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117-s-3092117th CongressWALLET

FIRE Act

Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

Became Law

Summary

Wildfire risk management is the core focus, pairing stronger data and pre-disaster planning with faster housing aid and mental-health support.

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  • Families and disaster survivors: Requires a relocation assistance report within 180 days and a housing plan and report within 180 days to speed housing aid and address multi-family or near-total loss situations.
  • Mental health and case managers: Requires training for counselors and case-management providers to address wildfire trauma and to reach socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, funded by amounts appropriated on or after enactment.
  • Tribal governments: Extends eligibility for emergency operations center upgrade grants to Indian tribal governments, applicable to funds appropriated after enactment.
  • Emergency planners and agencies: Orders a Government Accountability Office review, a study to integrate Red Flag Warning forecasting with the National Weather Service, and congressional briefings to improve pre-disaster surge and coordination.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger wildfire planning and oversight

Within 1 year, GAO reports to Congress on FEMA’s wildfire policies, gaps, and ways to speed help. Within 1 year, FEMA and the National Weather Service study using forecasts and Red Flag Warnings to plan actions before a fire and report recommendations to Congress. Within 180 days, FEMA briefs Congress on how wildfire aid is applied and the kinds of damage wildfires cause.

Better disaster housing and relocation planning

Within 180 days, FEMA reports on how it uses relocation help for wildfire risk, including counts and dollar values of projects approved or denied. The report analyzes cost-effectiveness, wildfire mapping needs, insurance effects, barriers, and how to define repetitive loss. Within 180 days, FEMA also studies and plans housing help when many families share a home or a community faces near‑total loss, submits a full report, and briefs Congress within 30 days. Within 180 days, FEMA briefs Congress on how it uses State or local housing proposals to cut time or cost after a disaster.

Training standards for disaster counselors

People who provide crisis counseling or case management after a major disaster must be trained. Training must cover community impacts and how to help people with socio‑economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This applies to funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment.

Tribal access to emergency center grants

Tribal governments can apply for grants to upgrade Emergency Operations Centers. These grants were previously limited to States and local governments. The change applies to funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 10/27/2021

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 11/1/2021

  • Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 11/1/2021

  • Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 11/1/2021

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 12/7/2021

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2022

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2022

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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