Bill · H.R. 1655· House(119-HR-1655)
Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act
- Introduced
- 2/27/2025
- Last activity
- 6/10/2025 — Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Sponsored by
- Cliff Bentz
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act aims to expedite the recovery of communications networks following wildfires. It provides that certain environmental and historical preservation reviews are not required for specific projects. These projects include replacing or improving communications facilities that were damaged or need hardening due to a wildfire. The relief applies to areas where a President, Governor, or Tribal Chief Executive has declared a major disaster or an emergency. This exemption lasts for up to five years following the official declaration.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this get reliable internet to more people?+6
The bill expedites the recovery and hardening of communications facilities following wildfire disasters.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
The bill facilitates faster communication recovery in areas impacted by wildfires, which frequently affect rural communities.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+4
The bill includes provisions that apply to projects within areas where a Tribal Chief Executive has declared a disaster.
The opposite
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-5
The bill exempts certain communications projects from required environmental reviews under NEPA.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Faster Recovery of Essential Services: By exempting projects from certain environmental and historical reviews, the bill allows for the construction, rebuilding, or hardening of communications facilities to happen more quickly following a disaster or emergency (Section 2(a) and 2(b)).
-
Improved Future Resilience: The bill allows for improvements to facilities that are necessary to prevent or mitigate future disasters or emergencies related to wildfires (Section 2(c)(3)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Reduced Environmental and Historical Oversight: The bill removes the requirement for certain environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (Section 2(a)) and historical preservation reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Native Americans+4
- Education And Technology
- Improves Internet Access+6
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections-5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+3
- 6/10/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 6/3/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 2/27/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House