Sponsors (19)
The bill provides targeted air filtration support and staffed clean air centers to protect vulnerable populations during smoke events, but the program is modestly funded, administratively demanding, and sets technical requirements that may limit reach and increase costs.
Low-income households with vulnerable members (seniors, people with disabilities) receive free air filtration units and replacement filters, reducing smoke exposure during wildland fire events.
Communities gain publicly accessible, staffed clean air centers during smoke events, giving residents without home filtration immediate places to reduce smoke exposure.
Grants fund local air agencies (including at least one Tribal agency), strengthening community-level response capacity and ensuring tribal inclusion in program delivery.
The program is capped at $30 million total (FY2026–2028), which could limit the number of people served and leave some eligible communities without support.
Taxpayers face up to $30 million in federal spending over three years to fund the program.
Grant applicants and recipients (local agencies) will incur administrative burdens and reporting requirements that can divert limited local resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes grants to air pollution agencies to fund clean air centers and distribute at least 1,000 free air filtration units plus replacement filters to households in wildfire-smoke-prone areas.
Introduced January 20, 2025 by Scott Peters · Last progress January 20, 2025
Creates a federally funded grant program to help air pollution control agencies set up and run local "clean air" programs in areas at risk of wildland fire smoke. Grants (up to $3 million per recipient, subject to available appropriations) fund clean air centers, free distribution of at least 1,000 air filtration units plus replacement filters to eligible households, public outreach, and evaluation activities; at least one grant must go to a Tribal air quality agency.