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HR 5091 116th Congress House Emergency Management Congressional oversight Disaster relief and insurance Emergency communications systems Emergency planning and evacuation Fires First responders and emergency personnel Forests, forestry, trees Geography and mapping Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Infrastructure development State and local government operations

Wildfire Defense Act

Introduced: October 16, 2020 Introduced by: Huffman, Jared Democratic · California See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Dec 2, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Nov 15, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Nov 14, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 14, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Wildfire Defense Act

This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a community wildfire defense grant program and requires other actions by FEMA, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Forest Service with respect to wildfires.

In awarding grants, FEMA must give priority to state and local governments, Indian tribes, and joint authorities that will carry out projects or plans supporting a low-income community in a fire-hazard area or a severe disaster impacted community in a fire-hazard area.

The GAO shall publish (1) a report on authorities and programs that are available to protect communities from wildfires; and (2) a study on the potential for a community wildfire defense plan to qualify for a certification identifying a level of wildfire survivability and resilience, and how to incentivize insurance companies to accept the certification.

The Forest Service shall develop and publish a map depicting at-risk communities.

FEMA shall prepare a report relating to insufficient radio frequencies, barriers to interoperability of radio frequencies, and available products and technologies for overcoming barriers to interoperability for wildland fire management.

What's happening now December 4, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5091: Wildfire Defense Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5091/
MLA
"H.R. 5091: Wildfire Defense Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5091/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5091, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5091/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5091: Wildfire Defense Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5091/)
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