A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
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
The Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025 aims to improve Federal activities regarding wildfires. The bill includes provisions for increased transparency in firefighting accounts and establishes reimbursement protocols for fires caused by military training. It mandates strategic wildland fire management planning and studies on integrating local firefighters into response efforts. Additionally, the act supports wildfire detection equipment, research for unmanned aircraft systems, and studies on drone incursions. Finally, it addresses post-fire recovery through online assistance guides, emergency response teams, and long-term rehabilitation accounts.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill increases resources and information access for post-fire recovery and community assistance.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill improves the management of federal lands through strategic fire planning and restoration.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill enhances environmental stability through ecosystem restoration and invasive species management.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Financial Accountability: The bill requires reporting on specific amounts obligated and expended from Wildland Fire Management accounts, including details on ground-based, aircraft, and personnel costs (Sec. 101).
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State Agency Reimbursement: State agencies can be reimbursed for fire suppression services resulting from military training or Department of Defense operations (Sec. 102).
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Improved Safety Planning: The mandate for spatial fire management policies aims to identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first responders and communities (Sec. 103).
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Enhanced Detection Capabilities: The bill seeks to expedite the placement of detection equipment like sensors and cameras to improve wildfire response (Sec. 201).
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Support for Local Entities: Financial assistance for slip-on tanker units is expanded to include Indian Tribes (Sec. 202).
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Access to Recovery Information: The act allows for the creation of websites to provide communities and individuals with lists of Federal, State, and local sources for post-disaster recovery assistance (Sec. 301).
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Immediate Landscape Stabilization: The establishment of Burned Area Emergency Response Teams helps coordinate post-wildfire efforts like removing hazardous trees and preventing erosion (Sec. 302).
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Long-Term Ecosystem Restoration: A dedicated account is established to fund projects like reforestation, watershed restoration, and wildlife habitat restoration on Federal lands (Sec. 303).
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Technological Innovation Incentives: A prize competition is created to encourage technological advancements for managing wildfire-related invasive species (Sec. 304).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Costs for Federal Agencies: The bill mandates specific reporting on a wide range of costs, including administrative and support costs for catastrophic wildfires (Sec. 101).
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Potential Risks from Drones: The bill includes a study on drone incursions, noting that such activities can interfere with wildfire suppression, delay aerial response units, and increase government expenditures (Sec. 204).
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Resource Limitations for Response Teams: The Burned Area Emergency Response Teams are authorized to operate for a period of not more than 1 year after a wildfire is contained (Sec. 302).
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 improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill increases resources and information access for post-fire recovery and community assistance. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill improves the management of federal lands through strategic fire planning and restoration. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill enhances environmental stability through ecosystem restoration and invasive species management.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill extends financial assistance for firefighting equipment to Indian Tribes. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides enhanced wildfire prevention and recovery support which benefits rural communities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates increased transparency for wildfire management account obligations and expenditures.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill funds research into unmanned aircraft systems and wildfire response technologies.
- 12/5/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 12/1/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 10/17/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.