Sponsors (24)
This bill channels new federal funding, research, and centralized EPA authority to reduce smoke- and extreme-heat harms—especially for vulnerable communities—but creates new recurring federal costs, funding uncertainty, and risks that rural or under-resourced areas may not receive equitable or timely benefits.
State, Tribal, and local governments (and the communities they serve) receive recurring federal grants and program funding to plan, build capacity, and implement smoke- and extreme-heat preparedness (stable funding stream for local projects).
Residents in wildfire- and heat-impacted communities gain improved air-quality monitoring, prediction, and public outreach so people get earlier, clearer warnings and guidance to reduce health risks.
Low-income households and prioritized communities can get air filtration (including portable filters), protective gear, and weatherization support to reduce indoor exposure to wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
Taxpayers fund new and recurring federal spending (multiple programs totaling tens of millions per year beginning FY2026), which could crowd out other priorities or add to deficits if not offset.
Rural, low-income, and under-resourced communities risk being left behind because requirements to partner with local higher‑education institutions, concentration of centers, competitive grant processes, and allocation choices can favor better-resourced applicants.
Programs rely on annual appropriations and competitive grants, creating uncertainty and the possibility of intermittent or uneven funding for preparedness activities.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates EPA grant programs and university research centers to help communities detect, prepare for, and mitigate wildfire smoke and extreme heat, with funding starting in FY2026.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Michael Thompson · Last progress January 31, 2025
Creates new EPA grant programs and university research centers to help communities detect, prepare for, communicate about, and reduce the health and environmental impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. The bill funds monitoring, outreach, indoor air filtration, masks and portable filtration, subgrants for protective gear and weatherization, and requires collaborative community planning grants with research partners. Requires the EPA to set a grant-allocation formula that accounts for community vulnerability and state exposure to particulate matter, stand up four Centers of Excellence at colleges or universities, begin research within 180 days, and launch a competitive planning grant program — with specified annual funding starting in fiscal year 2026.