Kim Schrier (D-WA)
National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025," directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to expand the use of prescribed fire on Federal lands. It places a special emphasis on National Forest System units in the western and southeastern United States. The legislation aims to support the traditional cultural burning practices used by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners. It establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund specific landscape-scale projects. Additionally, the bill provides for workforce development, training centers, and expanded liability protections for fire managers.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill enhances federal land management through expanded prescribed fire and ecosystem restoration efforts.
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill explicitly supports and protects the traditional cultural burning practices of Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners.
- Scored +6
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
By expanding prescribed fire, the bill proactively reduces the risk and impact of devastating wildfires.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Indigenous Practices: The bill acknowledges and supports the long-standing use of cultural burning by Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners (Introduction).
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Increased Wildfire Resilience: By expanding prescribed fire use, the bill aims to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires (Section 104(b)(3)(A)).
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Job Creation and Local Economic Benefits: The Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program is intended to benefit local economies by providing employment or training opportunities through various contracts and agreements (Section s 104(b)(7)).
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Workforce Development and Career Pathways: The bill seeks to provide career pathways, training, and support services for specific groups, including veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals (Section 202(a)(4) and (6)).
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Federal Employee Benefits: Federal employees performing work directly related to the ignition, management, and control of a prescribed fire are entitled to hazard pay (Section 202(a)(1)(A)).
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Liability Protections: The bill establishes liability protections for non-Federal entities acting under the direct supervision of a Federal employee during covered activities (Section 203(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Public Health Concerns Regarding Smoke: The bill acknowledges the need to address public health and safety regarding impacts from smoke caused by wildfires and prescribed fires (Section 204(a)(1)).
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Risk of Uncontrolled Fire: The bill identifies the need to manage "uncharacteristic wildfire" risk, implying that current conditions may pose a danger (Section 104(b)(3)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill enhances federal land management through expanded prescribed fire and ecosystem restoration efforts. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — By expanding prescribed fire, the bill proactively reduces the risk and impact of devastating wildfires. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill promotes ecological restoration and habitat improvement through managed fire regimes. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill aims to benefit local economies and provide training opportunities in rural or forested areas.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly supports and protects the traditional cultural burning practices of Indian Tribes and Indigenous practitioners. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill creates specific career pathways and training opportunities for veterans to become fire practitioners. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides economic benefits and training opportunities that can support local rural economies. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides potential contract opportunities for small and micro businesses.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill promotes job creation through workforce development and local employment contracts related to prescribed fire projects. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides opportunities for small businesses through contracts and agreements for prescribed fire activities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases the role and authority of federal agencies in managing prescribed fire on federal lands. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual implementation and project reports to Congress.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill establishes career pathways and training opportunities specifically for veterans to work as prescribed fire practitioners.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill supports research related to smoke management and fire-related environmental tools.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill funds research into smoke prediction models and mitigation strategies to address public health concerns.
- 8/26/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Janelle BynumDemocrat · Oregon
David ValadaoRepublican · California