H.R. 934 · 118th Congress · House

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

Active· Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-924, Part I.
Introduced
Feb 9, 23
Passed House
Pending
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

This bill sets out requirements for wildfire suppression and management activities carried out by the Forest Service.

These requirements apply to Forest Service land that (1) has a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought intensity rating; (2) has a National Wildland Fire Preparedness level of 5 (i.e., the highest level of wildland fire activity); or (3) is located in a fireshed ranked in the top 10% of wildfire exposure.

Within 24 hours of detecting a wildfire on covered Forest Service land, the service must use all available resources to extinguish the wildfire. Additionally, the service may not inhibit the firefighting activities of state and local agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfires on covered Forest Service land.

Further, the service may not initiate a backfire or burnout as part of a fire suppression strategy unless it is ordered by the responsible incident commander or is necessary to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. The service must use all available resources to control any initiated fire until it is extinguished.

The bill also limits the service's use of prescribed fires (i.e., the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire). The service must comply with all applicable laws and regulations concerning prescribed fires and must immediately suppress a prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription.

Action Timeline

12
  1. DEC 18, 2024Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources

    H. Rept. 118-924, Part I.

    118Yea
    924Nay
    0NV
  2. DEC 18, 2024Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources

    H. Rept. 118-924, Part I.

    118Yea
    924Nay
    0NV
  3. SEP 20, 2023Committee

    Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged

  4. SEP 20, 2023Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  5. SEP 20, 2023Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  6. MAY 23, 2023Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  7. MAR 09, 2023Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.

  8. FEB 21, 2023Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

  9. FEB 09, 2023IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  10. FEB 09, 2023IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  11. FEB 09, 2023IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.

  12. FEB 09, 2023IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.

Committees

9

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Dec 19, 2024

Active

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Sep 20, 2023

Active

Federal Lands Subcommittee

hsii10

Referred: Sep 20, 2023

Active

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Sep 20, 2023

Active

Federal Lands Subcommittee

hsii10

Referred: May 23, 2023

Active

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

hsag15

Referred: Mar 9, 2023

Active

Federal Lands Subcommittee

hsii10

Referred: Feb 21, 2023

Active

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Feb 9, 2023

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: Feb 9, 2023

Active