Wildfire Response Modernization Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9534
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-29: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T13:38:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9534: Wildfire Response Modernization Act
Purpose
This legislation directs the Department of the Air Force to acquire commercial space-based data and related products to enhance wildfire response capabilities. It aims to improve military support for protecting defense installations, assisting civil authorities during emergencies, and supporting proactive wildland fire management by federal, state, local, and tribal entities.
Key Provisions
- Procurement Requirement: The Secretary of the Air Force, through the Commercial Space Office, must obtain space-based commercial data and end products, subject to available funding.
- Coordination: This effort requires collaboration with the National Guard's FireGuard program and the Commander of the United States Northern Command.
- Data Sharing: The Secretary is authorized to share the procured data and products with state, local, and tribal governments to aid firefighting operations.
- Scope of Support: The data is intended to assist the Department of Defense and the wildfire mission of the United States Northern Command in delivering timely military assistance.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, targeted procurement directive for commercial space-based data specifically tied to wildfire resilience. It does not repeal or amend prior statutes but adds a mandatory focus on using commercial sources to support the Department of Defense's role in wildland fire management, expanding beyond traditional government-owned systems.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances capabilities for the Department of the Air Force, National Guard, and United States Northern Command by integrating commercial data into wildfire operations, potentially improving response times and coordination.
- Citizens and Communities: May provide state, local, and tribal governments with better tools for firefighting, leading to more effective protection of civilian areas and reduced wildfire damage.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Defense components, including the Air Force and United States Northern Command.
- National Guard (via the FireGuard program).
- State, local, and tribal governments involved in wildfire response.
- Commercial providers of space-based data and related products.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill operates within existing executive branch procurement authorities and does not raise apparent constitutional concerns. It emphasizes intergovernmental coordination between military and civilian entities but introduces no new regulatory frameworks or enforcement mechanisms.
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. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-29: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-06-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Wildfire Response Modernization Act — issued 2026-06-29 — PDF (2 pages)