The bill facilitates federal assistance, which can include grants, supplies, and personnel to help states and local communities cope with the adverse effects of wildfire smoke. These provisions may lead to improved public health measures during smoke emergencies, including the establishment of smoke shelters and enhanced air monitoring. Furthermore, the Small Business Administration is authorized to provide grants to small businesses that suffer revenue loss due to wildfire smoke, thus aiming to mitigate the economic impacts associated with smoke emergencies.
Summary
House Bill 5329, the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2023, aims to empower the President to declare a smoke emergency in states that experience significant degradation in air quality due to wildfires. The bill supports state efforts by allowing the governor to request such a declaration, stimulating federal involvement during critical air quality emergencies caused by smoke from wildfires. It therefore establishes a formal pathway for emergency management and resource allocation to better address public health implications during such events.
Contention
A notable point of contention surrounding HB5329 is the balance of federal versus state roles in disaster response. While proponents argue that federal intervention is necessary to effectively manage the growing incidence of wildfires and their consequences, critics might express concerns about federal overreach into state governance. Furthermore, there may be debates regarding the adequacy of funding and resources available for implementing the provisions of the bill and ensuring they meet the needs of affected communities.
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2023 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 FY2026. 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 the Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board. The bill also requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to reimburse a state or federal agency for the costs of wildfire suppression as a result of a fire caused by DOD activity, requires the Joint Fire Science Program to work with unmanned aircraft test ranges to carry out research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications, requires federal and state disaster preparedness programs to include postdisaster assistance, and authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postfire recovery funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted by a wildland fire.