[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DELAYED WILDFIRE RESPONSE EFFORTS

  (Ms. BYNUM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, early last year, the Flat fire burned over 
23,000 acres of land in central Oregon, destroying homes and forcing 
thousands of people to evacuate.
  Our historic fire crews were eventually able to contain the fire, but 
they were unnecessarily delayed because someone was flying a drone in 
the area, and it punctured a hole in the plane.
  Our historic fire crews cannot afford this delay. It is not just 
happening in Oregon. There has been an increase in drones interfering 
with fire responses across the country. We know that a quick response 
is critical to containing wildfire and saving homes and lives. That is 
why I introduced the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act along with 
Congressmen Neguse, Crane, and Ciscomani.
  As Representatives from States with dangerous wildfire seasons, we 
understand how important it is to address this issue and that it should 
not be partisan. I am calling on the House to take up our bill to 
prevent unnecessary delays to wildfire response efforts.

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