H.R. 1393 — Wildfire Response Improvement Act

This section establishes the short title of the Act as the “Wildfire Response Improvement Act.”

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to recommend, not later than 1 year after enactment, regulations or guidance to make eligible assessments and emergency stabilization measures to protect public safety under the fire management assistance program in 42 U.S.C. § 5187, regardless of the incident period for a declared fire. (Thus, FEMA would be instructed to clarify that these post-fire activities may qualify for assistance even if they occur outside the incident period for the fire declaration.)

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to amend the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide not later than 1 year after enactment to include guidance on wildfire-specific recovery challenges, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water resources. (Thus, the guide would explicitly address wildfire-related issues in the Public Assistance program, which helps state, local, tribal, and territorial governments recover from major disasters.)

This section directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to review the criteria used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of wildfire mitigation projects under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133; 42 U.S.C. 5170c), including criteria for pre-calculated benefits for common defensible space projects, nature-based infrastructure, vegetation management, reducing wildfire smoke’s public health effects, and protecting water infrastructure. It also requires the Administrator, not later than 1 year after enactment, to issue guidance updating those cost-effectiveness criteria and to prioritize mitigation projects under those sections using the updated criteria.