States, tribes, local governments, and individuals affected by wildfires started by U.S. Forest Service land management activities would be able to receive 100 percent federal funding for recovery and cleanup costs — with no required matching contribution from the affected party — under the Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act. Federal disaster recovery programs typically require the state or local government to cover a share of costs through matching funds. The bill gives the Agriculture Secretary authority to waive that matching requirement when the federal government's own forest management caused the fire. The change affects communities in western states where federal forests border private and tribal lands.
Congressional Summary
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements for matching federal funds in fire recovery projects. Specifically, USDA may waive cost-sharing requirements for projects responding to fires resulting from management activities (e.g., controlled burns) conducted by USDA on National Forest System land.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-11-06
- Date Added
- 2026-04-10
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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