Expressing support for the recognition of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Wildfire Preparedness Week, the national event educating the public on fire safety and preparedness, and supporting the goals of a Wildfire Preparedness Week.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1291
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-01T15:01:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This resolution expresses support for designating May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Wildfire Preparedness Week. It aims to raise public awareness of wildfire risks, promote fire safety education, and encourage preparedness measures for individuals and communities.
Key Provisions
- Recognizes the educational goals of Wildfire Preparedness Week, including increasing knowledge of wildfire threats and lifesaving actions.
- Highlights statistics on recent wildfires, such as 77,850 fires burning over 5 million acres in 2025 and ongoing activity in 2026.
- Notes that nearly 85 percent of wildland fires are human-caused.
- Supports preventative actions including evacuation planning for people and animals, vegetation management, and limits on combustibles during high-risk periods.
- Calls for resources and initiatives focused on early warning systems, reducing human ignitions, and safe evacuations.
- Encourages greater public awareness of wildfire threats and suppression efforts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This resolution introduces no changes to existing law. As a non-binding House resolution, it serves only as an expression of support without creating new legal requirements or altering statutes.
Potential Impacts
- May encourage federal, state, and local agencies to expand public education and community programming on wildfire safety.
- Could increase citizen preparedness through better awareness of evacuation plans and risk-reduction steps.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
- Potential indirect benefits include reduced fire damage and health impacts from smoke exposure for affected populations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Residents in wildfire-prone areas, particularly in California and other western states.
- Firefighters and first responders facing health risks from smoke and hazardous materials.
- Federal agencies such as those under the Committee on Natural Resources.
- Local communities and organizations involved in emergency planning and forest management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The resolution raises no significant legal or constitutional issues, as it lacks binding authority. It reflects congressional attention to wildfire issues through symbolic support, with potential to influence policy discussions on prevention and response without mandating specific actions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Cosponsors (29)
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-05-14: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the recognition of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Wildfire Preparedness Week, the national event educating the public on fire safety and preparedness, and supporting the goals of a Wildfire Preparedness Week. — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (3 pages)