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HR 934 118th Congress House Agriculture and Food Emergency planning and evacuation Fires First responders and emergency personnel Forests, forestry, trees

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 9, 2023 Introduced by: McClintock, Tom Republican · California See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 18, 2024
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-924, Part I.
Sep 20, 2023
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 20, 2023
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
Sep 20, 2023
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 23, 2023
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 9, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
Feb 21, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Feb 9, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
Feb 9, 2023
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill sets out requirements for wildfire suppression and management activities carried out by the Forest Service.

These requirements apply to Forest Service land that (1) has a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought intensity rating; (2) has a National Wildland Fire Preparedness level of 5 (i.e., the highest level of wildland fire activity); or (3) is located in a fireshed ranked in the top 10% of wildfire exposure.

Within 24 hours of detecting a wildfire on covered Forest Service land, the service must use all available resources to extinguish the wildfire. Additionally, the service may not inhibit the firefighting activities of state and local agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfires on covered Forest Service land.

Further, the service may not initiate a backfire or burnout as part of a fire suppression strategy unless it is ordered by the responsible incident commander or is necessary to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. The service must use all available resources to control any initiated fire until it is extinguished.

The bill also limits the service's use of prescribed fires (i.e., the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire). The service must comply with all applicable laws and regulations concerning prescribed fires and must immediately suppress a prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription.

What's happening now December 18, 2024

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-924, Part I.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4