Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Harder (CA)
In Committee
Summary
Strengthens training, coordination, and responder health for structural firefighters tackling wildfires and wildland‑urban interface (WUI) incidents. The bill creates a national training plan, a new Under Secretary for Fire Coordination, targeted grants, DoD support rules, and expanded health and mental‑health programs for responders.
Show full summary
- Firefighters: Requires a National Training Plan to bring structural firefighters into wildfire and WUI response using standard courses and allows competitive training grants for nonprofits to deliver that training. It authorizes $5 million per year for training grants for 2026–2031.
- Local fire departments and EMS: Authorizes direct Supplemental Firefighter Assistance grants to departments and nonaffiliated EMS. Grants are capped up to $9 million per jurisdiction and the bill provides $100 million for FY2026 to award such grants.
- Responder health research: Establishes an OSHA firefighter health and safety research program focused on respiratory risk and PFAS and other carcinogens, with up to $20 million per year for 2026–2031.
- Mental health support: Changes disaster mental health criteria to require practitioners and peer support training and allows grants to develop that training with up to $10 million per year for 2026–2031.
- Federal coordination and DoD support: Creates an Under Secretary to coordinate across federal, state, and local partners, requires DoD firefighting support when requested with agreed reimbursement rates, and mandates a DoD report on barriers and costs.
*Authorizes federal spending: $5 million per year for training grants (2026–2031), up to $20 million per year for firefighter health research (2026–2031), up to $10 million per year for mental health support (2026–2031), and $100 million for FY2026 in supplemental grants.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New research on firefighter health risks
If enacted, NIOSH would run a program to study firefighter lung risks during wildfires and to measure PFAS and other carcinogens in the field and in gear. The Director would consult with the U.S. Fire Administration, Agriculture, Interior, EPA, and firefighter groups. A report would be due within 180 days and then every year. The bill would authorize $20 million per year for FY2026–2031.
Grants for wildfire gear and training
If enacted, the Agriculture Department would publish a national plan within 1 year to train structural firefighters for wildfires and WUI fires. Nonprofits could get competitive grants to design and deliver training that follows the plan, with $5 million a year in FY2026–2031. Up to 2.5% could fund technical help, and funds would remain available until used. Fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS groups could also apply for grants to buy wildfire‑ready protective gear and training, with $100 million available in FY2026. Annual caps would depend on local population, up to $9 million per jurisdiction, and no single award could exceed 1% of that year’s funds unless waived for extraordinary need.
Defense firefighters can help on request
If enacted, the Defense Department could send its firefighters to help with wildfires when a qualified agency head asks. The requesting agency would reimburse Defense at rates agreed by the Defense, Agriculture, and Interior Secretaries. Defense would also report to Congress on any cost or logistics barriers.
Stronger wildfire leadership and labor voice
If enacted, a new Under Secretary for Fire Coordination at the Agriculture Department would lead federal, state, and local wildfire coordination and report to Congress within 1 year. Within 60 days, the Agriculture and Interior Secretaries would add a national firefighter labor representative to the Wildland Fire Leadership Council and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The same representative could serve on both, if appropriate.
More mental health support for responders
If enacted, disaster task forces that include firefighters would need mental health practitioners on the team. Every member would be trained to give peer support, spot post‑traumatic stress signs, use de‑escalation, and make referrals. The bill would allow up to $10 million per year for FY2026–2031 to fund training through nonprofits. This applies to task force members, not the general public.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Cosponsors
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in