H.R. 7070 – Wildfire Response Improvement Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:13 PM UTC

The Wildfire Response Improvement Act directs FEMA to improve how wildfire mitigation and recovery projects are evaluated and funded. Within a year, FEMA must issue new regulations and guidance for fire management assistance and update the public assistance guide to address wildfire‑specific challenges. The bill also requires a review and update of cost‑effectiveness criteria for mitigation projects, affecting communities, state and local agencies, and entities that receive disaster assistance.

Key Provisions

FEMA must recommend regulations or guidance for fire management assistance, including emergency stabilization, within one year of enactment.
FEMA must amend the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide to add guidance on wildfire recovery issues such as debris removal, emergency protective measures, and drinking‑water toxicity.
FEMA must review and update the criteria used to judge the cost‑effectiveness of wildfire mitigation projects, covering pre‑calculated benefits, nature‑based infrastructure, vegetation management, smoke health impacts, and water‑system protection.
Based on the review, FEMA must issue updated criteria and prioritize mitigation projects accordingly.
Amends the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to change waiver timing, extend a provision from 5 to 10 years, and remove income thresholds for eligibility.

Legislative Activity

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7 earlier actions

HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 763.

December 19, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 22, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 22, 2024

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee

January 25, 2024

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 31, 2024

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 31, 2024

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 31, 2024

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 118-933.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

December 19, 2024

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 763.

December 19, 2024

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 7070 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Doug LaMalfaR-CA-1 · Jan 29, 2024

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the issue of wildfire in the West has been very devastating for several years now--many, many years--but there have been incredibly large fires in the last 5 and 7 to 10…

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued December 19, 2024

IB

Union Calendar No. 763

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7070

[Report No. 118–933]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 22, 2024

Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

December 19, 2024

Additional sponsors: Ms. Titus, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Case, Mr. Neguse, and Mr. Levin

December 19, 2024

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 22, 2024

A BILL

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of certain mitigation projects, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Response Improvement Act.

2.

Fire management assistance program policy

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall recommend such regulations or guidance as are necessary to make eligible assessments and emergency stabilization to protect public safety, including for the fire management assistance program under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187), irrespective of the incident period for a declared fire.

3.

Changes to public assistance policy guide

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall amend the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to include guidance on wildfire-specific recovery challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water resources.

4.

Mitigation cost-effectiveness

(a)

In general

The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of projects intended to mitigate the impacts of wildfire under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c), including—

(1)

the establishment of pre-calculated benefits criterion for common defensible space mitigation projects for wildfire mitigation;

(2)

the use of nature-based infrastructure in wildfire mitigation;

(3)

considerations for vegetation management for wildfire mitigation;

(4)

reducing the negative effects of wildfire smoke on public health; and

(5)

lessening the impact of wildfires on water infrastructure.

(b)

Updated criteria

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such guidance as is necessary to—

(1)

update criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 5170c) based on the results of the review conducted under subsection (a); and

(2)

prioritize projects under such sections based on the criteria updated under paragraph (1).

5.

Waiver of duplicate benefits

Section 1210(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–254) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3) by striking between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021 and inserting during the period beginning on January 1, 2016, and ending on the date on which the provision contained in such amendment is struck pursuant to paragraph (4);

(2)

in paragraph (4) by striking 5 and inserting 10;

(3)

by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(4)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

(5)

Prohibition on income threshold

In carrying out the amendment made by paragraph (1), no income threshold may be applied to limit the eligibility of a recipient from qualifying for a waiver under the amendment made by such paragraph.

.

December 19, 2024

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed