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Legislative bills

House Passes Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The House of Representatives passed the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, a legislative package aimed at enhancing forest management, improving wildfire prevention, and addressing the drought crisis in the West. The bill provides strategic investments to enhance drought resiliency, protect communities against wildfires, and strengthen recovery efforts. Congressman Jim Costa, a member of the Natural Resources Committee, released a statement after the House passed the bill.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act establishes a minimum basic pay rate of approximately $20/hour for wildland firefighters and mental health leave and hazard pay.
  • The bill authorizes a 10-year National Wildfire Response Plan, which would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to identify up to 20 large-scale forest restoration projects, each at least 100,000 acres, to reduce wildfire risk and protect habitats for wildlife and native species.
  • The legislation encourages the use of Conservation and Youth Corps programs in fulfilling the goals of the 10-Year National Wildfire Plan and provides the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior with the authority to waive matching fund requirements.
  • The bill includes the National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021, which would direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to establish at least one prescribed fire training center in a Western state to provide training and enhance inter-disciplinary science.
  • The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act provides $100 million to assist low-income communities with up to 60,000 residents experiencing significant drinking water challenges.
  • The bill authorizes $250 million for new water well construction in small, low-income communities to improve water supply reliability for communities experiencing drinking water shortages.
  • The legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain at least one interdisciplinary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) strike team per region to assist with the effective and efficient completion of environmental reviews.
  • The bill reauthorizes the Bureau of Reclamation's Basin Study program, which works to assess the impact of climate change on western water resources and develop strategies to address water shortages.
  • The legislation provides $50 million for a grant and technical assistance program to help public water systems establish and implement water efficiency incentive programs.

Statistics:

  • $100 million for low-income communities experiencing significant drinking water challenges
  • $250 million for new water well construction in small, low-income communities
  • Up to 20 large-scale forest restoration projects at least 100,000 acres each to reduce wildfire risk and protect habitats
  • $50 million for a grant and technical assistance program to help public water systems establish and implement water efficiency incentive programs
  • 10-year National Wildfire Response Plan to address wildfire prevention and recovery efforts

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives
  • Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16)
  • Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act (H.R. 5118)

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