Wildfire Smoke Relief Act

Smoke relief for at-risk households

If enacted, the bill would let FEMA use its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program to fund smoke-prevention help. You would qualify if your area had an unhealthy air quality index for at least three straight days from wildfires and you meet a vulnerability. Vulnerabilities include being low-income (taxable income last year at or below 200% of the Census poverty level), a parent of a child under 19, pregnant, age 65 or older, or having chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, or smoke-worsened disease. The federal help would go to qualified entities — state or local governments, local public health authorities, or coordinated care organizations — to buy and give equipment. Covered items would include portable air filtration units and replacement filters, NIOSH-certified respirators (for example N95 or P100), weather stripping and other low-cost measures to keep smoke out, ventilation or window coverings, and not more than one portable air conditioner per household. If equipment does not sufficiently lower illness risk for an eligible person, the program would provide cost-efficient temporary shelter.