Wildfire Smoke Relief Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2856
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:49:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Wildfire Smoke Relief Act (S. 2856) aims to expand federal disaster relief to protect vulnerable individuals from health risks posed by wildfire smoke. It authorizes assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide equipment and temporary sheltering in areas with poor air quality caused by wildfires, focusing on prevention and mitigation of smoke-related illnesses.
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—has been unhealthy for at least three consecutive days due to a wildfire. This includes low-income individuals, parents or guardians of children under 19, pregnant women, people aged 65 or older, those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions, or individuals with diseases worsened by smoke.
- Low-income individual: Someone from a family whose taxable income from the previous year is no more than 200% of the federal poverty level (a standard measure of economic need set by the U.S. Census Bureau).
- Qualified entity: A state or local government, a local public health authority, or a coordinated care organization (a group that manages health services for communities).
- Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program:
- Expands FEMA's existing program under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (a key federal law for disaster response).
- Directs the President (through FEMA) to provide funding to qualified entities to purchase and distribute smoke-prevention equipment, such as:
- Portable air filtration units or air filters.
- Certified face masks or respirators (e.g., N95 or P100 models approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to block airborne particles).
- Home-sealing items like weather stripping, one portable air-conditioning unit per household, ventilation tools, screens, shades, or window coverings.
- Other effective devices to reduce smoke exposure.
- If equipment alone is insufficient to protect health, offers cost-effective temporary shelter assistance (e.g., short-term relocation or housing support) to at-risk individuals.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 403 of the Stafford Act, which previously focused on general transitional sheltering during disasters (like evacuations from floods or hurricanes).
- Introduces specific provisions for wildfire smoke as a disaster trigger, marking the first explicit federal authorization for smoke-inhalation prevention equipment and sheltering based on air quality risks rather than immediate structural threats like fire or flooding.
- Broadens eligibility to include non-physical disaster effects (e.g., air pollution) and prioritizes vulnerable groups, shifting from reactive emergency aid to proactive health protection.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Provides accessible tools and shelter options to low-income and health-vulnerable people in wildfire-prone areas (e.g., Western U.S. states like Oregon and California), potentially reducing respiratory illnesses, hospital visits, and smoke-related deaths. Could improve quality of life during prolonged smoke events without requiring full evacuation.
- On Government Agencies: Increases FEMA's role in environmental disasters, requiring coordination with states, localities, and health authorities for distribution. May strain federal budgets during frequent wildfire seasons but streamline aid delivery through qualified entities.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support U.S. wildfire management efforts that align with global climate initiatives, such as reducing cross-border smoke effects in North America.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Vulnerable Individuals: Low-income families, children, seniors, pregnant people, and those with chronic health conditions in smoke-impacted areas, who gain access to protective resources.
- Qualified Entities: State and local governments, public health departments, and care organizations, which receive funding to implement programs and distribute aid.
- Federal Agencies: FEMA and the President, responsible for overseeing and funding the expanded program.
- Broader Community: Wildfire-affected regions, including residents, healthcare providers, and environmental groups advocating for smoke mitigation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the Stafford Act's framework by interpreting "disaster" to include indirect hazards like air quality, potentially setting precedents for future environmental crises (e.g., pollution from other sources). Requires clear AQI thresholds for activation, ensuring objective eligibility without broad discretion.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause and Spending Clause to fund disaster relief that affects public health and interstate commerce (e.g., wildfires crossing state lines). No apparent conflicts with individual rights, as aid is voluntary and targeted.
- Political: Addresses growing concerns over climate change-driven wildfires, promoting bipartisan support in fire-prone states. Could influence future legislation on environmental justice by emphasizing aid for underserved populations, though implementation depends on funding appropriations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-09-18: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Wildfire Smoke Relief Act — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (4 pages)