,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cibc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #aa1 #bjbe,mr4 ,neguse 7for himself and ,mr4 ,harder of ,california7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish the ,wildfire ,science and ,technology ,advisory ,board1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildfire ,coordination ,act4 #b4 ,wildfire ,science and ,technology ,advisory ,board 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of the ,interior shall establish a permanent advisory committee to be known as the ,wildfire ,science and ,technology ,advisory ,board 7in this section referred to as the ,board74 7b7 ,duties ,the ,board shall-- 7#a7 coordinate the operationalization within the ,federal ,government of wildfire research1 including by-- 7,a7 identifying avenues for translating wildfire research into practical applications2 7,b7 establishing criteria and frameworks to prioritize wildfire research projects for operationalization2 7,c7 facilitating the transition of prioritized wildfire research into operational projects2 7,d7 connecting and supporting entities in wildfire research and operations2 7,e7 providing feedback to refine and enhance wildfire research outputs for practical application2 and 7,f7 partnering1 as the ,board determines appropriate1 with private sector and federally-funded research centers to further the work of the ,board2 7#b7 encourage wildfire researchers and ,federal agencies undertaking wildfire operations to include-- 7,a7 relevant disciplines1 such as public health1 meteorological science1 and predictive modeling2 and 7,b7 consideration of built and natural fire-prone environments2 and 7#c7 disseminate information1 including by-- 7,a7 establishing mechanisms1 such as newsletters and publications1 online portals1 webinars1 and workshops1 to disseminate wildfire research findings1 operational best practices1 and resources to relevant stakeholders and practitioners2 and 7,b7 promoting activities of the ,board to ensure visibility and accessibility to stakeholders4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,number and appointment ,the ,board shall be composed of the following members3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary of the ,interior 7or the designee thereof74 7,b7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7or the designee thereof74 7,c7 ,the ,secretary of ,commerce 7or the designee thereof74 7,d7 ,the ,chief of the ,forest ,service 7or the designee thereof74 7,e7 ,the ,director of the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs 7or the designee thereof74 7,f7 ,the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management 7or the designee thereof74 7,g7 ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency 7or the designee thereof1 except that such designee may not be the member of the ,board serving pursuant to subparagraph 7,h774 7,h7 ,the ,united ,states ,fire ,administrator 7or the designee thereof74 7,i7 ,the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service 7or the designee thereof74 7,j7 ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration 7or the designee thereof74 7,k7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service 7or the designee thereof74 7,l7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology 7or the designee thereof74 7,m7 ,the ,director of the ,u4,s4 ,geological ,survey 7or the designee thereof74 7,n7 ,the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy 7or the designee thereof74 7,o7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation 7or designee thereof74 7,p7 ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration 7or designee thereof74 7,q7 ,the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention 7or designee thereof74 7,r7 ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7or designee thereof74 7,s7 ,not more than #ah non-,federal members1 to be appointed by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 as follows3 7i7 ,at least #a representative from each of the following3 7,i7 ,state government4 7,,ii7 ,local government4 7,,iii7 ,tribal government4 7ii7 ,representatives of fire departments4 7iii7 ,representatives of relevant private-sector entities1 such as codes and standards-setting organizations1 prescribed fire associations1 and entities with expertise in wildfire science and wildfire risk identification1 transfer1 and mitigation4 7iv7 ,wildfire1 forest health1 or ecological restoration researchers4 7v7 ,public health experts4 7vi7 ,meteorological scientists4 7vii7 ,predictive modeling experts4 7viii7 ,such other members as the ,secretary of the ,interior deems appropriate4 7#b7 ,terms 7,a7 ,in general ,each member of the ,board serving pursuant to paragraph 7#a77,s7 shall be appointed for a term of #b years4 7,b7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy on the ,board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made4 7#c7 ,pay and expenses 7,a7 ,prohibition on compensation ,a member of the ,board shall serve without compensation4 7,b7 ,travel expenses ,each member of the ,board shall receive travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#d7 ,chairperson 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,chairperson shall rotate annually among the members of the ,board serving pursuant to subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c7 of paragraph 7#a71 beginning with the member serving pursuant to paragraph 7#a77;,a71 followed by the member serving pursuant to paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7,b7 ,exception ,for any term1 the members of the ,board may designate a member of the ,board to serve as the ,chairperson of the ,board in lieu of the official 7or the designee thereof7 who would otherwise serve as the ,chairperson pursuant to subparagraph 7,a74 7#e7 ,staff2 temporary and intermittent services 7,a7 ,staff ,the ,board may appoint personnel as it considers appropriate4 7,b7 ,pay ,the ,chairperson of the ,board may fix the compensation of the personnel appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 without regard to the provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to classification of positions and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 except that the rate of pay for such personnel may not exceed the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of such title4 7,c7 ,detail of ,federal employees ,the head of any ,federal department or agency may detail any of the personnel of that department or agency to the ,board4 ,a detail under the preceding sentence shall be without reimbursement and without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege4 7,d7 ,procurement of temporary and intermittent services ,the ,chairperson of the ,board may procure temporary and intermittent services under section #caji7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of that title4 7d7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than the date that is #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,board shall submit a report to the relevant congressional committees1 which shall-- 7,a7 detail the activities of the ,board2 7,b7 discuss progress on transitioning wildfire research into operations within the ,federal ,government2 7,c7 discuss barriers to successfully transitioning wildfire research into operations within the ,federal ,government2 and 7,d7 provide recommendations on future wildfire research priorities and operational needs4 7#b7 ,relevant congressional committees ,in this subsection1 the term relevant congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committees on ,agriculture2 ,natural ,resources2 ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology2 and ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry2 ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation2 ,energy and ,natural ,resources2 ,environment and ,public ,works2 and ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate4 7e7 ,termination ,section #ajac7;a77#b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall not apply to the ,board4 7f7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,additional funding ,in addition to the amounts made available pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,federal members of the ,board may1 for purposes of carrying out this section1 use amounts whose purpose is not otherwise specified by the appropriations laws available to the employing agencies of such members4