Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021
Latest action (20 Jul 2021): Introduced
What this bill does
The Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021 (S. 2404) is a bill focused on federal wildfire management. It would create dedicated Treasury accounts for firefighting operations and community wildfire preparedness at the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, with specific funding caps for ground firefighting, aircraft use, and community land-use planning assistance. It requires the Department of Defense to reimburse states or federal agencies for firefighting costs when fires are caused by military training, directs agencies to develop detailed spatial fire management plans by September 2024, and establishes a volunteer training and certification program for citizens assisting with wildfire response. Other provisions address wildfire detection technology, grants for slip-on tank fire suppression units, state operation of single-engine air tankers, and research into unmanned aircraft (drone) applications for firefighting, including studies on how drone incursions affect suppression efforts.
The bill would primarily affect federal land management agencies (Forest Service, Interior Department bureaus), state and local governments, at-risk communities near wildfire-prone areas, volunteer firefighters, and the Department of Defense. It also has implications for private landowners and nonprofit organizations involved in hazard reduction and wildfire preparedness.
The bill was introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto on July 20, 2021, and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. It has not received a committee vote or floor action. As with most introduced bills, it would need committee approval and votes in both the House and Senate before it could become law; there is no indication of further action since introduction.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021
This bill establishes activities to address wildfires.
The bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish spatial fire management plans before the end of FY2024.
The bill establishes
• accounts in the Treasury for addressing wildfires,
• a program to train and certify citizens who wish to be able to volunteer to assist USDA or Interior during a wildland fire incident,
• a program to award grants to eligible states or units of local government to acquire slip-on tank and pump units for a surge capacity of resources for fire suppression,
• the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species, and
Common questions
- What does S. 2404 do?
- The Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021 (S. 2404) is a bill focused on federal wildfire management. It would create dedicated Treasury accounts for firefighting operations and community wildfire preparedness at the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, with specific funding caps for ground firefighting, aircraft use, and community land-use planning assistance. It requires the Department of Defense to reimburse states or federal agencies for firefighting costs when fires are caused by military training, directs agencies to develop detailed spatial fire management plans by September 2024, and establishes a volunteer training and certification program for citizens assisting with wildfire response. Other provisions address wildfire detection technology, grants for slip-on tank fire suppression units, state operation of single-engine air tankers, and research into unmanned aircraft (drone) applications for firefighting, including studies on how drone incursions affect suppression efforts. The bill would primarily affect federal land management agencies (Forest Service, Interior Department bureaus), state and local governments, at-risk communities near wildfire-prone areas, volunteer firefighters, and the Department of Defense. It also has implications for private landowners and nonprofit organizations involved in hazard reduction and wildfire preparedness. The bill was introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto on July 20, 2021, and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. It has not received a committee vote or floor action. As with most introduced bills, it would need committee approval and votes in both the House and Senate before it could become law; there is no indication of further action since introduction.
- Has S. 2404 become law?
- Not yet. As of 20 Jul 2021, S. 2404 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 2404?
- S. 2404 was sponsored by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto [D-NV] (Democrat-NV), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2404?
- Introduced (20 Jul 2021).
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