,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dheb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #a1 #bjbe,mr4 ,harder of ,california 7for himself and ,mr4 ,valadao7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,natural ,resources1 ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 ,armed ,services1 and ,education and ,workforce1 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 increase the preparation of structural firefighters to assist in wildfire and wildland-urban interface fire response efforts and the coordination of firefighting teams across all levels of government1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildfire ,emergency ,preparedness ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,training plan and grant program under the ,united ,states ,forest ,service 7a7 ,establishment of national training plan ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 in consultation with the entities described in subsection 7b71 shall publish a plan to train structural firefighters in the ,united ,states1 including such firefighters employed by the ,federal ,government1 to respond safely and effectively to incidents of the following3 7#a7 ,wildfire4 7#b7 ,fire in the wildland-urban interface4 7b7 ,entities described ,the entities described in this subsection are the following3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#b7 ,the ,under ,secretary of ,agriculture for ,fire ,coordination 7as established under section #c7;a774 7#c7 ,the ,superintendent of the ,national ,academy for ,fire ,prevention and ,control of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7c7 ,guidelines ,the plan published under subsection 7a7 shall include guidelines for a training curriculum that incorporates the following3 7#a7 ,such training materials as may be developed by the ,superintendent of the ,national ,academy for ,fire ,prevention and ,control pursuant to section #g of the ,federal ,fire ,prevention and ,control ,act of #aigd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bbjf74 7#b7 ,the material for courses ,s-#acj and ,s-#aij 7or any substantially similar successor course7 developed by the ,national ,wildlife ,coordinating ,group4 7d7 ,training development grants ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 may make a grant1 on a competitive basis1 to an eligible entity to carry out a training program for structural firefighters with a curriculum that-- 7#a7 adheres to the plan published under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 satisfies the guidelines referred to in subsection 7c74 7e7 ,eligibility ,an entity is an eligible entity and eligible to apply for a grant described in subsection 7d7 if the entity is a nonprofit organization that provides training or development programs for structural firefighters with demonstrated experience with respect to each of the following3 7#a7 ,developing curricula for classroom and practical training of structural firefighters4 7#b7 ,delivering teaching or training programs1 both in-person and online1 to structural firefighters on topics related to fireground safety and wildfire operations4 7#c7 ,collaboration with national nonprofit organizations to support research on firefighting safety and the health and wellness of firefighters4 7f7 ,applications ,an eligible entity may apply to the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 in a form and manner determined by the ,secretary1 for a grant under this section if the application includes a certification that the training program referred to in subsection 7d7 is to be carried out in consultation with each of the following3 7#a7 ,firefighting personnel of ,state and local fire service agencies1 including such personnel with supervisory responsibilities or heads of such agencies4 7#b7 ,volunteer firefighters4 7#c7 ,state and local officials who maintain and enforce building codes4 7#d7 ,researchers with experience investigating firefighting injuries and fatalities4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca4 7#b7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 may obligate and expend1 for each fiscal year specified in paragraph 7#a71 not more than #b4e percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated under such paragraph for technical assistance4 7#c7 ,carryover ,amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section shall remain available until expended4 #c4 ,coordination of wildfire and wildland-urban interface fire operations 7a7 ,under ,secretary of ,agriculture for ,fire ,coordination 7#a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,department of ,agriculture a position known as the ,under ,secretary of ,agriculture for ,fire ,coordination 7referred to in this section as the ,under ,secretary71 who shall be appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,duties 7,a7 ,fire preparedness and response ,the ,under ,secretary shall serve as the principal adviser to the ,secretary of ,agriculture for any matter that relates to the coordination of ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments in preparing for1 and responding to1 incidents of the following3 7i7 ,wildfire4 7ii7 ,fires occurring in the wildland-urban interface4 7,b7 ,integration and effectiveness of firefighting efforts ,the ,under ,secretary shall coordinate with the ,chief of the ,forest ,service with respect to the following3 7i7 ,improving the effectiveness of firefighting operations conducted by the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7ii7 ,advising the ,secretary of ,agriculture regarding the coordination described in subparagraph 7,a74 7,c7 ,other duties ,the ,under ,secretary shall exercise such other functions1 and perform such other duties1 as may be required by law or prescribed by the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,wildland ,fire ,leadership ,council2 ,national ,wildfire ,coordinating ,group 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,secretary of the ,interior shall take such necessary actions to ensure that a representative of a national labor organization representing ,state and local firefighters is a member of the following3 7,a7 ,the ,wildland ,fire ,leadership ,council4 7,b7 ,the ,national ,wildfire ,coordinating ,group4 7#b7 ,application ,a representative described in paragraph 7#a7 may be a member of the ,wildland ,fire ,leadership ,council and the ,national ,wildfire ,coordinating ,group at the same time if the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,secretary of the ,interior determine such is appropriate4 #d4 ,department of ,defense firefighting personnel 7a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 upon request from a qualified agency head1 the ,secretary of ,defense may authorize firefighters in the ,department of ,defense to conduct operations1 or to assist the qualified agency head in conducting operations1 in response to incidents of wildfire or fire in the wildland-urban interface4 7b7 ,reimbursement ,a qualified agency head who makes a request to the ,secretary of ,defense under subsection 7a7 shall reimburse the ,secretary for the costs of the services provided by the ,secretary pursuant to the request1 at rates determined1 and agreed to1 by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7c7 ,report to ,congress ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on any financial and logistical barriers to conducting the operations1 or providing the assistance1 described in subsection 7a74 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means the following3 7,a7 ,the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,b7 ,the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,c7 ,the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,d7 ,the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate4 7,e7 ,the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate4 7,f7 ,the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,qualified agency head ,the term qualified agency head means any of the following3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7,b7 ,the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7,c7 ,the head of any other relevant agency1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,defense4 #e4 ,firefighter health and safety research in the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,section #bb of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fga7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7i7 ,program of firefighter health and safety research 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall carry out a research and development program with respect to accomplish the following3 7,a7 ,to protect the respiratory health of firefighters responding to incidents of wildfire or fires in the wildland-urban interface4 7,b7 ,to identify and measure per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7commonly referred to as ,,pfas7 and other carcinogens which may be present in any of the following3 7i7 ,areas affected by-- 7,i7 incidents of wildfire or fire in the wildland-urban interface2 or 7,,ii7 firefighting operations conducted in response to such incidents4 7ii7 ,protective equipment used by firefighters responding to such incidents4 7iii7 ,any other setting1 as determined by the ,director in accordance with paragraph 7#b77;,b74 7#b7 ,consultation with stakeholders 7,a7 ,in general ,in carrying out this subsection1 the ,director shall consult with the following3 7i7 ,the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,fire ,administration4 7ii7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7iii7 ,representatives from such nonprofit organizations or labor unions representing firefighters and fire officers in the public sector4 7,b7 ,,pfas exposure investigations ,in identifying any other setting under paragraph 7#a77;,b77iii71 the ,director shall consult with the following3 7i7 ,the entities specified in subparagraph 7,a74 7ii7 ,stakeholders from the industries that manufacture equipment for1 or provide assistance to1 firefighters4 7iii7 ,structural firefighters who have responded to incidents of wildfire or fires in the wildland-urban interface4 7iv7 ,the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7v7 ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#c7 ,reports to ,congress ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter1 the ,director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following3 7,a7 ,the progress of the ,director in carrying out this subsection4 7,b7 ,any research findings identified as a result of the research conducted under this subsection4 7#d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca to carry out this subsection4 7#e7 ,definition of appropriate congressional committees ,in this subsection1 the term appropriate congressional committees means the following3 7,a7 ,the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,b7 ,the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate4 4 #f4 ,mental health assistance for first responders ,section #cbg7;d7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eafe;f7d77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by striking ,administration and inserting ,administrator2 and 7,b7 by inserting 1 subject to paragraph 7#d7 after participation2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 ,criteria for mental health assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall include the following in the criteria described in paragraph 7#a73 7i7 ,criteria specifying that a task force with firefighters or other emergency responders as members shall include1 as members of the task force1 mental health practitioners qualified to treat1 monitor1 or assess such firefighters or other emergency responders for post-traumatic stress injuries or other mental or behavioral health conditions attributable to service in the task force4 7ii7 ,criteria for each member of a task force to be trained in peer mental health support services and to provide such services to an emergency responder serving in the task force4 7iii7 ,criteria establishing that the peer mental health support services referred to in clause 7ii7 include the following3 7,i7 ,identification of warning signs of post-traumatic stress injuries4 7,,ii7 ,recognition of symptoms of behavioral health conditions4 7,,iii7 ,application of de-escalation methods4 7,,iv7 ,referral to mental health practitioners when appropriate4 7,b7 ,consultation ,the ,administrator may consult with nonprofit organizations to develop the criteria described in subparagraph 7,a7 and provide grants to such organizations to provide training to task forces to comply with such criteria4 7,c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,from amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section1 the ,administrator may obligate and expend not more than #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca to carry out this paragraph4 4 #g4 ,supplemental firefighter assistance 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,under ,secretary of ,agriculture for ,fire ,coordination1 in consultation with the chief executives of each ,state in which a respective potential recipient is located1 may award grants on a competitive basis directly to-- 7#a7 fire departments1 for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel throughout the ,united ,states against fire1 fire-related hazards1 and other hazards2 and 7#b7 nonaffiliated ,,ems organizations 7as defined in section #cc7;a7 of the ,federal ,fire ,prevention and ,control ,act of #aigd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bbbi7;a777 to support the provision of emergency medical services4 7b7 ,maximum grant amounts 7#a7 ,population ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary of ,agriculture may not award a grant under this section in excess of amounts as follows3 7,a7 ,in the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction of #ajj1jjj people or fewer1 the amount of the grant to such recipient shall not exceed #a1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year4 7,b7 ,in the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than #ajj1jjj people but not more than #ejj1jjj people1 the amount of the grant award to such recipient shall not exceed #b1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year4 7,c7 ,in the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than #ejj1jjj but not more than #a1jjj1jjj people1 the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed #c1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year4 7,d7 ,in the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than #a1jjj1jjj people but not more than #b1ejj1jjj people1 the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed #f1jjj1jjj for any fiscal year4 7,e7 ,in the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with more than #b1ejj1jjj people1 the amount of the grant awarded to such recipient shall not exceed #i1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year4 7#b7 ,aggregate 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided under subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary of ,agriculture may not award a grant under this section in a fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the amount that is one percent of the available grand funds in such fiscal year4 7,b7 ,exception ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture may waive the limitation in subparagraph 7,a7 with respect to a grant recipient if the ,secretary determines that such recipient has an extraordinary need for a grant in an amount that exceeds the limit under the subparagraph4 7c7 ,use of grant funds ,each recipient of a grant under this subsection shall use the grant for one or more of the following purposes3 7#a7 ,to obtain personal protective equipment suitable for responding to incidents of wildfire or fires in the wildland-urban interface4 7#b7 ,to train firefighting personnel in responding to incidents of wildfire or fires in the wildland-urban interface4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations for grants ,there is authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf to make grants under this section4 #h4 ,report to ,congress on operations involving wildfires and fires in the wildland-urban interface 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,under ,secretary of ,agriculture for ,fire ,coordination1 in consultation with such nonprofit organizations or labor organizations representing firefighters as determined appropriate by the ,under ,secretary1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains information relating to the following3 7#a7 ,the extent to which local fire service providers train personnel to respond to wildfires and fires in the wildland-urban interface4 7#b7 ,the effectiveness of such training4 7#c7 ,obstacles that prevent the coordination described in section #c7;a77#b77;,a71 with specific case studies to illustrate such obstacles4 7b7 ,definition of appropriate congressional committees ,in this ,act1 the term appropriate congressional committees means the following3 7#a7 ,the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#d7 ,the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate4 7#e7 ,the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate4 7#f7 ,the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate4