,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #faed ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ai1 #bjbe,mr4 ,min 7for himself and ,mr4 ,evans of ,colorado7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 and ,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 provide for the establishment of regional wildland fire research centers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,regional ,leadership in ,wildland ,fire ,research ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry1 the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,c7 any other committee of ,congress with the authority to facilitate the development of wildland fire research4 7#b7 ,board ,the term ,board means the ,national ,center ,coordination ,board established by section #c7;c77#a74 7#c7 ,career pathway ,the term career pathway has the meaning given that term in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb74 7#d7 ,chief ,the term ,chief means the ,chief of the ,forest ,service4 7#e7 ,federal science agency ,the term ,federal science agency has the meaning given that term in section #ajc7;f7 of the ,america ,,competes ,reauthorization ,act of #bjaj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbc7;f774 7#f7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#g7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7#h7 ,land-grant colleges and universities ,the term land-grant colleges and universities has the meaning given that term in section #adjd of the ,national ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,teaching ,policy ,act of #aigg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cajc74 7#i7 ,minority-serving institution ,the term minority-serving institution means an institution defined in any of paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g7 of section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a774 7#aj7 ,national ,laboratory ,the term ,national ,laboratory has the meaning given that term in section #b of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja74 7#aa7 ,regional center ,the term regional center means a regional wildland fire research center established under section #c4 7#ab7 ,secretaries ,the term ,secretaries means the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#ac7 ,tribal organization ,the term ,tribal organization has the meaning given that term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#ad7 ,wildland fire ,the term wildland fire means any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition or prescribed fire4 7#ae7 ,wildland fire management agencies ,the term wildland fire management agencies means-- 7,a7 the ,forest ,service2 7,b7 the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 7,c7 the ,national ,park ,service2 7,d7 the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 and 7,e7 the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs4 7#af7 ,wildland fire research ,the term wildland fire research means research to better understand-- 7,a7 the causes and consequences of wildland fires1 including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that increase the risk of catastrophic events2 7,b7 the spread and behavior of wildland fires1 including fires in the wildland-urban interface2 7,c7 the efficacy of mitigation strategies for wildland fires2 7,d7 the impact of wildland fires on public health1 safety1 and the environment2 7,e7 the rehabilitation and restoration of affected ecosystems after wildland fires2 and 7,f7 the development of mitigation strategies and techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire managers and firefighters4 #c4 ,establishment of regional wildland fire research centers 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretaries shall establish a competitive process for the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research centers in accordance with subsection 7b74 7b7 ,selection and establishment of regional centers 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretaries shall select not fewer than #h institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities at which to establish1 in accordance with the timeline described in paragraph 7#b71 regional centers to coordinate the development of wildland fire research4 7#b7 ,timeline ,in establishing regional centers under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretaries shall establish-- 7,a7 as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this ,act1 subject to the availability of appropriations1 a pilot program under which not fewer than #b regional centers shall be established2 and 7,b7 not later than #b years after the date on which the pilot program is established under subparagraph 7,a71 the remaining regional centers4 7#c7 ,criteria for selection 7,a7 ,in general ,in establishing a regional center at an institution of higher education or land-grant college or university under this section1 the ,secretaries shall prioritize the selection of institutions1 colleges1 or universities that meet not fewer than one of the following criteria3 7i7 ,have existing programs of record in wildland fire research4 7ii7 ,have existing partnerships with research institutions of the ,federal ,government and other academic institutions and entities relating to wildland fire research4 7iii7 ,participate in or lead a program under the ,joint ,fire ,science ,program4 7iv7 ,are a minority-serving institution4 7,b7 ,regions ,the ,secretaries shall establish not fewer than #a regional center in each of the following regions of the ,united ,states1 as defined by the ,secretaries3 7i7 ,alaska4 7ii7 ,california4 7iii7 ,the ,pacific ,northwest4 7iv7 ,the ,pacific ,islands4 7v7 ,the ,plains and ,northeast4 7vi7 ,the ,rockies4 7vii7 ,the ,southeast4 7viii7 ,the ,southwest4 7#d7 ,purpose ,each regional center1 with respect to the region covered by the regional center1 shall-- 7,a7 to the extent practical1 coordinate research with other wildland fire research entities1 such as other academic institutions1 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,department of ,energy1 the research and development program of the ,forest ,service1 the ,national ,laboratories1 the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey1 and ,state and regional research organizations2 7,b7 improve the understanding of wildland fire through wildland fire research that can be applied by wildland fire management agencies2 7,c7 develop technologies and other tools to understand1 monitor1 and predict wildland fire1 including-- 7i7 models to predict fire potential and the spread and behavior of wildland fire and smoke2 7ii7 models to predict how vegetation will respond to changes in the environment and wildland fire2 7iii7 the integration of technologies to predict the spread and behavior of wildland fire and smoke in as near-real-time as possible2 and 7iv7 other innovations to be integrated into operational decision support systems relating to wildland fire1 such as the ,wildland ,fire ,decision ,support ,system and the ,interagency ,fuel ,treatment ,decision ,support ,system2 7,d7 develop technologies and other tools to safely support land management activities to reduce the severity of wildland fire2 7,e7 leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the impact of smoke on communities and wildfire incident management teams1 including wildland firefighters2 7,f7 improve the understanding of post-fire risk to the landscape1 including flash flooding potential and watershed impacts2 7,g7 test and operate models to support land management decision-making1 including through-- 7i7 operating models to support management of wildland fire and vegetation2 7ii7 the demonstration of integration technologies to support management of wildland fire in as near-real-time as possible2 and 7iii7 the incorporation of decision science and social science that examines the perception and adoption of information related to wildland fire risk2 7,h7 develop a career pathway training program with respect to carrying out wildland fire research2 7,i7 develop data management protocols to allow for full and open exchange of data pursuant to the principles of findability1 accessibility1 interoperability1 and reusability 7commonly referred to as the ,,fair principles7 and archive and access that data2 7,j7 develop training programs for prescribed fire implementation2 and 7,k7 make its work and data fully and openly available4 7c7 ,national ,center ,coordination ,board 7#a7 ,establishment ,there is established a coordination board1 to be known as the ,national ,center ,coordination ,board4 7#b7 ,composition 7,a7 ,members 7i7 ,in general ,the ,board shall be composed of one member representing each regional center4 7ii7 ,appointment ,each member under clause 7i7 shall be selected by the relevant regional center4 7,b7 ,chair ,the ,administrator and the ,chief shall serve as the ,co-,chairs of the ,board4 7#c7 ,duties ,the ,board shall-- 7,a7 establish wildland fire science1 data management1 and sharing protocols1 and technological research priorities in cooperation with each regional center and informed by the operational needs of wildland fire management agencies2 7,b7 coordinate data collection efforts supporting the efforts of each regional center1 including-- 7i7 building data layers across each region described in subsection 7b77#b77;,b72 and 7ii7 providing updates on the development of wildland fire research models2 7,c7 ensure the coordination of1 and avoid unnecessary duplication of1 the activities of the regional centers and the activities of institutions of higher education1 land-grant colleges and universities1 ,federal science agencies1 and ,state research organizations with respect to wildland fire research1 including-- 7i7 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7ii7 the ,national ,laboratories2 7iii7 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration2 7iv7 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7v7 the ,united ,states ,fire ,administration2 7vi7 the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey2 and 7vii7 any other relevant entity with specialized expertise in wildland fire research2 and 7,d7 support end-to-end applications that assist wildland fire management agencies in adopting technologies and incorporating research findings produced by the regional centers4 7#d7 ,meetings 7,a7 ,board meetings ,the ,board shall meet quarterly4 7,b7 ,public meetings 7i7 ,in general ,the ,board shall hold public meetings with affected stakeholders to solicit information from the general public regarding the development and implications of wildland fire research4 7ii7 ,frequency ,not less frequently than annually1 the ,board shall hold at least one public meeting in each ,state covered by a region described in subsection 7b77#b77;,b74 7#e7 ,term ,a member of the ,board shall be appointed for a term of #d years1 except that of the members first appointed1 the ,secretaries shall ensure that approximately-- 7,a7 #a_/c of members are appointed for a term of #d years2 7,b7 #a_/c of members are appointed for a term of #c years2 and 7,c7 #a_/c of members are appointed for a term of #b years4 7#f7 ,vacancies 7,a7 ,in general ,a vacancy on the ,board-- 7i7 shall not affect the powers of the ,board2 and 7ii7 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than #ahj days after the date on which the vacancy occurs4 7,b7 ,filling unexpired term ,an individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced4 7#g7 ,recommendations ,not less frequently than annually1 the ,board shall submit to the ,secretaries recommendations to improve wildland fire research to be included in the report described in subsection 7e74 7d7 ,advisory boards 7#a7 ,in general ,in accordance with chapter #aj of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred to as the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act71 the ,secretaries shall establish at each regional center an advisory board1 to be known as the ,regional ,advisory ,board1 to carry out the duties described in paragraph 7#d74 7#b7 ,composition 7,a7 ,in general ,each ,regional ,advisory ,board shall consist of members1 who shall be from1 or have responsibility covering1 the region covered by the relevant regional center1 including at minimum-- 7i7 #a regional representative from each wildland fire management agency1 appointed by that agency2 7ii7 #a representative a ,state government agency from each ,state located in that region with expertise in forestry and wildland fire mitigation and management1 appointed by the ,governor of that ,state2 7iii7 #a representative from an ,indian ,tribe or ,tribal organization from that region with expertise in forestry and wildland fire mitigation and management on ,tribal or ,federal land1 appointed by the ,secretaries2 and 7iv7 additional representatives elected under subparagraph 7,b77ii74 7,b7 ,elected membership 7i7 ,subcommittee ,each ,regional ,advisory ,board shall solicit and approve1 on at least an annual basis1 nominations for individuals with operational expertise in wildland fire mitigation and management to serve as a representative on a subcommittee to the ,regional ,advisory ,board for the purposes of clause 7ii71 composed of not more than #ae individuals1 including representatives from1 as applicable-- 7,i7 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities2 7,,ii7 nongovernmental organizations2 7,,iii7 private industry2 7,,iv7 the wildland firefighter community1 including organizations that represent the interests of wildland firefighters2 and 7,v7 ,southwest ,ecological ,restoration ,institutes established under section #e7;a7 of the ,southwest ,forest ,health and ,wildfire ,prevention ,act of #bjjd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #fgjd7;a774 7ii7 ,election ,the subcommittee described in clause 7i7 for a ,regional ,advisory ,board may elect a member or members of the subcommittee to serve as a member of the ,regional ,advisory ,board under subparagraph 7,a77iv7 for a #b-year term4 7#c7 ,compensation ,each member of a ,regional ,advisory ,board shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation4 7#d7 ,duties ,each ,regional ,advisory ,board shall-- 7,a7 ensure and support the coordination of wildland fire research between the relevant regional center and ,federal and ,state land management agencies in that region2 7,b7 communicate the operational needs of ,federal and ,state land management agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that region to the relevant regional center and to the ,board2 7,c7 advise1 in coordination with the relevant regional center1 on research goals and objectives2 and 7,d7 assist the relevant regional center with the dissemination of research outputs and data to ,federal and ,state land management agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that region4 7#e7 ,meetings ,each ,regional ,advisory ,board shall meet quarterly4 7#f7 ,term ,unless specified otherwise1 a member of a ,regional ,advisory ,board shall serve for a term of #d years4 7#g7 ,vacancies 7,a7 ,in general ,a vacancy on a ,regional ,advisory ,board-- 7i7 shall not affect the powers of the ,regional ,advisory ,board2 and 7ii7 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than #ahj days after the date on which the vacancy occurs4 7,b7 ,filling unexpired term ,an individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced4 7e7 ,report on wildland fire research ,not later than each of #b years and #d years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretaries1 in consultation with the ,board1 shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report describing-- 7#a7 the progress each regional center has made in the development of wildland fire research2 and 7#b7 recommendations to improve wildland fire research4 7f7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the requirements of this section1 the ,secretaries shall consult with-- 7#a7 ,federal science agencies2 and 7#b7 the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,regional centers ,for establishing and administering the regional centers established under subsection 7a71 there is authorized to be appropriated-- 7i7 #fj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf2 7ii7 #fa1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbg2 7iii7 #fb1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbh2 7iv7 #fc1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbi2 and 7v7 #fd1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjcj4 7,b7 ,board ,for the ,board established under subsection 7c71 there is authorized to be appropriated #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 7#b7 ,eligible use of funds ,a regional center may use amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of appropriations under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 for construction or the acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out the requirements of this ,act4 7#c7 ,flexibility 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretaries shall adjust appropriations under paragraph 7#a7 between the regional centers established under subsection 7a7 as needed to account for differences in administrative costs and research challenges specific to a particular region4 7,b7 ,notice ,before adjusting appropriations under subparagraph 7,a7 for a fiscal year1 the ,administrator shall-- 7i7 include that adjustment in the budget justification materials submitted by the ,administrator and the ,chief in support of the budget of the ,president 7as submitted to ,congress under section #aaje of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code7 for that fiscal year2 and 7ii7 provide notice of that adjustment to the appropriate committees of ,congress4 7#d7 ,transfer of funds ,a ,federal science agency may transfer1 as necessary1 additional appropriated amounts to a regional center for the purpose of carrying out wildland fire research described in subsection 7b77#c77;,b74