U.S. Government Affairs

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------

Please find attached a one-pager for the Wildfire Response Improvement Act

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------

Yesterday, Congressman Greg Stanton (D--AZ-4) introduced the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (H.R. 7070), a bill that IAEM helped draft and has endorsed.  The bill directs FEMA to update several aspects of wildfire response policy (see original post for details).  I've attached the bill text and a letter of endorsement that IAEM signed along with NEMA, BCEM, BuildStrong, NACO, and the Fire Chiefs.

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------

Here are the two documents referenced in my previous post...

Yesterday, Congressman Greg Stanton (D--AZ-4) introduced the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (H.R. 7070), a bill that IAEM helped draft and has endorsed.  The bill directs FEMA to update several aspects of wildfire response policy (see original post for details).  I've attached the bill text and a letter of endorsement that IAEM signed along with NEMA, BCEM, BuildStrong, NACO, and the Fire Chiefs.

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------

Here is the press release announcing introduction of the bill...

https://stanton.house.gov/2024/1/stanton-lamalfa-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-western-communities-recover-from-wildfires

Here are the two documents referenced in my previous post...

Yesterday, Congressman Greg Stanton (D--AZ-4) introduced the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (H.R. 7070), a bill that IAEM helped draft and has endorsed.  The bill directs FEMA to update several aspects of wildfire response policy (see original post for details).  I've attached the bill text and a letter of endorsement that IAEM signed along with NEMA, BCEM, BuildStrong, NACO, and the Fire Chiefs.

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------

Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona is getting ready to introduce the Wildfire Response Improvement Act (see attached draft). According to his staff, the bill is intended to address concerns raised by communities impacted by wildfire:

• Section 2 directs FEMA to recommend regulations to make immediate post-fire emergency protective measures eligible for assistance via a FMAG. The intent of this section is to ensure FMAG $ can be used for short-term safety assessments and activities post fire. Such activities might include removing fallen trees from roads, preliminary hill stabilization, address land slide and debris flow risks, and mitigate immediate risk to water sources.  Nothing in Section 420 prevents FEMA from supporting these emergency protective measures.
• Section 3 directs FEMA to update the PAPPG to include guidance on wildfire specific recovery challenges including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the resulting toxicity of drinking water.
• Section 4 directs the Administrator to conduct a review of the criteria for evaluating the cost-effectiveness BRIC and HMPG projects. The intent of this provision is to ensure projects to mitigate wildfire related risk are as competitive as mitigation projects designed to mitigate typical east coast hazards such as severe storms and floods.  

Thoughts on the bill (particularly from those of you in fire-prone jurisdictions)?

------------------------------
Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
------------------------------