HR 178 · 119th CongressIn Committee

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

Latest updateJan 8, 2026

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor

Tom McClintock

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

January 8, 2026

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

The U.S. Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, currently manages wildfire suppression on National Forest System lands using a range of strategies, including prescribed burns and other fuel-reduction techniques. Under existing law, the Forest Service balances suppression efforts with longer-term forest management goals, and decisions about when and how to fight fires involve coordination with state and local agencies. The current approach allows for flexibility in response based on conditions, available resources, and management objectives.

This bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service Chief, to prioritize rapid wildfire suppression on covered National Forest System lands—defined as forests in severe drought conditions, at the highest wildfire preparedness level, or in the top 10 percent of fireshed risk areas. The Secretary must deploy all available resources to extinguish detected wildfires within 24 hours and immediately suppress any prescribed fire that exceeds its intended parameters. The bill also prohibits the Forest Service from blocking state or local firefighting efforts, restricts the use of fire as a management tool to prescribed burns that comply with law, and limits backfires or burnouts to situations ordered by incident commanders or necessary to protect firefighter safety.

Implementation begins immediately upon enactment. The bill does not specify new funding but directs the Forest Service to redirect existing suppression resources toward the 24-hour extinguishment standard on high-risk lands. This approach may reduce the use of prescribed burns and fuel-reduction activities in drought-affected areas, potentially affecting long-term forest health strategies. The requirement to suppress wildfires within 24 hours on designated lands could strain resources during peak fire seasons, particularly if multiple fires ignite simultaneously across covered areas.

Key Provisions

1Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to deploy all available resources to extinguish wildfires on covered National Forest System lands within 24 hours of detection.
2Prohibits the Forest Service from inhibiting state or local firefighting agencies authorized to respond to wildfires on National Forest System lands.
3Restricts the use of fire as a forest management tool to prescribed burns that comply with applicable law and regulations.
4Limits the initiation of backfires or burnouts during active wildfires to situations ordered by the incident commander or necessary to protect firefighter safety.
5Defines covered lands as National Forest System areas in severe drought, at the highest wildfire preparedness level, or in the top 10 percent of fireshed risk exposure.

★ Why this matters

The bill shifts Forest Service strategy from a balanced approach that includes long-term fuel management to a rapid-response suppression model on high-risk lands. This could reduce prescribed burning activities in drought-affected forests, potentially affecting decades-long efforts to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk through controlled burns. The 24-hour extinguishment mandate may strain suppression resources during peak fire seasons and could limit the Forest Service's ability to pursue other forest management objectives in designated areas.

● Who this affects

Forest Service firefighters and incident commanders managing wildfires on National Forest System lands will face new operational requirements and timelines. State and local fire agencies responding to wildfires on federal forests gain explicit authority to continue suppression efforts without Forest Service interference. Timber companies, conservation organizations, and communities relying on prescribed burns for forest health and hazard reduction may experience delays or cancellations of planned burns in drought-affected areas. Rural communities near National Forests in severe drought or high-risk firesheds will see changes in federal fire management strategy on adjacent federal lands.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 178

  To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to 
              suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2025

  Mr. McClintock (for himself, Mr. Calvert, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Biggs of 
  Arizona, Mr. Stauber, and Mr. Issa) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 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

                                 A BILL

 
  To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to 
              suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SUPPRESSION OF WILDFIRES.

    (a) In General.--With respect to covered National Forest System 
lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the 
Forest Service--
            (1) shall--
                    (A) use all available resources to carry out 
                wildfire suppression with the purpose of extinguishing 
                wildfires detected on such lands not later than 24 
                hours after such a wildfire is detected; and
                    (B) immediately suppress any prescribed fire that 
                exceeds prescription;
            (2) shall not inhibit the suppression efforts of State or 
        local firefighting agencies that are authorized to respond to 
        wildfire on such lands;
            (3) may only use fire as a resource management tool if the 
        fire is a prescribed fire that complies with applicable law and 
        regulations;
            (4) may only initiate a backfire or burnout during a 
        wildfire--
                    (A) by order of the responsible incident commander; 
                or
                    (B) in instances that are necessary to protect the 
                health and safety of firefighting personnel; and
            (5) shall use all available resources to control any such 
        initiated backfire or burnout until extinguished.
    (b) Covered National Forest System Lands Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``covered National Forest System lands'' means any area--
            (1) located within National Forest System lands; and
            (2) that--
                    (A) the U.S. Drought Monitor has rated as having a 
                D2 (severe drought) intensity, D3 (extreme drought) 
                intensity, or D4 (exceptional drought) intensity;
                    (B) the National Interagency Fire Center declares 
                has a National Wildland Fire Preparedness level of 5; 
                or
     …

Auto-Whip

Where House representatives currently stand

Built from official statements, public releases, and voting records where they exist. Members without enough evidence are marked as no position.

448 tracked

Support

444

No Position

Oppose

Support

Members whose public record points toward backing the bill.

Kevin Kiley

I-California · District 3

Likely support

Representative Kiley represents California's 3rd District, which includes rural areas vulnerable to wildfires. The public record shows he has secured agricultural funding for rural communities and demonstrates concern for district needs. However, there is no explicit statement about this specific wildfire suppression bill. His focus on fiscal responsibility (evident in statements about government accountability and taxpayer protection) could create some reservation about expansion of federal programs, but wildfire suppression is a traditional federal responsibility affecting his constituents. The lack of specific information about his position on this bill prevents higher confidence, but his district's wildfire vulnerability and demonstrated support for rural investments suggest likely support.

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

Support

Opposition

No Position

Party Positions

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Take Action

Active Organizations