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Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020

Introduced: October 9, 2020 Introduced by: Panetta, Jimmy Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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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
Sep 24, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Sep 24, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Aug 10, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Aug 7, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
Aug 7, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020

This bill addresses wildfire preparedness and response.

Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select three forest landscapes on which to conduct projects to reduce the risk of wildfire, restore ecological health, or adapt to the increased risk of wildfire due to climate change.

USDA and the Department of the Interior shall expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment in areas at risk of wildfire, expedite related permitting, expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response, and establish a center to train individuals in methods to mitigate wildfire risk.

The bill excludes certain forest management activities from environmental review requirements.

Interior may make a determination that an emergency situation exists regarding National Forest System land and authorize specified emergency actions. Such a determination and such actions are not subject to administrative review.

Interior shall provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to support biomass conversion facilities.

The bill allows the export of unprocessed timber of dead and dying trees from federal land in California.

Interior shall establish a grant program to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the forest sector, raise public awareness about the forest sector, and connect individuals to careers in the forest sector.

The Department of Energy shall provide support to improve the energy resilience, power needs, and energy efficiency of critical facilities.

What's happening now September 24, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 4431 Identical bill Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 9
 Cosponsors 11
All 11 Democratic 9
D
Cisneros, Gilbert Ray
California · Oct 23, 2020
 D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Oct 23, 2020
 D
Vargas, Juan
California · Oct 23, 2020
 D
Thompson, Mike
California · Oct 20, 2020
Cook, Paul
· Oct 9, 2020
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Oct 9, 2020
 D
Carbajal, Salud O.
California · Aug 7, 2020
 D
Costa, Jim
California · Aug 7, 2020
 D
Garamendi, John
California · Aug 7, 2020
Gianforte, Greg
· Aug 7, 2020
 D
Harder, Josh
California · Aug 7, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7978: Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7978/
MLA
"H.R. 7978: Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7978/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7978, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7978/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7978: Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7978/)
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