August 15, 2025
Ms. Dexter (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Ms. McClellan, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Pettersen, Mr. Thanedar, and Ms. DeGette) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To improve understanding and policy responses to the impacts of wildfire smoke on children in educational and childcare settings, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Shielding Students from Wildfire Smoke Act
.
Sec. 2. Review of impacts of wildfire smoke on children in educational and childcare settings
(a) In general
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a review of existing school and childcare policies addressing wildfire smoke exposure, both during and after a wildfire event, to ensure that children in K–12 educational settings and young children in childcare settings, including in out-of-school or out-of-childcare activities (such as children’s sports and summer camps) that are administered by a school or childcare program are adequately protected from the risks posed by wildfire smoke.
(b) Elements
The review under subsection (a) shall contain the following:
(1)
An assessment of current standards, guidance, and mitigation strategies for wildfire smoke in K–12 educational settings and childcare settings, including in out-of-school or out-of-childcare activities.
(2)
An identification of gaps in research and policy relating to such standards, guidance, and strategies.
(3)
Recommendations to Congress regarding strategies to better protect children during and after wildfire smoke events, including children in under-resourced K–12 educational settings and childcare settings.