Wildfire Smoke Relief Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5481
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:07:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Wildfire Smoke Relief Act (H.R. 5481) aims to protect vulnerable individuals from health risks caused by wildfire smoke by expanding federal disaster relief programs. It authorizes assistance for temporary shelter and equipment to improve air quality in affected homes, focusing on areas with poor air quality lasting at least three days due to wildfires.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Individual at risk of wildfire smoke-related illness: A person living in an area where the Air Quality Index (AQI—a measure of air pollution levels) is "unhealthy" for three or more consecutive days due to a wildfire, and who falls into one of these groups: low-income, a parent or guardian of a child under 19, pregnant, age 65 or older, has chronic respiratory or heart illness, or has a chronic disease worsened by smoke.
- Low-income individual: Someone from a family whose taxable income last year was no more than 200% of the federal poverty level (a standard measure set by the U.S. Census Bureau to identify economic need).
- Qualified entity: A state or local government, local public health authority, or coordinated care organization (a group that manages health services for communities).
- Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program:
- Expands the existing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
- The President, through FEMA, must provide funding to qualified entities to buy and distribute smoke-prevention equipment for at-risk individuals, including:
- Portable air filtration units or air filters.
- Face masks or respirators (e.g., N95 or P100 types, certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to block airborne particles).
- Home sealing items like weather strips, one portable air-conditioning unit per household, ventilation tools, screens, shades, or window coverings.
- Other similar effective devices.
- If equipment alone cannot reduce health risks enough, provide affordable temporary shelter options (e.g., relocation to cleaner areas).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 403 of the Stafford Act, which previously focused on broader disaster sheltering (like after floods or hurricanes), by specifically adding wildfire smoke as a trigger for assistance.
- Introduces targeted aid for smoke inhalation prevention, which was not explicitly covered before, shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive health protection in environmental events like wildfires.
- Limits aid to defined vulnerable groups and requires cost-efficiency, adding eligibility criteria not present in the original program.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Provides direct relief to at-risk individuals in wildfire-prone areas (e.g., Western U.S. states), potentially reducing smoke-related illnesses like asthma attacks or heart problems, especially for low-income families, children, seniors, and those with health conditions. It could improve access to safe housing during smoke events without full evacuation.
- On Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for FEMA to administer and fund the expanded program, requiring coordination with states, localities, and health organizations. May strain budgets during frequent wildfire seasons but could prevent costlier long-term health crises.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; the bill focuses on domestic U.S. wildfire response.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Vulnerable Individuals and Families: Low-income people, parents of young children, pregnant individuals, seniors, and those with chronic illnesses in smoke-impacted areas, who gain access to equipment and shelter.
- Qualified Entities: State and local governments, public health authorities, and care organizations, which receive federal funds to distribute aid and manage programs.
- Federal Agencies: FEMA and the President, responsible for oversight and funding; indirectly, the Environmental Protection Agency (for AQI data) and health departments.
- Communities in Wildfire Zones: Residents in regions like California, Colorado, or Oregon, where wildfires are increasingly common due to climate patterns.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on the Stafford Act's framework for disaster relief, ensuring aid is tied to objective triggers like AQI levels, which could set precedents for addressing non-structural disasters (e.g., air pollution from climate events). Requires compliance with federal poverty guidelines and safety certifications for equipment.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power under the Commerce Clause to regulate interstate environmental and health issues, and the Spending Clause for funding state aid; no apparent conflicts with individual rights.
- Political: Addresses growing concerns over climate-driven wildfires and public health equity, potentially appealing to bipartisan support in disaster-prone districts. Could influence future legislation on environmental justice by prioritizing low-income and marginalized groups, but implementation challenges (e.g., funding levels) may spark debates over federal spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-09-18: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Wildfire Smoke Relief Act — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (4 pages)