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H.R. 5091: Wildfire Defense Act

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H.R. 5091: Wildfire Defense Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-11-14 · Emergency Management · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-11-14 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Wildfire Defense Act

Plain summary

Wildfire Defense Act This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a community wildfire defense grant program and requires other actions by FEMA, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Forest Service with respect to wildfires. In awarding grants, FEMA must give priority to state and local governments, Indian tribes, and joint authorities that will carry out projects or plans supporting a low-income community in a fire-hazard area or a severe disaster impacted community in a fire-hazard area. The GAO shall publish (1) a report on authorities and programs that are available to protect communities from wildfires; and (2) a study on the potential for a community wildfire defense plan to qualify for a certification identifying a level of wildfire survivability and resilience, and how to incentivize insurance companies to accept the certification. The Forest Service shall develop and publish a map depicting at-risk communities. FEMA shall prepare a report relating to insufficient radio frequencies, barriers to interoperability of radio frequencies, and available products and technologies for overcoming barriers to interoperability for wildland fire management.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Wildfire Defense Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] · 20 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] reported raising $1.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr5091 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116