S. 4654 – Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:48 PM UTC

The bill changes the Stafford Disaster Relief Act so that Indian tribal governments can directly request fire management assistance declarations and related grants, instead of having to go through a state. It also directs the President to issue new regulations within a year so FEMA can process these tribal requests and consider tribal-specific needs. The changes keep tribes eligible for assistance through state requests if a direct tribal request is not approved.

Key Provisions

Adds "Indian tribal government" to the list of entities eligible for fire management assistance under the Stafford Act
Allows a tribal chief executive to directly submit a request for a fire management assistance declaration
Requires the President to issue regulations within one year enabling FEMA to receive and act on tribal requests and provide grants directly
Mandates that regulations consider tribal welfare, maintain eligibility through state requests if a direct request is denied, and involve government‑to‑government consultation with tribes
Includes a savings provision preserving tribal access to assistance via state requests when a direct tribal request is not granted

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

8 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 18, 2024 • 6:26 PM

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 10, 2024

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 10, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 31, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-237.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

November 12, 2024

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 550.

November 12, 2024

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7095; text: CR S7095)

December 17, 2024

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 18, 2024

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 18, 2024 • 6:02 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 18, 2024 • 6:26 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4654 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Dec 17, 2024

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 550, S. 4654. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be…

Bill Text

3 versions available

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Engrossed in SenateIssued December 17, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4654

AN ACT

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request fire management assistance declarations and grants, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act.

2.

Indian tribal government eligibility

(a)

In general

Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by inserting , Indian tribal government, before or local government;

(2)

by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c) through (f), respectively;

(3)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

Procedure for request

The Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government affected by a fire described in subsection (a) may directly submit a request to authorize assistance under this section.

; and

(4)

by adding at the end the following:

(g)

Savings provision

Nothing in this section shall prohibit an Indian tribal government from receiving assistance under this section pursuant to an authorization made at the request of a State under subsection (b) if assistance is not authorized under this section for the same incident based on a request by the Indian tribal government under subsection (b).

.

(b)

Regulations

(1)

Fire management assistance declaration defined

In this subsection, the term fire management assistance declaration means a declaration approved under section 204.21(a) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations.

(2)

Update

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall issue regulations updating part 204 of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).

(3)

Contents

In issuing the regulations required under paragraph (2), the President shall—

(A)

authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to directly receive a request for a fire management assistance declaration from an Indian tribal government and directly provide related grants and resources to Indian tribal governments;

(B)

clarify that Indian tribal governments for which the President does not grant a request described in subparagraph (A) remain eligible to receive assistance under section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) through assistance granted under a fire management assistance declaration made at the request of a State;

(C)

consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments; and

(D)

enter into government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding the regulations.

Passed the Senate December 17 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.

Secretary