119-hr5782

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5782 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5782

 To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 October 17, 2025

 Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on 
 Agriculture, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
 Science, Space, and Technology, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western Wildfire 
Support Act of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.
 TITLE I--PREPARATION

Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency.

Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training.

Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.

Sec. 104. Study on integrating local firefighters into wildfire 
 response.
 TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT

Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.

Sec. 202. Slip-on tank units.

Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire 
 applications.

Sec. 204. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression.

Sec. 205. Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies.
 TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT

Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.

Sec. 302. Post-fire management and recovery.

Sec. 303. Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account.

Sec. 304. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Congressional committees.--The term ``congressional 
 committees'' means--
        (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
 and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
        (B) the Committee on Natural Resources and the 
 Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
 Representatives.

    (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
        (A) public lands (as defined in 

section 103 of the 
 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
 U.S.C. 1702));
        (B) units of the National Park System;
            (C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
            (D) land held in trust by the United States for the 
 benefit of Indian Tribes or members of an Indian Tribe; 
 and
        (E) land in the National Forest System.

    (3) Fireshed.--The term ``fireshed'' means a geographically 
 delineated forest landscape, within which a fire ignition would 
 threaten homes, communities, or critical infrastructure.

    (4) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
 System'' has the meaning given the term in 

section 11

    (a) of the 
 Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
 (16 U.S.C. 1609

    (a) ).

    (5) Resource management plan.--The term ``resource 
 management plan'' has the meaning given the term in 

section 101 
 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
 6511).

    (6) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
        (A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
        (B) the Secretary of Agriculture.

    (7) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
 means--
        (A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of 
 Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of 
 the Interior; and
        (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of 
 Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of 
 Agriculture.

 TITLE I--PREPARATION

SEC. 101. FIREFIGHTING ACCOUNT TRANSPARENCY.

    (a) Annual Reporting.--

Section 104

    (a) of division O of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2

    (a) ), is 
amended--

    (1) in the matter preceding paragraph

    (1) , by striking 
 ``the fiscal year'' and all that follows through ``this 
 division,'' and inserting ``each fiscal year,''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``report with respect to 
 the additional new budget authority;'' and inserting ``report 
 on the amounts obligated and the amounts expended from Wildland 
 Fire Management accounts, including any amounts obligated or 
 expended using additional new budget authority under 

section 251

    (b)

    (2)
        (F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
 Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901

    (b)

    (2)
        (F) ), in the preceding 
 fiscal year;''.

    (b) Inclusions.--

Section 104

    (b) of division O of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2

    (b) ), is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (3) , in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``a statistically significant sample of large 
 fires, including an analysis for each fire'' and inserting 
 ``each catastrophic wildfire described in subsection
            (c) , 
 including an analysis for each such catastrophic wildfire''; 
 and

    (2) in paragraph

    (4) , by striking ``by fire size'' and all 
 that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting the 
 following: ``by--
 ``
        (A) the total ground-based operations costs;
 ``
        (B) the total aircraft operations costs;
 ``
            (C) the total personnel costs;
 ``
            (D) the total on-incident and off-incident 
 support costs;
 ``
        (E) the total funding allocated from the Wildland 
 Fire Management account of the Secretary of the 
 Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as 
 applicable) to pay for administrative costs; and
 ``
        (F) any other relevant factors, as determined by 
 the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
 Agriculture (as applicable);''.
            (c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--

Section 104 of division O of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2), is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--A catastrophic wildfire 
referred to in subsection

    (b)

    (3) is a wildfire incident or wildfire 
complex that--
 ``

    (1) requires the mobilization or use of Federal 
 firefighting resources;
 ``

    (2)
        (A) burns at least 100,000 acres of land; or
 ``
        (B) burns at least 50,000 acres of land, with a 50 
 percent or greater portion at high severity; and
 ``

    (3)
        (A) results in total suppression costs of $50,000,000 
 or more;
 ``
        (B) destroys 1 or more primary residences; or
 ``
            (C) directly results in the death of 1 or more 
 individuals.''.

SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRES CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING.

    (a) Mutual Aid.--In accordance with 

section 2 of the Act of May 27, 
1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the ``Reciprocal Fire 
Protection Act''), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into 
reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in furnishing 
fire suppression services.

    (b) Reimbursements.--Each reciprocal agreement entered into under 
subsection

    (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency 
that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided 
by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training 
or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense in 
support of military operations.
            (c) Limitation.--Services reimbursable under subsection

    (b) shall 
be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for which 
reimbursement is sought.
            (d) Application.--Each application from a State agency for 
reimbursement for services under subsection

    (b) shall provide an 
itemized request of the services covered by the application, including 
the costs of the services.

    (e) Funds.--Reimbursements under subsection

    (b) shall be made from 
amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for 
operation and maintenance.

    (f) Existing Agreements.--An agreement in effect as of the date of 
enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered into 
under subsection

    (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the requirements 
of such an agreement under this section.

SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary 
concerned shall review existing spatial fire management policies for 
each fireshed on Federal land and issue, as appropriate, new or revised 
policies that incorporate the best available science and planning 
tools.

    (b) Requirements.--Spatial fire management policies issued under 
subsection

    (a) shall--

    (1) be routinely reviewed and updated--
        (A) to include forest management activities or 
 changes in accessibility;
        (B) not later than 1 year after the date on which a 
 wildfire incident has occurred within the applicable 
 fireshed; and
            (C) not less frequently than once every 10 years;

    (2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first 
 responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and high-
 value resources;

    (3) be consistent with any resource management plan 
 developed for the applicable fireshed;

    (4) in coordination with any State that includes that 
 fireshed, delineate potential wildland fire operational 
 delineations that--
        (A) identify potential wildfire control locations; 
 and
        (B) specify the places in which risk to wildfire 
 responders may be elevated as a result of--
            (i) exceeding a certain slope for the 
 landscape;
            (ii) containing an excess of hazardous 
 fuels such that a threat would be posed under 
 severe fire weather conditions; or
            (iii) containing other known hazards;

    (5) include a description of the weather conditions for the 
 fireshed that would comprise severe fire weather conditions; 
 and

    (6) include other prefire planning provisions relevant to 
 wildfire response, at the discretion of the Secretary 
 concerned.
            (c) Wildfire Consideration During Land Management Planning.--To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall include, on a 
team carrying out any development or revision of a resource management 
plan for Federal land containing 1 more firesheds, an employee that was 
involved in the development of the spatial fire management policies for 
that fireshed.

SEC. 104. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTEGRATING LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS INTO 
 WILDFIRE RESPONSE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the 
Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in coordination with 
the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall--

    (1) conduct a study on the gaps in training for structural 
 firefighters in high wildfire risk areas; and

    (2) submit to the congressional committees a report 
 describing the results of the study conducted under paragraph

    (1) .

    (b) Inclusions.--The report submitted under subsection

    (a)

    (2) shall 
include--

    (1) a summary of existing coordination practices between 
 Federal wildland firefighters and State, local, or Tribal 
 firefighters;

    (2) an analysis of the differences in best response 
 practices for State, local, or Tribal firefighters when 
 responding to a fire incident that threatens a single structure 
 as compared to a wildfire that threatens a community;

    (3) existing training modules, or gaps in existing training 
 modules, available through the National Fire Academy to train 
 State, local, or Tribal firefighters on best response practices 
 for a wildfire that threatens a community; and

    (4) an estimated cost and spending plan to address any gaps 
 in existing training modules described in paragraph

    (3) .

 TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT

SEC. 201. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.

 To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall--

    (1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment, 
 such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in 
 areas at risk of wildfire;

    (2) expand the use of satellite data to improve wildfire 
 detection and response;

    (3) expedite any permitting required by the Secretary 
 concerned for the installation, maintenance, or removal of 
 wildfire detection equipment;

    (4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess wildland fires 
 in their incipient stages to determine the appropriate initial 
 response actions;

    (5) review permitting described in paragraph

    (3) and 
 procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment 
 within the context of modern and innovative technology; and

    (6) annually provide a forum for companies engaging in the 
 development and testing of emergent wildland fire technology to 
 engage with wildland fire managers.

SEC. 202. SLIP-ON TANKER UNITS.

    (a) Financial Assistance for Acquisition of Firefighting Slip-On 
Tanker Units.--

Section 40803
            (c) (5) of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592
            (c) (5) ) is amended by inserting ``and Indian 
Tribes'' after ``local governments''.

    (b) Reporting Requirement.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall submit 
 to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
 and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
 Representatives an annual report on the implementation of 
 

section 40803
            (c) (5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
 Act (16 U.S.C. 6592
            (c) (5) ), including a description of--
        (A) the total number of slip-on tanker units 
 purchased with financial assistance provided by the 
 Secretary of the Interior under that section in the 
 preceding year, by State;
        (B) the number of requests received by the 
 Secretary of the Interior for financial assistance 
 under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in 
 the preceding year; and
            (C) any barriers identified by the Secretary of the 
 Interior to the ability of local governments and Indian 
 Tribes to participate in the pilot program established 
 under that section.

    (2) Timing.--
        (A) Initial report.--The Secretary of the Interior 
 shall submit the first report required under paragraph

    (1) not later than October 1, 2026.
        (B) Sunset.--The requirements of this subsection 
 shall expire on October 1, 2028.
            (c) Integration Into Wildfire Response.--The Secretaries, in 
coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on tanker 
units provided under 

section 40803
            (c) (5) of the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592
            (c) (5) ), shall--

    (1) in coordination with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire 
 Administration, promulgate guidance for the mobilization of 
 slip-on tanker units for wildfire response;

    (2) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker 
 units into resource tracking systems; and

    (3) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire 
 Administration regarding any necessary training for operators 
 of slip-on tanker units.

SEC. 203. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM FIRE 
 APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Definition of Unmanned Aircraft System.--In this section, the 
term ``unmanned aircraft system'' means an unmanned aircraft and 
associated elements (including, if applicable, communication links and 
the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required 
for the operator to operate safely and efficiently.

    (b) Research.--The Secretaries shall, acting through the Joint Fire 
Science Program, work with universities and other research institutions 
to carry out research and development on the wildfire response 
applications of unmanned aircraft systems.
            (c) Testing.--The Secretaries may coordinate with the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration to test an unmanned aircraft 
system developed under this section at an unmanned aircraft test range 
in accordance with 

section 44803 of title 49, United States Code.
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretaries such sums as are necessary to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 204. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
 Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

    (2) Drone.--The term ``drone'' means an unmanned aircraft 
 system owned by a private individual or entity.

    (3) Drone incursion.--The term ``drone incursion'' means 
 the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the 
 Administrator has issued a temporary flight restriction because 
 of a wildfire.

    (b) Study Required.--The Administrator, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study on the 
effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to 
land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of 
Agriculture.
            (c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required under 
subsection

    (b) , the Administrator shall--

    (1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar 
 years--
        (A) the number of occurrences in which a drone 
 incursion interfered with wildfire suppression; and
        (B) the estimated effect of each occurrence 
 described in subparagraph
        (A) on--
            (i) the length of time required to achieve 
 complete suppression;
            (ii) any associated delay in the fielding 
 of aerial firefighting response units; and
            (iii) the amounts expended by the Federal 
 Government; and

    (2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various 
 actions to prevent drone incursions, including--
        (A) the use of counter-drone radio towers;
        (B) the use of reasonable force to disable, damage, 
 or destroy a drone;
            (C) the seizure of a drone, including seizure with 
 a net device; and
            (D) the dissemination of educational materials 
 relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire 
 suppression.
            (d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the congressional 
committees, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report describing--

    (1) the findings of the study required under subsection

    (b) ; and

    (2) any recommendations relating to those findings.

SEC. 205. STUDY ON MODERNIZING WILDFIRE RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall conduct a study on--

    (1) necessary improvements to radio communications systems 
 and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed fire 
 operations, including--
        (A) an assessment of the quality and reliability of 
 existing radio infrastructure;
        (B) for any instance in which existing radio 
 communications infrastructure has failed, an assessment 
 of the impacts on forest management or wildfire 
 response activities;
            (C) a comparison of existing options to improve on-
 the-ground communications; and
            (D) a cost analysis and estimated timeline to 
 install the most feasible option identified under 
 subparagraph
            (C) ;

    (2) real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools 
 for operational firefighters, including--
        (A) standards and requirements for such tools to 
 ensure interoperability between Federal firefighting 
 entities and applicable State, local, Tribal, or other 
 partners;
        (B) any requirements for additional remote sensing 
 and mapping capabilities to fully leverage such 
 situational awareness tools; and
            (C) a cost comparison between commercially 
 available systems and internally developed systems; and

    (3) wildland fire predictive modeling, including--
        (A) an analysis of the data required to reduce 
 predictive error for existing or developing models;
        (B) an analysis of computing needs to more swiftly 
 or accurately model wildland fire using existing or 
 developing models;
            (C) the feasibility of using artificial 
 intelligence for wildland fire modeling; and
            (D) existing or developing wildland fire predictive 
 models that could assist with establishing safe 
 conditions for igniting a prescribed fire.

    (b) Submission and Public Availability.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit 
to the congressional committees and make publicly available the results 
of the study conducted under subsection

    (a) .

 TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT

SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--

Section 201

    (a) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5131

    (a) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (7) , by striking the period at the end and 
 inserting ``; and''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (8) post-disaster assistance.''.

    (b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--

Section 201 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal 
 Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative 
 agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a 
 State agency designated or established under subsection
            (c) to 
 establish, update, or operate a website to provide information 
 relating to post-disaster recovery funding and resources to a 
 community or an individual impacted by a major disaster or 
 emergency.
 ``

    (2) Management.--A website established, updated, or 
 operated under this subsection shall be--
 ``
        (A) managed by the State agency; and
 ``
        (B) suitable for the residents of the State of 
 the State agency.
 ``

    (3) Content.--The Administrator may provide funding to a 
 State agency under this subsection to establish, update, or 
 operate a website that provides only 1 or more of the 
 following:
 ``
        (A) A list of Federal, State, and local sources 
 of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that 
 may be available to a community after a disaster or 
 emergency.
 ``
        (B) A list of Federal, State, and local sources 
 of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that 
 may be available to an individual impacted by a major 
 disaster or emergency.
 ``
            (C) A technical guide that lists and explains the 
 costs and benefits of alternatives available to a 
 community to mitigate the impacts of a major disaster 
 or emergency and prepare for sequential hazards, such 
 as flooding after a wildfire.
 ``

    (4) Cooperation.--A State agency that receives funding or 
 technical assistance to establish, update, or operate a website 
 under this subsection shall cooperate with the Secretary of the 
 Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of 
 Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Small 
 Business Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal 
 Emergency Management Agency in establishing, updating, or 
 operating the website under this subsection.
 ``

    (5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to 
 establish, update, or operate a website under this subsection 
 shall update the website not less frequently than once every 
 180 days.''.

SEC. 302. POST-FIRE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall establish 1 or 
more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in 
this section as a ``BAER Team'') to coordinate immediate post-wildfire 
emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts.

    (b) Requirements.--A BAER Team shall--

    (1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to 
 determine burn severity;

    (2) identify and remove, as necessary, dead or dying trees 
 that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals, communities, 
 or critical infrastructure;

    (3) stabilize or remove hazardous materials resulting from 
 a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals, 
 communities, or the environment;

    (4) conduct emergency landscape stabilization and erosion 
 prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure public 
 safety;

    (5) prevent the proliferation and spread of invasive 
 species;

    (6) assist with informing the public of hazards resulting 
 from a wildfire;

    (7) collaborate, as necessary, with activities under 
 

section 303; and

    (8) conduct such other work as the Secretary concerned 
 determines to be necessary.
            (c) Duration.--To the maximum extent practicable, a BAER Team shall 
coordinate and respond to immediate post-wildfire emergency 
stabilization and erosion planning needs for a period of not more than 
1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire.
            (d) Funding.--The Secretary concerned may use to carry out this 
section funds made available by 

section 40803
            (c) (16) of the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592
            (c) (16) ).

SEC. 303. LONG-TERM BURNED AREA REHABILITATION ACCOUNT.

    (a) Establishment of Account.--There is established in the Treasury 
of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account 
for the Department of Agriculture.

    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter for 
the account established by subsection

    (a) such sums as are necessary to 
carry out the activities described in subsection
            (d) , not to exceed 
$100,000,000.
            (c) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2026 and each 
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
through the budget request of the President and in accordance with 
subsection

    (b) , a request for amounts in the National Forest System 
appropriation account to carry out the activities described in 
subsection
            (d) .
            (d) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use 
amounts in the account established by subsection

    (a) for rehabilitation 
projects located at sites impacted by a wildfire or post-wildfire 
flooding primarily on Federal land, but may include areas on non-
Federal land, that--

    (1) restore the functions of an ecosystem, including--
        (A) identifying areas where natural regeneration is 
 unlikely to occur;
        (B) revegetation and reforestation, including 
 coordinating any necessary site preparation, salvage 
 harvesting, and replanting;
            (C) watershed restoration;
            (D) invasive species mitigation and removal; and
        (E) wildlife habitat restoration; or

    (2) repair or replace infrastructure or facilities critical 
 for land management activities.

    (e) Duration of Activities.--A rehabilitation project under 
subsection
            (d) shall--

    (1) begin not earlier than the date on which the wildfire 
 was contained; and

    (2) be completed not later than 5 years after the date on 
 which the wildfire was contained.

    (f) Agreement Authority.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may enter to 
 agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out activities 
 described in subsection
            (d) .

    (2) Cost share.--The non-Federal share of the costs of 
 implementing activities under an agreement entered into under 
 paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) shall be not more than 20 percent; and
        (B) may include in-kind contributions.

    (3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection--
        (A) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to enter 
 into agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out 
 activities described in subsection
            (d) ; or
        (B) limits the effect of the prioritization 
 requirements under subsection

    (g) .

    (g) Prioritization of Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which funding requests 
are submitted under this section based on downstream effects on water 
resources.

    (h) Reporting.--Beginning in fiscal year 2027, and each fiscal year 
thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall annually submit to 
Congress a report on the burned area recovery work performed using--

    (1) amounts from the account established by subsection

    (a) ;

    (2) amounts made available under the Act of June 9, 1930 
 (16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.); and

    (3) amounts from the Reforestation Trust Fund established 
 by 

section 303

    (a) of Public Law 96-451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a

    (a) ).

SEC. 304. PRIZE FOR WILDFIRE-RELATED INVASIVE SPECIES REDUCTION.

 

Section 7001
            (d) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, 
Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b note; Public Law 116-9) 
is amended--

    (1) by striking ``paragraph

    (8)
        (A) '' each place it appears 
 and inserting ``paragraph

    (9)
        (A) '';

    (2) by striking ``paragraph

    (8)
        (B) '' each place it appears 
 and inserting ``paragraph

    (9)
        (B) '';

    (3) by redesignating paragraph

    (8) as paragraph

    (9) ;

    (4) by inserting after paragraph

    (7) the following:
 ``

    (8) Theodore roosevelt genius prize for management of 
 wildfire-related invasive species.--
 ``
        (A) === Definitions. ===
-In this paragraph:
 ``
            (i) Board.--The term `Board' means the 
 Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species 
 Technology Advisory Board established by 
 subparagraph
            (C) 
            (i) .
 ``
            (ii) Prize competition.--The term `prize 
 competition' means the Theodore Roosevelt 
 Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-
 related invasive species established under 
 subparagraph
        (B) .
 ``
        (B) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the 
 date of enactment of the Western Wildfire Support Act 
 of 2025, the Secretary shall establish under 

section 24 
 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize competition, to be known 
 as the `Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the 
 management of wildfire-related invasive species'--
 ``
            (i) to encourage technological innovation 
 with the potential to advance the mission of 
 the National Invasive Species Council with 
 respect to the management of wildfire-related 
 invasive species; and
 ``
            (ii) to award 1 or more prizes annually 
 for a technological advancement that manages 
 wildfire-related invasive species.
 ``
            (C) Advisory board.--
 ``
            (i) Establishment.--There is established 
 an advisory board, to be known as the 
 `Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive 
 Species Technology Advisory Board'.
 ``
            (ii) Composition.--The Board shall be 
 composed of not fewer than 9 members appointed 
 by the Secretary, who shall provide expertise 
 in--
 ``
            (I) invasive species;
 ``
            (II) biology;
 ``
            (III) technology development;
 ``
            (IV) engineering;
 ``
            (V) economics;
 ``
            (VI) business development and 
 management;
 ``
            (VII) wildfire; and
 ``
            (VIII) any other discipline, as 
 the Secretary determines to be 
 necessary to achieve the purposes of 
 this paragraph.
 ``
            (iii) Duties.--Subject to clause
            (iv) , 
 with respect to the prize competition, the 
 Board shall--
 ``
            (I) select a topic;
 ``
            (II) issue a problem statement;
 ``
            (III) advise the Secretary 
 regarding any opportunity for 
 technological innovation to manage 
 wildfire-related invasive species; and
 ``
            (IV) advise winners of the prize 
 competition regarding opportunities to 
 pilot and implement winning 
 technologies in relevant fields, 
 including in partnership with 
 conservation organizations, Federal or 
 State agencies, federally recognized 
 Indian Tribes, private entities, and 
 research institutions with expertise or 
 interest relating to the management of 
 wildfire-related invasive species.
 ``
            (iv) Consultation.--In selecting a topic 
 and issuing a problem statement for the prize 
 competition, the Board shall consult widely 
 with Federal and non-Federal stakeholders, 
 including--
 ``
            (I) 1 or more Federal agencies 
 with jurisdiction over the management 
 of invasive species;
 ``
            (II) 1 or more Federal agencies 
 with jurisdiction over the management 
 of wildfire;
 ``
            (III) 1 or more State agencies 
 with jurisdiction over the management 
 of invasive species;
 ``
            (IV) 1 or more State agencies 
 with jurisdiction over the management 
 of wildfire;
 ``
            (V) 1 or more State, regional, or 
 local wildlife organizations, the 
 mission of which relates to the 
 management of invasive species; and
 ``
            (VI) 1 or more wildlife 
 conservation groups, technology 
 companies, research institutions, 
 institutions of higher education, 
 industry associations, or individual 
 stakeholders with an interest in the 
 management of wildfire-related invasive 
 species.
 ``
            (v) Requirements.--The Board shall comply 
 with all requirements under paragraph

    (9)
        (A) .
 ``
            (D) Administration by the national invasive 
 species council.--The Secretary, acting through the 
 Executive Director of the National Invasive Species 
 Council, shall administer the prize competition and 
 perform the duties described in paragraph

    (9)
        (B)
            (i) .
 ``
        (E) Judges.--
 ``
            (i) Appointment.--The Secretary shall 
 appoint not fewer than 3 judges who shall, 
 except as provided in clause
            (ii) , select the 1 
 or more annual winners of the prize 
 competition.
 ``
            (ii) Determination by secretary.--The 
 judges appointed under clause
            (i) shall not 
 select any annual winner of the prize 
 competition if the Secretary makes a 
 determination that, in any fiscal year, none of 
 the technological advancements entered into the 
 prize competition merits an award.
 ``
        (F) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days 
 after the date on which a cash prize is awarded under 
 this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the 
 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
 and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
 Representatives a report on the prize competition that 
 includes--
 ``
            (i) a statement by the Board that 
 describes the activities carried out by the 
 Board relating to the duties described in 
 subparagraph
            (C) 
            (iii) ;
 ``
            (ii) a description of the 1 or more 
 annual winners of the prize competition; and
 ``
            (iii) a statement by 1 or more of the 
 judges appointed under subparagraph
        (E) that 
 explains the basis on which the 1 or more 
 winners of the prize competition was selected.
 ``
        (G) Termination of authority.--The Board and all 
 authority provided under this paragraph shall terminate 
 on December 31, 2028.''; and

    (5) in paragraph

    (9) (as so redesignated)--
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) , in the matter preceding 
 clause
            (i) , by striking ``or

    (7)
            (C) 
            (i) '' and inserting 
 ``

    (7)
            (C) 
            (i) , or

    (8)
            (C) 
            (i) ''; and
        (B) in subparagraph
            (C) --
            (i) in clause
            (i) , by inserting ``and the 
 amount of the initial cash prize awarded for a 
 year under paragraph

    (8) '' after ``subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (IX) ''; and
            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (iii) Additional wildfire cash prizes.--
 If the Secretary determines that funds are 
 available for an additional cash prize under 
 the prize competition under paragraph

    (8) for a 
 year, the Secretary shall determine the amount 
 of the additional cash prize.''.
 <all>