Western Wildfire Support Act of 2023

The Frame

What this does

The bill authorizes up to $4.5 billion annually for federal firefighting operations and creates new grant opportunities for local communities to purchase fire suppression equipment and conduct hazard reduction, directly impacting federal land management and local emergency response capabilities.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

State and local governments

Eligible to receive grants for slip-on tank units and community wildfire protection planning.

Department of Defense

Required to reimburse costs for fire suppression when fires are caused by military training.

Private citizens

Eligible to volunteer for non-suppression support roles and participate in local hazard reduction teams.

Homeowners in at-risk communities

May receive assistance for brush and slash disposal through local programs funded by the bill.

What changed

Last recorded activity November 21, 2024.

What's next

Introduced.

Background

Ms. Cortez Masto is a U.S. Senator representing Nevada, a state frequently impacted by wildland fires. context

Summary

This bill establishes new federal accounts and grant programs to improve wildfire preparation, detection, and post-fire recovery. It authorizes billions in annual funding for firefighting operations, creates a grant program for local fire suppression equipment, and mandates new strategic fire management planning.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can volunteers use this program to help fight fires directly?

No, the bill explicitly states that no volunteer certified under this program may engage in an operation to directly suppress a wildland fire.

How much funding can a community receive for a local hazard reduction grant?

Grants are capped at $20,000 per project and require a 10% cost-sharing contribution from the recipient.

What happens if a wildfire is caused by military training?

The Secretary of Defense is required to reimburse state or federal agencies for the reasonable costs of fire suppression services provided in response to such fires.

Why It Matters

The bill authorizes up to $4.5 billion annually for federal firefighting operations and creates new grant opportunities for local communities to purchase fire suppression equipment and conduct hazard reduction, directly impacting federal land management and local emergency response capabilities.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Shift toward spatial planning

The bill mandates a transition to spatial, map-based fire management plans for all federal land units, moving away from generalized management strategies.

Department of Agriculture Department of the Interior

financial connection95% confidence

Military accountability

The bill creates a direct financial link between military training activities and the cost of wildfire suppression, shifting the burden of reimbursement to the Department of Defense.

Department of Defense

Connected Entities

organizationCommittee on Natural Resources“The bill references this committee in the House.”Map →

location100th meridian“Used to define the boundaries of the 'National Forest System'.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources“The bill was referred to this committee.”Map →

organizationDepartment of the Interior“Funds for ground-based firefighting operations are allocated to this department.”Map →

personSecretary of Agriculture“The Secretary of Agriculture is involved in managing Federal land.”Map →

organizationDepartment of Agriculture“Funds for ground-based firefighting operations are allocated to this department.”Map →

otherForest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974“Used to define 'National Forest System'.”Map →

personSecretary of the Interior“The Secretary of the Interior is involved in managing Federal land.”Map →

personCortez Masto“Introduced the bill in the Senate.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Appropriations“The bill references the Appropriations committees in the Senate and House.”Map →

otherBankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act“Excluded from the definition of 'National Forest System'.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level