Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2023

1/3/2024, 5:45 PM

Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2023

This bill authorizes the President to declare a smoke emergency and provide emergency assistance to affected communities under specified circumstances.

Specifically, the President, upon determining that there is, or anticipating that there will be, a significant decrease in air quality due to wildland fire smoke in one or more states, may declare a smoke emergency. The governor or other agency of a state that is or will be affected may request such a declaration.

If the President declares a smoke emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies may provide emergency assistance to states and local communities that are or will be affected by the emergency, including grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel and resources for establishing smoke shelters, air purifiers, and additional air monitoring sites.

The Small Business Administration may provide grants to any small business concern that loses a significant amount of revenue due to wildland fire smoke in an area in which the President has declared a smoke emergency.

Congress
118

Number
HR - 5329

Introduced on
2023-09-01

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/1/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2023

This bill authorizes the President to declare a smoke emergency and provide emergency assistance to affected communities under specified circumstances.

Specifically, the President, upon determining that there is, or anticipating that there will be, a significant decrease in air quality due to wildland fire smoke in one or more states, may declare a smoke emergency. The governor or other agency of a state that is or will be affected may request such a declaration.

If the President declares a smoke emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies may provide emergency assistance to states and local communities that are or will be affected by the emergency, including grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel and resources for establishing smoke shelters, air purifiers, and additional air monitoring sites.

The Small Business Administration may provide grants to any small business concern that loses a significant amount of revenue due to wildland fire smoke in an area in which the President has declared a smoke emergency.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Emergency Management

Potential Impact
Air quality
Appropriations
Disaster relief and insurance
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Lighting, heating, cooling
Small business
State and local government operations

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary2/27/2024

Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2023

This bill authorizes the President to declare a smoke emergency and provide emergency assistance to affected communities under specified circumstances.

Specifically, the Presid...


Latest Action9/5/2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.