February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025
Mr. Sheehy (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan to reorganize Federal wildland fire response, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Federal wildland fire response reorganization
(a) In general
The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the Secretaries) shall jointly develop a plan to consolidate the authorities of the Secretaries relating to Federal wildland fire preparedness, suppression, and recovery efforts under an agency of the Department of the Interior, to be known as the National Wildland Firefighting Service
.
(b) Requirements
The plan developed under subsection (a) shall include—
(1)
a budget for the National Wildland Firefighting Service;
(2)
a description of the qualifications required for an individual to be appointed to be the Director of the National Wildland Firefighting Service, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
(3)
a description of the resources and authorities necessary to consolidate Federal wildland fire response efforts of the Secretaries in the National Wildland Firefighting Service.
(c) Report
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit a report describing the plan developed under subsection (a) to—
(1)
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;
(2)
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
(3)
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(4)
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.