Bill > S3609

This bill, titled the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act, establishes a grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator to help communities prepare for and recover from wildfires. The program will provide grants to eligible entities, such as states, Indian Tribes, local governments, and fire departments, to either develop comprehensive "community protection and wildfire resilience plans" or to implement projects outlined in existing plans. These plans must involve collaboration with local communities, first responders, and state agencies, and include strategies for early detection, public education, evacuation planning, protecting vulnerable populations, hardening critical infrastructure and homes, creating "defensible space" (clearing vegetation within 100 feet of structures), building local capacity, and strategic land use planning. The bill also includes provisions for reporting on federal wildfire protection programs, studying incentives for insurance companies to recognize wildfire-resilient communities, updating the definition of at-risk communities, and assessing radio communication capabilities for wildfire management. Additionally, it amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to allow grants for "structure hardening," which involves modifying buildings and surrounding areas to make them more resistant to wildfire damage.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3609/all-info