Brittany Pettersen (D-CO)
Wildfire Research Coordination Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, 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.
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, titled the "Wildfire Research Coordination Act of 2026," directs the Secretary of Defense to create a joint memorandum of understanding. This agreement involves the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior. The goal is to coordinate research and technology priorities regarding fire science. These priorities include mitigation, ecological resilience, fire and smoke modeling, response, and post-fire recovery. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense must submit a report on implementation actions to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services within one year.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
By coordinating fire science research, the bill enhances the ability to mitigate and respond to wildfire disasters.
- Scored +4
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Coordinating research on fire science improves the management of lands overseen by the Forest Service and Department of Interior.
- Scored +3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill promotes environmental resilience through coordinated fire science research and mitigation efforts.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Coordinated Fire Science Research: The bill aims to identify joint priorities in areas such as mitigation, ecological resilience, fire and smoke modeling, response, and post-fire recovery (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1). This coordination could benefit people by aligning different government programs to address fire science more effectively.
-
Program Alignment: The bill aligns research with the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, and the Joint Fire Science Program (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1, subparagraphs A and B). This ensures that various departmental programs are working toward shared goals.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens 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 improve help for people hit by a disaster? — By coordinating fire science research, the bill enhances the ability to mitigate and respond to wildfire disasters. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Coordinating research on fire science improves the management of lands overseen by the Forest Service and Department of Interior. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill promotes environmental resilience through coordinated fire science research and mitigation efforts.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Improved wildfire mitigation and research can help protect rural communities from fire disasters.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill facilitates increased coordination of existing research programs related to fire science.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires a report to Congress on implementation actions, enhancing oversight.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/30/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York