To amend title 32, United States Code, to establish the FireGuard Program as a program of record of the National Guard.

Bill Number

H.R. 5615

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Last Updated

2025-12-16T17:23:06Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 5615

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill amends federal law to make the FireGuard Program a mandatory, official program of the National Guard. It aims to support wildfire detection and response by requiring the program to provide information to state, local, and tribal entities, while adding oversight and a time limit.

Key Provisions Outlined

• Mandatory Establishment: The National Guard must carry out the FireGuard Program as a "program of record," changing prior language that allowed it to be optional.
• Annual Reporting Requirements: The Secretary of Defense must provide five yearly briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, covering:
• Entities (states, counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments) that received program information.
• Comparisons of initial wildfire maps from the program versus final containment perimeters.
• Time delays between satellite fire detection and alerts to local responders.
• Efforts to incorporate new satellite and aerial technologies from private, nonprofit, and public sources.
• Program Termination: The FireGuard Program ends on December 31, 2031.
• Heading Update: The section title in law is simplified by removing the phrase "Authorization for."

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

• Shifts the FireGuard Program from a discretionary activity to a required one under Title 32 of the U.S. Code (which covers the National Guard).
• Adds new subsections for ongoing congressional oversight and a fixed end date, which were not present in the original section 510.
• Updates phrasing for clarity, such as replacing "Such a program" with "Such program."

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Requires the National Guard and Department of Defense to sustain and report on the program, potentially increasing administrative workload for briefings and technology integration.
• On Citizens and Local Entities: Expands access to wildfire alerts for states, counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments, which could improve early response times in affected areas.
• On International Relations: No direct effects noted in the bill.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• The National Guard and Department of Defense, which must implement and report on the program.
• State, county, municipal, and Tribal governments that receive wildfire information.
• Local responders who benefit from faster alerts.
• Congressional committees on Armed Services, which receive the required briefings.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• This legislation modifies Title 32 of the U.S. Code, focusing on National Guard operations without altering broader constitutional authorities.
• The inclusion of a sunset clause introduces a built-in review mechanism, requiring future congressional action to extend the program.
• It emphasizes integration of emerging technologies, which may influence how federal wildfire efforts coordinate with private and public sector innovations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-26: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To amend title 32, United States Code, to establish the FireGuard Program as a program of record of the National Guard. — issued 2025-09-26 — PDF (3 pages)