Bill > HR753

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a comprehensive program to improve wildfire forecasting and detection, with the primary goals of reducing loss of life, property damage, and economic impacts. The program aims to enhance wildfire prediction by developing advanced technologies and methodologies, including improved satellite detection products, grid-based fuel moisture assessments, coupled atmosphere and fire modeling systems, and climate-linked land management decision tools. Specifically, the bill requires NOAA to collaborate with weather industry and academic partners to develop more accurate wildfire forecasts and warnings, with a focus on predicting fire intensification and spread, tracking smoke dispersion, improving risk communication, and enabling early fire detection. To support these objectives, the bill authorizes the creation of weather research testbeds dedicated to developing enhanced wildfire detection and forecasting capabilities, with $15 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026. The testbed program must be established within 180 days of the bill's enactment and cannot utilize resources from existing NOAA cooperative institutes, ensuring the development of new, dedicated research infrastructure for wildfire prediction and mitigation.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/753/all-info