Bill · S. 2208· Senate(119-S-2208)
Wildfire Resilient Communities Act
- Introduced
- 7/8/2025
- Last activity
- 7/8/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Wildfire Resilient Communities Act aims to provide mandatory funding for hazardous fuels reduction projects on specific Federal lands. It directs agency heads to carry out projects such as thinning or prescribed fire, prioritizing areas near at-risk communities or high-value watersheds. The bill transfers $30,000,000,000 to various agency heads to facilitate these efforts. Additionally, it authorizes $3,000,000,000 for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program between fiscal years 2027 and 2031. It also reauthorizes and amends the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program. Finally, it establishes a County Stewardship Fund to distribute payments to counties based on forest product contract receipts.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+7
The bill provides substantial new funding and mandate for agencies to manage federal lands more effectively regarding wildfire risk.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+6
The bill focuses on proactive wildfire prevention to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill provides significant direct benefits to rural counties through the County Stewardship Fund and increased wildfire protection.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
The bill requires a massive $30 billion mandatory transfer from the Treasury, increasing federal outlays.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill increases government spending through significant mandatory funding for federal land management.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-2
The bill utilizes mandatory spending rather than annual appropriations, impacting fiscal predictability.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Hazardous Fuels Reduction: Agency heads are directed to carry out projects involving the removal or modification of flammable vegetation, which can include thinning or brush removal (Section 2(a)(4)).
-
Protection of At-Risk Communities: Project priorities include areas within or adjacent to at-risk communities and areas with very high wildfire hazard potential (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
-
Protection of Water Sources: The bill includes provisions to address proposals that seek to enhance watershed health and drinking water sources (Section 4(3)(A)(ii)).
-
Community Wildfire Defense: The bill authorizes $3,000,000,000 for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (Section 3).
-
Support for Local Counties: The establishment of the County Stewardship Fund allows for payments to be made to counties, which may use the funds for any governmental purposes (Section 5(j)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Administrative Costs: Not more than 10 percent of the $30,000,000,000 in funding may be used for administrative and planning costs (Section 2(c)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Land Management+7Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+6Improves Environmental Protections+5Improves Rural Development+4Reduces Carbon Emissions+1
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Economic Growth+2Improves Fiscal Responsibility-2Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-2
- 7/8/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon