[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 9 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S227-S232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Daines, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Sheehy,
and Mr. Risch):
S. 140. A bill to address the forest health crisis on the National
Forest System and public lands, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I want to turn to a separate matter, and
I think all of us are heartbroken by what we see happening in Los
Angeles with the devastating fires. There has been a horrific loss of
life, of homes, and businesses due to these California fires, and the
loss is just staggering.
As we speak, firefighters, first responders--including the Wyoming
National Guard--are working around the clock to keep residents safe. I
am grateful for their heroic efforts.
As they do their job, we here in the Senate need to do ours, and
there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. One of my
biggest questions is: How do we prevent that next wildfire from
happening? Well, when it comes to the environment, liberal politicians
want to control what car we drive, what kind of stove we cook on, how
long we can take in the shower. Yet
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they neglect our forests. They put up roadblocks to forest management
tools that work. They have done that legislatively. They have done it
with regulations as well.
What is especially crazy is that these restrictions are made in the
name of protecting the environment, an environment that they are
hurting. Nothing could be worse for the environment than massive
wildfires. And as a result, our public lands have turned into
tinderboxes, and it is because of policies that we have seen come out
of this body, this administration, Democrat administrations prior to
that.
And Wyoming is no stranger to wildfires. This past fire season was
especially devastating in Northern Wyoming. I was on the frontlines
thanking the firefighters in Wyoming this summer. We had the House Draw
fire in Johnson County, the Elk fire that spanned Johnson and Sheridan
Counties.
To put this into perspective, in Southern California, we saw about
40,000 acres burn in just over a week--40,000 acres. In Wyoming, it was
over 275,000 acres. Now, you might not have heard about this since
Wyoming has one of the smallest populations. It actually is the
smallest population State in the country. Our population is clearly
just a fraction of Los Angeles, but these were big fires. Yet we can
learn lessons from each other on how to prevent the next fire.
In the Senate, I have been working to promote effective forest
management practices at every level. So today I have introduced a bill
called the Wildfire Prevention Act. My bill allows Agencies to treat
more acres and remove more redtape to better protect our forests and
our fellow Americans. It sets clear standards and clear expectations
for forest management that we currently lack in this country. It
provides the tools for the Agencies for the prevention and preparation
for the next time, and it requires a lot more openness about the limits
and the challenges that we face on these important issues.
This is about protection, not punishment. It is about protecting the
people, protecting our clean air. And as long as America lacks proper
forest management, then we are going to continue to see terrible costly
tragedies like what we are seeing today in California and we saw this
past summer in Wyoming. With better forest management, we can lessen
the damage of forest fires.
The Federal Government can and will help Californians rebuild.
California needs to rebuild with resilience. They need to rebuild with
a commitment of preventing a similar fire in the future.
We have seen massive mismanagement. Anybody watching the interviews
with the Governor of California, the fire chief in California, the
mayor of L.A. will say there has been massive mismanagement, gross
incompetence by the elected leadership in California. This needs to
change to protect the people who live there from the terrible mistakes
in judgments of these elected officials.
It is not a crisis that we can solve ourselves or that will solve
itself. My bill will make us better prepared to fight fires in the
future.
It should be attached to any disaster relief that goes to California.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 140
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire
Prevention Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER RHETORIC
Sec. 101. Accelerating treatments on Federal land.
Sec. 102. Annual reports.
Sec. 103. Transparency in hazardous fuels reduction activity reporting.
Sec. 104. Regional forest carbon accounting.
Sec. 105. Wildland fire performance metrics.
TITLE II--FOREST MANAGEMENT
Sec. 201. Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and
maintenance relating to electric transmission and
distribution facility rights-of-way.
Sec. 202. Timber sales on National Forest System land.
Sec. 203. Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees.
Sec. 204. Intervenor status.
Sec. 205. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction.
TITLE III--CULTURAL CHANGE IN AGENCIES
Sec. 301. Mandatory use of existing authorities.
Sec. 302. Public-private wildfire technology deployment and testbed
partnership.
Sec. 303. Repeal of FLAME reports.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
(A) land of the National Forest System; and
(B) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)), the
surface of which is administered by the Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land
Management.
(2) Hazardous fuels reduction activity.--
(A) In general.--The term ``hazardous fuels reduction
activity'' means any vegetation management activity to reduce
the risk of wildfire, including mechanical treatments and
prescribed burning.
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``hazardous fuels reduction
activity'' does not include the awarding of a contract to
conduct any activity described in subparagraph (A).
(3) National forest system.--
(A) In general.--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)).
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``National Forest System'' does
not include any forest reserve not created from the public
domain.
(4) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service, with respect to Federal land described
in paragraph (1)(A); and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with respect to
Federal land described in paragraph (1)(B).
(5) Wildland-urban interface.--The term ``wildland-urban
interface'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of
the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
TITLE I--ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER RHETORIC
SEC. 101. ACCELERATING TREATMENTS ON FEDERAL LAND.
(a) Baseline Treatments for Fuels Reduction and Forest
Health.--For Federal land, the Secretary concerned shall
determine--
(1) for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023--
(A) the number of acres mechanically thinned, for acres
commercially thinned and for acres pre-commercially thinned;
and
(B) the number of acres treated by prescribed fire; and
(2) the average of the numbers described in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) of paragraph (1) over the period of fiscal years
2019 through 2023.
(b) Annual Goals.--
(1) In general.--For Federal land for fiscal year 2025 and
each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall
establish annual--
(A) mechanical thinning goals for acres commercially
thinned and for acres pre-commercially thinned; and
(B) prescribed fire goals.
(2) Requirements.--
(A) Fiscal years 2025 and 2026.--For each of fiscal years
2025 and 2026, the goals established under subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be not less than the number of
acres described in subsection (a)(2).
(B) Fiscal years 2027 and 2028.--For each of fiscal years
2027 and 2028, the goals established under subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be not less than 20 percent
more than the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2).
(C) Fiscal year 2029 and subsequent fiscal years.--For
fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year thereafter, the goals
established under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1)
shall be not less than 40 percent more than the number of
acres described in subsection (a)(2).
(c) Regional Allotments.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary concerned shall assign annual acreage allotments
for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire on Federal land,
categorized by National Forest System region or by State, as
appropriate.
(d) Publication.--The Secretary concerned shall make
publicly available the data described in subsections (a),
(b), and (c), including by publishing that data on the
website of the Forest Service and the website of the Bureau
of Land Management.
(e) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to supersede or conflict with any other provision
of law, including--
(1) section 40803(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(b)); and
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(2) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(f) Applicability of NEPA.--The establishment of annual
goals under subsection (b)(1) and the assignment of regional
allotments under subsection (c) shall not be subject to the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
SEC. 102. ANNUAL REPORTS.
Not later than September 30, 2025, and annually thereafter,
the Secretary concerned shall publish on a public website of
the Forest Service and a public website of the Bureau of Land
Management the following information with respect to the
Federal land during the preceding fiscal year:
(1) The number of acres treated pursuant to section
40803(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16
U.S.C. 6592(b)).
(2)(A) The number of acres mechanically thinned;
(B) the number of acres treated by prescribed fire; and
(C) whether the number of acres described in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) met or exceeded the acres described in section
101(b)(2).
(3) Any limitations or challenges, including litigation or
delays in the preparation of environmental documentation,
that hindered the Secretary concerned from meeting or
exceeding the annual goals established under section
101(b)(1), if applicable.
(4) The number of acres that have undergone a regeneration
harvest.
(5) The number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) that are in an area
identified as having--
(A) the expectation that, without remediation, at least 25
percent of standing live basal area greater than 1 inch in
diameter may die over a 15-year time frame due to insects and
diseases, as depicted on the National Insect and Disease
Composite Risk Map; or
(B) a very high or high wildfire hazard potential.
(6) The number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) that use either of the
following streamlined authorities for environmental review:
(A) A categorical exclusion.
(B) An emergency action authority of the Secretary
concerned.
(7) The number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) with respect to which
partners are used to carry out the work through--
(A) a good neighbor agreement under section 8206 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a);
(B) a master stewardship agreement;
(C) a contract or agreement entered into under the Tribal
Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a); or
(D) a stewardship end-result contract.
SEC. 103. TRANSPARENCY IN HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION ACTIVITY
REPORTING.
(a) Inclusion of Hazardous Fuels Reduction Report in
Materials Submitted in Support of the President's Budget.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary concerned shall include in
the materials submitted in support of the President's budget
pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a
report describing--
(A) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030, the number
of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned
carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during each
of the preceding 6 fiscal years, as assessed by the Secretary
concerned using--
(i) the methodology of the Secretary concerned in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and
(ii) the methodology described in paragraph (2); and
(B) for fiscal year 2031 and each fiscal year thereafter,
the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary
concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities
during each of the preceding 6 fiscal years, as assessed by
the Secretary concerned using the methodology described in
paragraph (2).
(2) Requirements.--For purposes of the reports required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall--
(A) in determining the number of acres of Federal land on
which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels
reduction activities during each fiscal year covered by the
report--
(i) record acres of Federal land on which hazardous fuels
reduction activities were completed during each such fiscal
year; and
(ii) record each acre described in clause (i) once in the
report with respect to a fiscal year, regardless of whether
multiple hazardous fuels reduction activities were carried
out on such acre during such fiscal year; and
(B) with respect to the acres of Federal land recorded in
the report, include information on--
(i) which such acres are located in the wildland-urban
interface;
(ii) the level of wildfire risk (high, moderate, or low) on
the first and last day of each fiscal year covered by the
report;
(iii) the types of hazardous fuels reduction activities
completed for such acres, delineating between whether such
activities were conducted--
(I) in a wildfire managed for resource benefits; or
(II) through a planned project;
(iv) the cost per acre of hazardous fuels reduction
activities carried out during each fiscal year covered by the
report;
(v) the region or System unit in which the acres are
located; and
(vi) the effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction
activities on reducing the risk of wildfire.
(3) Transparency.--The Secretary concerned shall make each
report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on
the website of the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of the Interior, as applicable.
(b) Accurate Data Collection.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall
implement standardized procedures for tracking data relating
to hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the
Secretary concerned.
(2) Elements.--The standardized procedures required under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and
timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction
activities;
(B) verification methods that validate whether such data
accurately correlates to the hazardous fuels reduction
activities carried out by the Secretary concerned;
(C) an analysis of the short- and long-term effectiveness
of the hazardous fuels reduction activities on reducing the
risk of wildfire; and
(D) for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur
partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to
distinguish which acres are located within the wildland-urban
interface and which acres are located outside the wildland-
urban interface.
(3) Report.--Not later than 14 days after implementing the
standardized procedures required under paragraph (1), the
Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report that
describes--
(A) such standardized procedures; and
(B) program and policy recommendations to Congress to
address any limitations in tracking data relating to
hazardous fuels reduction activities under this subsection.
SEC. 104. REGIONAL FOREST CARBON ACCOUNTING.
Not later than September 30, 2025, and every 3 years
thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service, shall--
(1) using data from the forest inventory and analysis
program, determine the net forest carbon balance on the land
in the National Forest System of each Forest Service region,
including whether the National Forest System land is--
(A) a carbon source; or
(B) a carbon sink; and
(2) publish the information described in paragraph (1) on
the website of the Forest Service.
SEC. 105. WILDLAND FIRE PERFORMANCE METRICS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall submit
to the committees of Congress described in subsection (c) a
report on existing key performance indicators and potential
outcome-based performance measures to reduce wildfire risk on
Federal land.
(b) Inclusions.--The report submitted under subsection (a)
shall identify solutions to track the implementation and
effectiveness of hazardous fuels reduction activities and
forest restoration treatments, including strategies--
(1) to track whether land management activities are
reducing wildfire hazards and ways to quantify and track
acres in maintenance status;
(2) to track place-based and locally led outcomes;
(3) to standardize national-level monitoring measures;
(4) to quantify catastrophic wildfire risk reduction;
(5) to identify modeling and data challenges that are
preventing the transition to annual wildfire risk mapping
updates; and
(6) to integrate advanced technologies or a combination of
technologies and analyses that will benefit the quality of
information reported.
(c) Committees of Congress Described.--The committees of
Congress referred to in subsection (a) are--
(1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate;
(2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives.
TITLE II--FOREST MANAGEMENT
SEC. 201. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FACILITY INSPECTION, AND
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RELATING TO ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITY RIGHTS-
OF-WAY.
(a) Hazard Trees Within 50 Feet of Electric Power Line.--
Section 512(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(a)(1)(B)(ii)) is
amended by striking ``10'' and inserting ``50''.
(b) Permits and Agreements With Owners and Operators of
Electric Transmission or Distribution Facilities.--Section
512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1772) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``managment'' and
inserting ``management'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections
(k) and (l), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
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``(j) Permits and Agreements With Owners and Operators of
Electric Transmission or Distribution Facilities.--
``(1) In general.--In any special use permit or easement on
National Forest System or Bureau of Land Management land
provided to the owner or operator of an electric transmission
or distribution facility, the Secretary concerned may provide
permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from
within the vicinity of the electric transmission or
distribution facility without requiring a separate timber
sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with--
``(A) the applicable plan;
``(B) the applicable land and resource management plan or
land use plan; and
``(C) other applicable environmental laws (including
regulations).
``(2) Use of proceeds.--A special use permit or easement
that includes permission for cutting and removal described in
paragraph (1) shall include a requirement that, if the owner
or operator of the electric transmission or distribution
facility sells any portion of the material removed under the
permit or easement, the owner or operator shall provide to
the Secretary concerned any proceeds received from the sale,
less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.
``(3) Effect.--Nothing in paragraph (2) shall require the
sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that
includes permission for cutting and removal described in
paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 202. TIMBER SALES ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND.
Section 14(d) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976
(16 U.S.C. 472a(d)) is amended, in the first sentence, by
striking ``$10,000'' and inserting ``$55,000''.
SEC. 203. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR HIGH-PRIORITY HAZARD
TREES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) High-priority hazard tree.--The term ``high-priority
hazard tree'' means a standing tree that--
(A) presents a visible hazard to people or Federal property
due to conditions such as deterioration of or damage to the
root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or the
direction or lean of the tree, as determined by the
Secretary;
(B) is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to
fail and, if it failed, would be highly likely to cause
injury to people or damage to Federal property; and
(C) is--
(i) within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a
maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5;
(ii) along a National Forest System trail; or
(iii) in a developed recreation site on National Forest
System land that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.
(2) High-priority hazard tree activity.--
(A) In general.--The term ``high-priority hazard tree
activity'' means a forest management activity that mitigates
the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees, which
may include pruning, felling, and disposal of those high-
priority hazard trees.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``high-priority hazard tree
activity'' does not include--
(i) any activity conducted in a wilderness area or
wilderness study area;
(ii) any activity for the construction of a permanent road
or permanent trail;
(iii) any activity conducted on Federal land on which, by
Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of
vegetation is restricted or prohibited;
(iv) any activity conducted in an area in which activities
described in subparagraph (A) would be inconsistent with the
applicable land and resource management plan; or
(v) any activity conducted in an inventoried roadless area.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(b) Categorical Exclusion.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a
categorical exclusion (as defined in 111 of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e)) for high-
priority hazard tree activities.
(2) Administration.--In developing and administering the
categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
(A) comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
(B) apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under
section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations), in determining whether to use the
categorical exclusion.
(3) Project size limitation.--A project carried out using
the categorical exclusion developed under paragraph (1) may
not exceed 3,000 acres.
SEC. 204. INTERVENOR STATUS.
(a) In General.--For purposes of a civil action relating to
a qualified project described in subsection (b), a unit of
local government or an Indian Tribe shall be--
(1) entitled to intervene, as of right, in any subsequent
civil action; and
(2) considered to be a full participant in any settlement
negotiation relating to the qualified project if the unit of
local government or Indian Tribe, as applicable, intervenes.
(b) Description of Qualified Project.--A qualified project
referred to in subsection (a) is a project that--
(1) is located on Federal land adjacent, or with sufficient
minimum contacts, as determined by the Secretary concerned,
to the land under the jurisdiction of the unit of local
government or Indian Tribe, as applicable;
(2) has been approved by the Secretary concerned; and
(3)(A) reduces the risk posed by wildfire, insect, or
disease; or
(B) generates revenue from the harvesting of timber.
SEC. 205. UTILIZING GRAZING FOR WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall develop
and submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives a strategy to analyze and identify
opportunities to use livestock grazing as a wildfire risk
reduction tool on Federal land, consistent with the laws
applicable to the Secretary concerned.
(b) Inclusions.--The strategy developed under subsection
(a) shall include an analysis of--
(1) opportunities--
(A) to increase the use of any authorities applicable to
livestock grazing, including modifications to grazing permits
or leases to allow variances;
(B) to use targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels;
(C) to integrate advanced technologies to dynamically
adjust livestock placement;
(D) to increase the use of livestock grazing to eradicate
invasive annual grasses and as a post-fire restoration and
recovery strategy, as appropriate; and
(E) to facilitate and expedite the temporary use of vacant
allotments during extreme weather events or natural
disasters; and
(2) any other opportunities determined to be appropriate by
the Secretary concerned.
(c) Effect on Existing Grazing Programs.--Nothing in this
section affects--
(1) any livestock grazing program carried out by the
Secretary concerned as of the date of enactment of this Act;
or
(2) any statutory authority for any program described in
paragraph (1).
TITLE III--CULTURAL CHANGE IN AGENCIES
SEC. 301. MANDATORY USE OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES.
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, with respect to each unit of Federal land that contains
land described in section 102(5), the Secretary concerned
shall use not fewer than 1 of the following streamlined
authorities for environmental review:
(1) Section 603(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(a)).
(2) Section 605(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)).
(3) Section 606(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)).
(4) Section 40806(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)).
(5) Section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c).
(6) Section 207 of the Wildfire Suppression Funding and
Forest Management Activities Act (16 U.S.C. 6591c note;
Public Law 115-141).
SEC. 302. PUBLIC-PRIVATE WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT AND
TESTBED PARTNERSHIP.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees.--The term ``appropriate
committees'' means--
(A) the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,
Energy and Natural Resources, and Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committees on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means--
(A) each Federal land management agency (as defined in
section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
(16 U.S.C. 6801));
(B) the Department of Defense;
(C) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(D) the United States Fire Administration;
(E) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(F) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(G) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and
(H) any other Federal agency involved in wildfire response.
(3) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a private entity;
(B) a nonprofit organization; and
(C) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001)).
(4) Pilot program.--The term ``Pilot Program'' means the
deployment and testbed pilot program established under
subsection (b).
(5) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior,
acting jointly.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in coordination
with the heads of the covered agencies, shall establish a
deployment and testbed pilot program for new and innovative
wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation
technologies.
(c) Functions.--In carrying out the Pilot Program, the
Secretaries shall--
(1) incorporate the Pilot Program into an existing
interagency coordinating group on wildfires;
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(2) in consultation with the heads of covered agencies,
identify key technology priority areas with respect to the
deployment of wildfire prevention, detection, communication,
and mitigation technologies, including--
(A) hazardous fuels reduction activities or treatments;
(B) dispatch communications;
(C) remote sensing and tracking;
(D) safety equipment; and
(E) common operating pictures or operational dashboards;
and
(3) connect each covered entity selected to participate in
the Pilot Program with the appropriate covered agency to
coordinate real-time and on-the-ground testing of technology
during wildland fire mitigation activities and training.
(d) Applications.--To participate in the Pilot Program, a
covered entity shall submit to the Secretaries an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretaries may require, which shall include a
proposal to test technologies specific to key technology
priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2).
(e) Prioritization of Emerging Technologies.--In selecting
covered entities to participate in the Pilot Program, the
Secretaries shall give priority to covered entities
developing and applying emerging technologies that address
issues identified by the Secretaries, including artificial
intelligence, quantum sensing, computing and quantum-hybrid
applications, augmented reality, and 5G private networks and
device-to-device communications supporting nomadic mesh
networks, for wildfire mitigation.
(f) Outreach.--The Secretaries, in coordination with the
heads of the covered agencies, shall make publicly available
the key technology priority areas identified under subsection
(c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply to test and
demonstrate their technologies to address those priority
areas.
(g) Reports and Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year
thereafter for the duration of the Pilot Program, the
Secretaries shall submit to the appropriate committees a
report that includes the following with respect to the Pilot
Program:
(1) A list of participating covered entities.
(2) A brief description of the technologies tested by such
covered entities.
(3) An estimate of the cost of acquiring the technology
tested in the Pilot Program and applying it at scale.
(4) Outreach efforts by Federal agencies to covered
entities developing wildfire technologies.
(5) Assessments of, and recommendations relating to, new
technologies with potential adoption and application at-scale
in the wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and
mitigation efforts of Federal land management agencies (as
defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801)).
(h) Termination.--The Pilot Program shall expire on the
date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 303. REPEAL OF FLAME REPORTS.
Section 502 of the FLAME Act of 2009 (43 U.S.C. 1748a) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (h); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h).
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By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Risch, Ms. Smith,
Ms. Lummis, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr.
Crapo):
S. 142. A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to wildland
firefighters in recognition of their strength, resiliency, sacrifice,
and service to protect the forests, grasslands, and communities of the
United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 142
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 ``Wildland Firefighters
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Wildland fires have increased in intensity and severity
over the 30-year period preceding the date of enactment of
this Act, causing catastrophic destruction to homes,
infrastructure, and valuable Federal, State, and private
lands. More than 1,000,000,000 acres of land across the
United States are at risk of wildfire, including
approximately 117,000,000 acres of Federal land that have
been identified as high or very high risk for wildfire
potential.
(2) The Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the
National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs collectively employ
more than 18,700 wildland firefighters to combat wildfires
across millions of acres of public and private lands each
year, while thousands more workers and volunteers serve as
State, local, and contract wildland firefighters.
(3) As the wildland-urban interface expands, wildfires
increasingly find their way out of the backcountry and into
the backyards of communities across the United States.
Wildland firefighters are evolving their skillsets, tactics,
and strategies to address the growing threat of wildfire in
the 21st century.
(4) While the protection of life and property remains a top
priority, wildland firefighters also have an important role
in responsible forest management and conservation. Wildland
firefighters perform prescribed burns and other forest
management activities, including timber harvests, contribute
to healthy forests, and reduce catastrophic wildfire risk.
(5) Each wildland firefighter is specialized and trained to
work in dynamic and extraordinarily dangerous environments.
Wildland firefighters routinely work long days while on a 2-
week rotation, often sleeping in inhospitable conditions.
(6) According to the Forest Service, firefighters generally
work 16-hour days while fighting a fire, and they typically
exceed 2,500 operational hours in a 6-month period.
(7) Wildland firefighter crews are all-hazards frontline
emergency responders that use any means necessary to protect
life and property while responding to floods, hurricanes,
pandemics, and acts of terrorism.
(8) Engine and hand crews, the primary firefighting
workforce, come in varying sizes and modules that can be
tailored to fit the specific needs and terrain obstacles that
each fire presents.
(9) Interagency hotshot crews are highly skilled mobile
hand crews with elite knowledge about fire suppression
tactics.
(10) Pilots and aerial fire suppression crews take to the
skies with air tankers and helicopters to drop water and fire
retardant, supporting decision-makers on the ground.
(11) Aerially-delivered firefighters, including helitack
crews and smokejumpers, exit helicopters and jump from planes
into remote and difficult-to-reach areas, providing quick and
targeted fire suppression and emergency medical short-haul
extraction. These fire personnel provide oversight and direct
action on initial and extended attack incidents.
(12) Wildland firefighters in the United States also answer
the call to fight wildfires internationally. During the
record-setting fires in Australia in 2020, the United States
sent 362 firefighters to help. During Canada's historic 2023
fire season, more than 2,000 Federal wildland firefighters
answered the call.
(13) As of the date of enactment of this Act, the United
States maintains mutual assistance and cooperation agreements
for wildland firefighting efforts with Canada, Mexico,
Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.
(14) The increases in the severity of wildfires and in
annual fire season active months have also increased the
demand for wildland firefighters and associated employees.
Recruitment and retention of wildland firefighters has been a
national issue for many years.
(15) Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to
keep the people of the United States safe, and some pay the
ultimate sacrifice to do so. Between January 1, 2019, and
January 1, 2025, 98 wildland firefighters have lost their
lives fighting fires. Acute and secondary effects from
wildfire, such as wildfire smoke exposure, are directly
linked to tens of thousands of firefighter and civilian
deaths each year.
(16) June 30 to July 6 of each year is recognized as a Week
of Remembrance to honor the fallen wildland firefighters who
sacrificed their lives to protect the wildlands of the United
States.
(17) National Wildland Firefighter Day is held annually on
July 2 to recognize all who are devoted to wildland
firefighting.
(18) The exemplary efforts of wildland firefighters are
deserving of recognition, and it is appropriate and proper to
honor those who have previously served, as well as current
and future firefighters. Wildland firefighters showcase
principles of duty, respect, and integrity in every aspect of
service. Each firefighter exhibits strength, resiliency, and
grit to protect the forests, grasslands, and communities of
the United States. Wildland firefighters do not shy away from
dangerous situations, but instead risk life and limb to help
others. The outstanding accomplishments of these brave
individuals continue an unparalleled legacy of public
service.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on
behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate
design in honor of wildland firefighters, collectively, in
recognition of their strength, resiliency, sacrifice, and
service to protect the forests, grasslands, and communities
of the United States.
(b) Design And Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a
gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions,
to be determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the
National Interagency Fire Center.
(c) Disposition Of Medal.--
(1) In general.--Following the presentation of the gold
medal under subsection
[[Page S232]]
(a), the gold medal shall be given to the National
Interagency Fire Center, where the gold medal shall be
displayed, as appropriate, and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the National Interagency Fire Center should ensure that the
display and availability of the medal described in paragraph
(1) be at appropriate locations, particularly locations
associated with wildland firefighters.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of
the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient
to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies,
use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under
this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to
be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of
the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds Of Sales.--Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be
deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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