S. 3149: Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

The Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act aims to provide support for areas affected by wildland fires that result from management activities by the Department of Agriculture on National Forest System land. Its key components are outlined below:

Purpose of the Act

The primary purpose of this Act is to ensure that individuals, localities, and tribes impacted by wildland fires, which are a direct consequence of the Department's management activities, are eligible for 100 percent funding. This funding is intended to cover the costs of recovering from both direct and indirect damages caused by these fires, utilizing authorized federal recovery programs.

Cost-Share Waiver for Rehabilitation

One significant feature of the Act is the provision that allows the Secretary of Agriculture to waive any matching fund requirements. This means that affected parties will not need to provide their own funds to qualify for federal assistance when responding to such wildland fires. This waiver is applicable in specific situations where:

Covered Wildland Fires: Defined as wildland fires resulting from the Department's management activities on National Forest System land.
Eligibility for Waiver: The waiver applies to projects aimed at recovering from the damages caused by covered wildland fires in areas that were affected by those fires.

Definitions

The Act includes several definitions essential for understanding its provisions:

Covered Matching Requirement: This refers to the requirement for parties to provide matching funds for wildland fire recovery projects.
Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture who oversees the implementation of this Act.
Wildland Fire: Describes any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels, including wildfires and prescribed fires, and any resulting damage that impairs the watershed.

Overall, the Act seeks to streamline the recovery process for communities and entities affected by specific wildfires by eliminating financial barriers to accessing federal support. Including provisions for the recovery efforts following wildland fires means that affected areas can receive timely and comprehensive assistance to help restore their ecosystems and communities.