Bill · S. 443· Senate(119-S-443)
Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act
- Introduced
- 2/6/2025
- Last activity
- 2/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Gary Peters
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act," aims to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It seeks to allow Indian tribal governments to directly request fire management assistance declarations and grants. The legislation would authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive these requests directly from tribal governments. It also requires the President to update specific federal regulations within one year of enactment. Additionally, the bill mandates government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding these new regulations.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+8
The bill grants Indian tribal governments direct authority to request federal fire management assistance and resources.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+7
The bill specifically facilitates more direct disaster relief for tribal governments facing fire management emergencies.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+6
The bill empowers Indian tribal governments by allowing them to directly request and receive fire management assistance grants.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-3
The bill shifts some authority from State-led request processes to direct tribal government requests.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Direct Authority for Tribal Leaders: The bill allows the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government to directly submit a request to authorize assistance for fires, rather than relying solely on a State (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Direct Resource Access: The President is required to authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency to directly receive requests and directly provide related grants and resources to Indian tribal governments (Section 2(b)(3)(A)).
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Protection of Assistance Eligibility: If a direct request from a tribal government is not granted, the bill ensures that tribes remain eligible to receive assistance through a request made by a State (Section 2(b)(3)(B) and Section 2(a)(4)).
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Consideration of Tribal Needs: In creating new regulations, the President must consider the unique conditions that affect the general welfare of Indian tribal governments (Section 2(b)(3)(C)).
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Mandatory Consultation: The bill requires the President to enter into government-to-government consultation with Indian tribal governments regarding the implementation of the regulations (Section 2(b)(3)(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
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 Native Americans+8Good For Rural Residents+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights-3
- 2/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota