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

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 9 February 2023

   Introduced

   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.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 9 February 2023

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 9 February 2023

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 21 February 2023

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

   Source: Committee

5. 9 March 2023

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.

   Source: Committee

6. 23 May 2023

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 20 September 2023

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

8. 20 September 2023

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

   Source: Committee

9. 20 September 2023

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged

   Source: Committee

10. 18 December 2024

    Reported

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

    Source: Committee

11. 18 December 2024

    Reported

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

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 9 February 2023 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 9 February 2023

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 9 February 2023

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 9 February 2023

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Tom McClintock · R · Sponsor
• Doug LaMalfa · R · Sponsor
• Ken Calvert · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] · R · Cosponsor
• Jay Obernolte · R · Cosponsor
• Dan Newhouse · R · Cosponsor
• John Duarte · R · Cosponsor
• Kevin Kiley · R · Cosponsor
• · hsii00 · Standing
• · hsag00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.