Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
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
The Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026 allows the President to declare a smoke emergency when wildland fire smoke significantly decreases air quality in one or more States. This declaration can happen based on the President's determination or a request from a Governor. Once declared, Federal agencies can provide assistance like grants, equipment, personnel, and resources for air purifiers and smoke shelters. Small businesses that lose significant revenue due to the smoke may receive grants from the Small Business Administration. The bill also authorizes necessary funding and adjusts budget laws to account for this assistance.
Yes· 3 of 30
- Scored +9
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
Explicitly empowers FEMA to provide resources for smoke-specific emergency declarations.
- Scored +8
Would business owners be better off under this?
Direct grant support for small businesses losing revenue due to smoke.
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Rural residents are most directly affected by wildland fires and smoke.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Increases government spending by authorizing new grants and resources for smoke emergencies.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Authorizes additional appropriations for emergency assistance which may increase national debt.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Emergency Resources: Local communities and States can receive equipment, supplies, personnel, and resources to set up smoke shelters, air purifiers, and air monitoring sites (Section 2(c)).
-
Financial Support for Small Businesses: Small business concerns that lose a significant amount of revenue because of wildland fire smoke in a declared emergency area can receive grants from the Small Business Administration (Section 2(d)).
-
Federal Aid Access: Governors or appropriate agencies can request a presidential declaration to trigger federal smoke emergency assistance (Section 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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Direct grant support for small businesses losing revenue due to smoke. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural residents are most directly affected by wildland fires and smoke. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides free access to air purifiers and smoke shelters they otherwise could not afford. Would retired people be better off under this? — Provides critical health protections for the elderly. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors are highly susceptible to respiratory issues from smoke; shelters and purifiers are highly beneficial. Would children be better off under this? — Air purifiers and smoke shelters protect vulnerable populations like children. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers in rural areas are heavily impacted by smoke and may benefit from regional support. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Provides essential health protections for those with chronic respiratory or mobility issues. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Native American lands are often in high-risk wildfire areas. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Improves public health during smoke events. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increases available public resources during health emergencies. Would students be better off under this? — Improves air quality and school-related health protections. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Helps urban centers manage smoke drift from wildlands. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Improves public health during smoke events. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Benefits minority populations in disadvantaged areas through public health resources. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Benefits minority populations in disadvantaged areas through public health resources. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Benefits minority populations in disadvantaged areas through public health resources. Would white Americans be better off under this? — General benefit to all citizens in affected areas. Would high-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in regional air quality management.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Explicitly empowers FEMA to provide resources for smoke-specific emergency declarations. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Addresses the immediate public health impact of wildfire smoke. Does this invest in rural communities? — Provides critical resources to rural areas often most affected by wildland fires.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Allows Governors to request federal assistance for their states. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands the President's authority to declare a specific type of emergency.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides SBA grants to small businesses losing revenue due to wildfire smoke. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Provides financial cushions for small businesses affected by wildfire smoke. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Increases government spending by authorizing new grants and resources for smoke emergencies. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Authorizes additional appropriations for emergency assistance which may increase national debt.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Provides air purifiers and smoke shelters to protect public health during smoke emergencies.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Establishment of smoke shelters provides temporary refuge for those without safe indoor air. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Emergency resources for shelters and air purifiers help low-income populations.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Authorizes funding for additional air monitoring sites.
- 6/10/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon