Gary Peters (D-MI)
Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
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 "Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act," aims to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It seeks to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request fire management assistance declarations and grants. The legislation would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive these requests directly from tribal governments. It also requires the President to update specific federal regulations within one year of enactment. Additionally, the bill mandates government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding these new regulations.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill grants Indian tribal governments direct authority to request federal fire management assistance and resources.
- Scored +7
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
The bill specifically facilitates more direct disaster relief for tribal governments facing fire management emergencies.
- Scored +6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill empowers Indian tribal governments by allowing them to directly request and receive fire management assistance grants.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill shifts some authority from State-led request processes to direct tribal government requests.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Direct Authority for Tribal Leaders: The bill allows the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government to directly submit a request to authorize assistance for fires, rather than relying solely on a State (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Direct Resource Access: The President is required to authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to directly receive requests and directly provide related grants and resources to Indian tribal governments (Section 2(b)(3)(A)).
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Protection of Assistance Eligibility: If a direct request from a tribal government is not granted, the bill ensures that tribes remain eligible to receive assistance through a request made by a State (Section 2(b)(3)(B) and Section 2(a)(4)).
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Consideration of Tribal Needs: In creating new regulations, the President must consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments (Section 2(b)(3)(C)).
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Mandatory Consultation: The bill requires the President to enter into government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding the implementation of the regulations (Section 2(b)(3)(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated 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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill grants Indian tribal governments direct authority to request federal fire management assistance and resources. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides better direct resource access for tribal communities which are often located in rural areas.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill specifically facilitates more direct disaster relief for tribal governments facing fire management emergencies.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill empowers Indian tribal governments by allowing them to directly request and receive fire management assistance grants.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill shifts some authority from State-led request processes to direct tribal government requests.
- 2/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota