ACERO Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 390) to utlitize the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response to Operations project of NASA to improve aerial responses to wildfires, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 390, the bill that is now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 390, the ACERO Act, sponsored by Representatives Fong and McClellan. This important, bipartisan legislation will enhance our ability to respond to wildfires and mitigate the destruction that they cause.

Each year, wildfires burn millions of acres, threatening lives, destroying homes, and causing billions of dollars in damage. Federal agencies are increasingly turning to advanced technologies to improve wildfire detection, response, and suppression efforts.

Aerial capabilities are critical tools in combating wildfires, enabling crews to monitor fire behavior and spread, conduct suppression activities, and support ground operations. As unmanned aircraft systems continue to mature, they present new opportunities to strengthen aerial operations. Drones can map fire perimeters, assist with suppression efforts, enhance communications across large or remote areas, and even deliver equipment. In the future, some missions currently carried out by piloted helicopters may be performed by unmanned aircraft, which reduces risk to human life.

At the same time, aerial wildfire operations face significant challenges. Heavy smoke can severely limit visibility, grounding aircraft and disrupting response efforts. Rapidly changing fire behavior can complicate navigation and real-time coordination among multiple aircraft operating simultaneously. These airspace management challenges can hinder operations at the very moment decisive action is required.

NASA's Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations, or ACERO, project seeks to improve airspace management and coordination during emergency response activities. Building on prior NASA research, ACERO aims to enhance information sharing, communications, and airspace coordination while developing interoperable tools to improve situational awareness. More timely and accurate information can support safer, more effective decisionmaking and better coordination among Federal, State, and local agencies during wildfire events.

This legislation directs NASA to leverage its unique research and development expertise in aeronautics, airspace systems, and advanced technologies to further the objectives of the ACERO project in support of wildfire response.

This is a practical, forward-looking application of American innovation to protect lives, including those of our first responders. These brave men and women who risk their safety to combat wildfires deserve every available tool to bolster response capabilities and enhance operational safety.

I thank Representatives Fong and McClellan for their work to address this pressing need.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, the ACERO Act promotes the development of advanced technologies to strengthen our wildfire response efforts. NASA should leverage its unique aeronautics expertise to improve the emergency operations involving aerial assets. ACERO seeks to enhance situational awareness, coordination, and information sharing among aerial platforms, both piloted and unmanned. This bill recognizes the important work already underway and encourages NASA to continue advancing these efforts.

Again, I thank Representatives Fong and McClellan for their bipartisan leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 390, the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act, or ACERO Act.

Destructive wildfires threaten human lives and communities around the country. Just over 1 year ago, the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in southern California killed 31 people and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage.

In 2025, the U.S. experienced nearly 78,000 wildfires that burned more than 5 million acres. One tool we can use to prevent, mitigate, and respond to wildfires is aviation. Crewed aircraft have long been used to monitor and fight fires. Now, advanced aviation technologies and uncrewed aerial systems can advance our response to wildfires.

It is important now more than ever that crewed and uncrewed aircraft work together safely alongside ground operations. That means sharing and coordinating real-time operations information between aircraft, drone operators, and ground crews across multiple government agencies.

Here is where NASA and ACERO come in. NASA has done further research, development, and demonstration work, to use its tools and technologies for specific public safety applications, including wildfire response. The success of an initial pilot program led NASA to launch the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project, or ACERO.

This legislation would formally codify the research and development efforts under ACERO in law. This bill directs NASA to conduct research and development activities to improve aerial responses to wildfires.

Additionally, NASA would be authorized under this bill to conduct research in areas including advanced aircraft technologies and airspace management, information sharing and real-time data exchange, and the development of an interagency coordination platform.

We need to ensure our first responders have access to the most advanced tools to respond to wildfires. This bill supports using NASA's brightest minds and cutting-edge technologies to support the safety of our communities. The ACERO Act will enable safer, more effective aerial operations for Federal, State, and local efforts on the front lines of wildfire management and response.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Fong and Ms. McClellan, for their work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 390, and I yield back the balance of my time.