
        early warning systems, reducing unplanned human ignitions, 
        reducing adverse health impacts from smoke and fire exposure, 
        and safely and efficiently evacuating people and their animals.
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