To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board.
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Committee
Latest Action · September 19, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
This bill establishes a permanent Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board within the Department of the Interior to improve how the federal government applies wildfire research to real-world operations. The Board will include representatives from 18 federal agencies ranging from the Forest Service and FEMA to NASA and the CDC, along with up to 18 additional members appointed from state and local governments, tribes, private companies, and research experts. The Board's main responsibilities include identifying ways to turn wildfire research into practical applications, encouraging researchers to work across disciplines like public health and meteorological science, and sharing findings through publications and webinars to help practitioners address wildfire threats. The legislation requires the Board to submit a report to Congress within two years detailing its activities, progress on implementing research into operations, any obstacles encountered, and recommendations for future priorities. The bill authorizes $10 million in funding for the Board's operations, with the possibility of additional funding from member agencies' existing budgets.
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