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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, committees such as Ad Hoc Committee on Energy, members such as David J. Taylor.
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March 24, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6618) to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6618
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Wildfire Aerial Response
Safety Act”.
SEC. 2. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.
(a) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Counter-UASsystem; unmanned aircraft system.—The terms
“counter-UAS system” and “unmanned aircraft system” have
the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 49,
United States Code.
(2) Unmanned aircraft system incursion.—The term
“unmanned aircraft system incursion” means the operation of
an unmanned aircraft system within any airspace for which the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has
issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire.
(b) Study Required.—The Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration, in consultation with the Secretary
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a
study on the effects of unmanned aircraft system incursions
on wildfire suppression with respect to land managed by the
Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.
(c) Study Contents.—In conducting the study required under
subsection (b), the Administrator shall—
(1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar
years—
(A) the number of occurrences in which a unmanned aircraft
system incursion has interfered with wildfire suppression;
and
(B) the estimated effect of each occurrence described in
subparagraph (A) on—
(i) the length of time required to achieve complete
suppression;
(ii) any associated delay in the fielding of aerial
firefighting response units; and
(iii) the amounts expended by the Federal Government; and
(2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of—
(A) the dissemination of educational materials relating to
the effects of unmanned aircraft system incursions on
wildfire suppression operations; and
(B) the deployment of approved counter-UAS systems by
authorized entities as a means to detect, mitigate, and
prevent unmanned aircraft system incursions during such
operations.
(d) Report.—Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on
Appropriations, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural
Resources, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report describing—
(1) the findings of the study required under subsection
(b); and
(2) any recommendations relating to those findings.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 6618.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that requires the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with its Federal partners, to conduct a study and produce a report on the effects of unmanned aircraft system incursions on wildfire suppression efforts.
dynamic and require sanitized airspace to ensure rapid response and, ultimately, the effectiveness of an operation. The study and report required in the legislation will produce valuable recommendations that ensure that lawmakers have the necessary information and facts to craft informed policy.
efforts associated with unlawful UAS incursions and identify the taxpayer resources expended as a result of the incursions.
wildfire aerial responses last January during the Pacific Palisades fires when an unauthorized UAS, flying within a temporary flight restriction, struck the wing of a fixed-wing Super Scooper aircraft, endangering the life of the pilot and causing more than $65,000 in damage.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6618, the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, as amended, bipartisan legislation introduced by my good friend from Oregon and fellow freshman, Representative Bynum, Representative Neguse from Colorado, and Representatives Crane and Ciscomani from Arizona.
this country, destroying local communities and the livelihoods of many of our constituents. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were at least 34 drone incursions into active wildfire suppression areas last year. Of those 34, 29 incursions forced aerial
drone actually struck a Canadian Super Scooper plane during last year's catastrophic wildfires in southern California.
result of uninformed operators, they are a costly nuisance to Federal wildfire suppression efforts and needlessly risk the lives of first responders and law enforcement, both those in the air and those on the ground. These brave women and men put their lives on the line to fight dangerous fires and should not have to deal with drone incursions while doing their jobs.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6618 requires the FAA to evaluate the number and impact of drone incursions over the previous 5 years, including any cost to the Federal Government, the effectiveness of educational public outreach, and deploying approved counter-UAS systems to detect and mitigate against drone interference.
necessary safeguards against drone incursions during wildfire suppression activities. With the growing number and severity of wildfires across the country, we cannot afford to let these dangerous drone incursions go unabated, lest we run the risk of distracting or endangering our firefighters and first responders.
today, they need our assistance. This is the first step to delivering it.
Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bynum).
Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6618, my Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act.
Mr. Speaker, wildfires are no longer seasonal. They are year-round threats that are growing more intense, destructive, and dangerous for the communities that we serve and the responders that we rely on.
seasons in our State's history. More than 1 million acres burned. Entire communities were displaced. For days, the air across our State and much of the West was among the worst in the world.
destruction but the importance of fast-acting firefighting to slow the spread and protect lives. One of the tools that firefighters use in Oregon is aerial firefighting, but personal aircraft like drones can prevent that tool from being used.
when an unauthorized drone is sighted in active response zones. When that happens, it can stop water drops, delay rescues, and interrupt information gathering, which puts nearby communities at risk. Our ground crews lose critical visibility and protection, which increases the danger for firefighters, rescuers, and residents.
wildfire response is not just fast but safe, coordinated, and effective.
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response by addressing the growing threat of drone interference. It directs the FAA to evaluate recent disruptions, develop solutions, and to prevent future interference. It makes sure that the public understands the risks of flying drones near active wildfires, because the reality is simple: When the airspace isn't managed well, firefighting slows down, and lives are put at risk.
response is evolving in real time. It supports the pilots and the first responders doing this dangerous work, and it helps ensure we are giving them the tools and conditions that they need to succeed.
me on this bill and the leadership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for passing the bill through committee without opposition.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6618.
Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, we must do everything that we can to help our firefighters and first responders battling wildfires. We know drone use is becoming more prolific. With that, we are seeing increased risks to the efforts to battle these fires. Sometimes it is out of curiosity. Sometimes it is out of carelessness or recklessness. Sometimes it is just pure stupidity.
everything that we can to protect our firefighters and make sure that they are equipped with the resources and the laws that they need to be able to do their jobs effectively.
That is why I support H.R. 6618, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in the unfortunate event of a wildfire, once that spark is ignited, the only thing that matters is extinguishing the flames as quickly as possible to protect our neighbors, forests, and properties.
We owe all aerial firefighters a great debt of gratitude. In the event of a wildfire, personally, I like for them to be focused on the task at hand rather than worrying about and avoiding unauthorized UAS flying within a Temporary Flight Restriction.
recommendations and ensure lawmakers have the information and facts to craft informed policy.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6618, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.