Designating May 2026 as "National Wildfire Preparedness Month".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1308
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-01T23:42:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution designates May 2026 as "National Wildfire Preparedness Month" to recognize the growing threat of wildfires across the United States and its territories. It aims to raise public awareness about wildfire risks, encourage proactive prevention measures, and support education on how communities can reduce damage and protect lives.
Key Provisions
- Highlights data on recent wildfires, including over 634,000 fires burning more than 70 million acres from 2016 to 2025, and notes that human activities cause nearly 85 percent of wildland fires.
- Points out rising costs, with federal suppression efforts exceeding $3 billion annually and total damages estimated in the tens to hundreds of billions of dollars per year.
- Lists preventative steps for individuals and communities, such as using fire-resistant building materials, managing vegetation, planning evacuations for people and animals, and limiting open flames during high-risk periods.
- In the resolved section, the House of Representatives:
- Expresses support for the month-long designation.
- Encourages greater awareness and preparedness efforts by federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities, as well as nongovernmental organizations.
- Backs resources and education on topics like home hardening, land management to reduce flammable plants, early warning systems, lowering human-caused ignitions, minimizing smoke-related health effects, and safe evacuations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding House resolution that does not alter any current statutes or regulations. It introduces no amendments to existing wildfire-related laws and serves only as an official expression of support for the designated month.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Promotes coordinated planning and resource allocation across federal, state, local, and Tribal levels to address wildfire threats, potentially influencing how agencies prioritize prevention over suppression.
- On citizens: Increases access to information on reducing home ignition risks and health impacts from smoke, which could lead to fewer injuries, lower property losses, and better community resilience in fire-prone areas.
- On international relations: Limited direct effects, though it acknowledges risks in U.S. territories and could indirectly support similar preparedness discussions with neighboring countries sharing borders or fire management challenges.
- Overall, the designation may foster more public and private investment in mitigation, helping offset rising wildfire frequency and severity.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Residents and communities in wildfire-prone regions, including those in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and territories.
- Firefighters and first responders exposed to smoke and hazards.
- Federal, state, local, and Tribal government entities involved in land management and emergency response.
- Nongovernmental organizations and local groups focused on education and disaster preparedness.
- Individuals and families with animals needing evacuation support during fire events.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- As a simple resolution passed by the House, it carries no legal force and does not require Senate approval or presidential signature, aligning with Congress's authority to issue non-binding declarations on public issues.
- It raises no apparent constitutional concerns, focusing instead on public education rather than new regulatory powers.
- Politically, the measure emphasizes bipartisan collaboration on natural disaster preparedness, potentially influencing future funding discussions or policy priorities 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 (2)
Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-05-20: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Designating May 2026 as "National Wildfire Preparedness Month". — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (4 pages)