[House Report 118-914]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
118th Congress } { Rept. 118-914
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { Part 1
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WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION, EVALUATION,
MODERNIZATION, AND OPTIMIZATION ACT
_______
December 18, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4235]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4235) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture and
the Secretary of the Interior to establish a wildfire
technology testbed pilot program, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Technology Demonstration,
Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization Act'' or the ``Wildfire
Technology DEMO Act''.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC-PRIVATE WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY TESTBED PARTNERSHIP.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act, the term:
(1) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means--
(A) each Federal land management agency (as such term
is defined in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement
Act (16 U.S.C. 6801));
(B) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(C) the United States Fire Administration;
(D) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(E) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(F) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(G) the Department of Defense;
(H) a State, Tribal, county, or municipal fire
department or district operating through the United
States Fire Administration or pursuant to an agreement
with a Federal agency; and
(I) any other Federal agency involved in wildfire
response.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a private entity;
(B) a nonprofit organization; or
(C) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)).
(3) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior,
acting jointly.
(4) Testbed pilot program.--The term ``Testbed Pilot
Program'' means the testbed pilot program developed under
subsection (b).
(b) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in coordination with the heads
of the covered agencies, shall establish a testbed pilot program for
new and innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and
mitigation technologies.
(c) Functions.--In carrying out the Testbed Pilot Program, the
Secretaries shall--
(1) incorporate the Testbed Pilot Program into the National
Wildfire Coordinating Group;
(2) in consultation with the heads of covered agencies,
identify key technology priority areas with respect to the
deployment of wildfire prevention, detection, communication,
and mitigation technologies, including--
(A) hazardous fuels reduction treatments or
activities;
(B) dispatch communications;
(C) remote sensing and tracking;
(D) safety equipment; and
(E) common operating pictures or operational
dashboards; and
(3) partner with each covered entity selected to participate
in the Testbed Pilot Program with the appropriate covered
agency to coordinate real-time and on-the-ground testing of
technology during wildland fire mitigation activities and
training.
(d) Applications.--To participate in the Testbed Pilot Program, a
covered entity shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretaries may require, which shall include a proposal to test
technologies specific to key technology priority areas identified under
subsection (c)(2).
(e) Prioritization of Emerging Technologies.--In selecting covered
entities to participate in the Testbed Pilot Program, the Secretaries
shall give priority to covered entities developing and applying
emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum
sensing, computing and quantum-hybrid applications, augmented reality,
and 5G private networks and device-to-device communications supporting
nomadic mesh networks, for wildfire mitigation.
(f) Outreach.--The Secretaries, in coordination with the heads of
covered agencies, shall make public the key technology priority areas
identified under subsection (c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply
to test and demonstrate their technologies to address those priority
areas.
(g) Reports and Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter for the
duration of the Testbed Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall submit to
the Committees on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committees on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Energy and Natural Resources, and
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that
includes the following with respect to the Testbed Pilot Program:
(1) A list of participating covered entities.
(2) A brief description of the technologies tested by such
covered entities.
(3) An estimate of the cost of acquiring the technology
tested in the program and applying it at scale.
(4) Outreach efforts by Federal agencies to covered entities
developing wildfire technologies.
(5) Assessments of, and recommendations relating to, new
technologies with potential adoption and application at-scale
in Federal land management agencies' wildfire prevention,
detection, communication, and mitigation efforts.
(h) Sunset.--The authority to carry out the Testbed Pilot Program
shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment
of this Act.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
The purpose of H.R. 4235 is to direct the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to establish a
wildfire technology testbed pilot program, and for other
purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
As fire suppression costs continue to rise, the utilization
of new and emerging technologies such as drones, artificial
intelligence (AI), and machine learning have the potential to
play a crucial role in lowering costs, protecting communities,
and improving firefighting efficiencies. Technology can be an
effective tool for fast fire detection, monitoring, and
planning while reducing the safety risk of those on the front
lines.\1\ For example, drones can allow firefighting teams to
monitor fires when manned flights are unable to, including
during nighttime operations or in areas of thick smoke and high
winds, while also eliminating aviation risks.\2\ AI can also
help firefighters and land management agencies assess
historical and current wildfire data when considering how to
respond to a fire.\3\ Federal spending on fire suppression
averaged $2.5 billion between 2016 and 2020.\4\ Investing in
new technologies that catch fires early can ultimately reduce
the amount of money spent annually on fire suppression.
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\1\Western Fire Chiefs Association, ``New Technology to Fight
Wildfires'', March 30, 2023, https://wfca.com/articles/new-technology-
wildfires/.
\2\Wildfire Today, Drones are playing an increasingly important
role in fighting wildfires, October 5, 2022, https://wildfiretoday.com/
2022/10/05/drones-are-playing-an-increasingly-important-role-in-
fighting-wildfires/.
\3\Western Fire Chiefs Association, ``New Technology to Fight
Wildfires'', March 30, 2023, https://wfca.com/articles/new-technology-
wildfires/.
\4\Id.
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While many state agencies and private landowners are
adopting these new technologies, the federal government has
historically lagged behind in testing out new wildfire
suppression technologies.\5\ To address this, the ``Wildfire
Technology Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and
Optimization (DEMO) Act'' creates a federal pilot program to
identify and adopt new and innovative wildfire prevention,
detection, communication, and mitigation technologies. This
pilot program would allow federal agencies to test and deploy
emerging technologies at scale to improve hazardous fuels
reduction treatments, dispatch communications, remote sensing
and tracking, safety equipment, and operational dashboards. The
pilot program would prioritize public-private partnerships with
entities already developing new technologies in the fields of
AI, quantum sensing, augmented reality, and 5G private
networks. This bipartisan bill, which is led by Representatives
Young Kim (R-CA) and Crow (D-CO), would encourage innovation,
lower fire suppression costs, and lead to quicker and more
effective suppression and forest health outcomes.
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\5\NPR, ``Firefighters and researchers are turning to AI to help
fight fires,'' July 25, 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/07/25/
1189901985/firefighters-and-researchers-are-turning-to-ai-to-help-
fight-fires.
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COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 4235 was introduced on June 21, 2023, by Rep. Young
Kim (R-CA). The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
Federal Lands. The bill was also referred to the Committee on
Agriculture. On November 14, 2023, the Subcommittee on Federal
Lands held a hearing on the bill. On September 19, 2024, the
Committee on Natural Resources met to consider the bill. The
Subcommittee on Federal Lands was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 4235 by unanimous consent. Chairman Bruce
Westerman (R-AR) offered an Amendment in the Nature of a
Substitute designated Westerman_078 ANS. The amendment in the
nature of a substitute was agreed to by unanimous consent. The
bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House
of Representatives by unanimous consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held on November
14, 2023.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 names the bill the ``Wildfire Technology
Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization
Act'' or the ``Wildfire Technology DEMO Act.''
Section 2. Public-private wildfire technology testbed partnership
Section 2 directs the Secretaries of the Interior and
Agriculture, in consultation with other governmental agencies
involved in wildfire response, to develop a testbed pilot
program focused on new and innovative wildfire prevention,
detection, communication and mitigation technologies. Section 2
directs the Secretaries to incorporate the testbed pilot
program into the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and
identify priority areas for technology deployment to improve
hazardous fuels treatments, dispatch communications, remote
sensing and tracking, safety equipment, and common operating
pictures and operational dashboards. The Secretaries shall make
such priority areas public in coordination with other
governmental agencies.
Section 2 also outlines requirements for submitting
applications to participate in the testbed pilot program.
Additionally, Section 2 requires the Secretaries to prioritize
emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and 5G
private networks, in selecting applications.
Lastly, Section 2 clarifies that the authority to carry out
the testbed pilot program expires 7 years after the bill's
enactment and requires a report to Congress on the
implementation of the legislation.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to
clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office a budgetary analysis and a cost estimate of this bill.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to direct the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to establish a
wildfire technology testbed pilot program, and for other
purposes.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
As ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources,
H.R. 4235 would make no changes in existing law.
[all]