Bill > S647

This bill establishes a network of at least 7 regional wildland fire research centers across different U.S. regions including Alaska, California, the Northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Islands, Southeast, and Southwest. The centers will be located at institutions of higher education or land-grant universities with existing wildland fire research capabilities, and will focus on coordinating and conducting research to better understand wildland fires, including their causes, spread, behavior, and impacts. The centers will develop technologies and tools to predict fire potential, monitor fire behavior, reduce fire severity, support land management decisions, and improve firefighter safety. A National Center Coordination Board will be created to oversee these centers, establish research priorities, coordinate data collection, and ensure collaboration between different research entities. Each regional center will also have an advisory board composed of representatives from wildland fire management agencies, state governments, tribal organizations, and other stakeholders. The bill authorizes $60-64 million annually from 2026-2030 to establish and administer these centers, with the Secretary of Commerce leading the initiative in coordination with NOAA and the U.S. Forest Service. The centers will be required to make their research and data openly available and submit biennial reports to Congress on their progress and recommendations for improving wildland fire research.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/647/all-info