H.R. 527

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, to establish a grant program for monitoring wildfires by satellite.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 16, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Pettersen · Committee: Committee on Natural Resources

Table of contents

• H.R. 527
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Monitoring wildfires by satellite

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Monitoring wildfires by satellite

• (a) Grant program To monitor wildfires by satellite
  • (1) Establishment
    • Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program under which the Secretary shall make at least three grants to eligible entities to monitor wildfires by satellite (in this section referred to as the ). Program
  • (2) Eligible projects
    • Each eligible entity awarded a grant under the Program shall only use such grant to—
      • purchase and integrate, through a public-private partnership, high-resolution multi- and hyper-spectral full spectrum imaging capability from visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared, thermal infrared, and radar data from the latest-generation of wildfire monitoring satellites; and
      • use the data acquired under subparagraph (A), as well as any analyses relating to such data, to detect, assess, respond to, and manage wildfires, with an emphasis on—
        • (i) monitoring active fire behavior, burned area, intensity, and severity;
        • (ii) ensuring the safety and effectiveness of prescribed fire treatments; and
        • (iii) guiding post-fire risk assessment and disaster recovery.
  • (3) Application
    • To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
  • (4) Grant amount
    • Each grant awarded under the Program shall be in an amount the Secretary determines appropriate.
  • (5) Report
    • Not later than the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes—
      • the number of applications received for a grant under the Program;
      • details of each eligible entity that was awarded a grant under the Program;
      • the impact of the Program on wildfire prevention;
      • any recommendation that the Secretary determines appropriate to establish the Program as a long-term grant program; and
      • any other information on the effectiveness of the Program that the Secretary determines appropriate.
• (b) Authorization of appropriations
  • There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out the Program.
• (c) Definitions
  • In this section—
    • the term means a State forester, emergency manager, or equivalent State official; and eligible entity
    • the term means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey.