H.R. 4976

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4976 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4976

To improve understanding and policy responses to the impacts of 
wildfire smoke on children in educational and childcare settings, and 
for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 15, 2025

Ms. Dexter (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Ms. McClellan, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Tlaib, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Evans of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Pettersen, Mr. 
Thanedar, and Ms. DeGette) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

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A BILL

To improve understanding and policy responses to the impacts of 
wildfire smoke on children in educational and childcare settings, and 
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Shielding Students from Wildfire 
Smoke Act''.

SEC. 2. REVIEW OF IMPACTS OF WILDFIRE SMOKE ON CHILDREN IN EDUCATIONAL 
AND CHILDCARE SETTINGS.

(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a review of existing 
school and childcare policies addressing wildfire smoke exposure, both 
during and after a wildfire event, to ensure that children in K-12 
educational settings and young children in childcare settings, 
including in out-of-school or out-of-childcare activities (such as 
children's sports and summer camps) that are administered by a school 
or childcare program are adequately protected from the risks posed by 
wildfire smoke.
(b) Elements.--The review under subsection (a) shall contain the 
following:
(1) An assessment of current standards, guidance, and 
mitigation strategies for wildfire smoke in K-12 educational 
settings and childcare settings, including in out-of-school or 
out-of-childcare activities.
(2) An identification of gaps in research and policy 
relating to such standards, guidance, and strategies.
(3) Recommendations to Congress regarding strategies to 
better protect children during and after wildfire smoke events, 
including children in under-resourced K-12 educational settings 
and childcare settings.
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