Janelle Bynum (D-OR)
Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act requires the FAA Administrator to study how drone incursions affect wildfire suppression on land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. The study will look at the last five years to determine how many incursions interfered with firefighting, the delays caused, and the costs to the government. It also examines if educational materials or counter-UAS systems are effective at preventing these incursions. The Administrator must submit a report with findings and recommendations to specific House and Senate committees within 18 months.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Directly addresses the management of land overseen by the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture during wildfires.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Directly impacts the safety and protection of rural areas prone to wildfires.
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The act focuses on improving the efficiency and safety of aerial response during wildfire disasters.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Firefighting Efficiency: By studying how drone incursions delay aerial firefighting response units and the time needed for complete suppression, the bill seeks to find ways to remove these obstacles (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Public Education: The bill evaluates the feasibility of sharing educational materials about how drones interfere with wildfire operations, which could lead to better public awareness (Section 2(c)(2)(A)).
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Enhanced Safety Measures: The study evaluates the use of approved counter-UAS systems to detect, mitigate, and prevent drone incursions during firefighting (Section 2(c)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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? — Directly addresses the management of land overseen by the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture during wildfires. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The act focuses on improving the efficiency and safety of aerial response during wildfire disasters. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Studying drone incursions to improve wildfire suppression effectiveness helps protect forest lands from uncontrolled fire. Does this invest in rural communities? — Improved wildfire suppression specifically benefits rural and forested areas managed by the USDA and DOI.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Directly impacts the safety and protection of rural areas prone to wildfires. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers and rural landowners benefit from more efficient wildfire suppression on adjacent federal lands.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires a public report to Congress on the costs and delays caused by drone incursions. Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases the FAA's role in studying and potentially recommending drone restrictions during wildfires.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Mandates a federal study and evaluation of counter-UAS technology effectiveness.
- 3/25/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3/24/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2654)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6618.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2654-2655)
- Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 3/16/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-548.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 471.
- 1/21/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 1/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/12/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
- 12/11/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 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.
Elijah CraneRepublican · Arizona
Juan CiscomaniRepublican · Arizona
Marcy KapturDemocrat · Ohio
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado