H.R. 6154

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6154 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6154

To provide for the establishment of regional wildland fire research 
centers, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 19, 2025

Mr. Min (for himself and Mr. Evans of Colorado) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and 
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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide for the establishment of regional wildland fire research 
centers, 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 ``Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire 
Research Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry, the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on 
Natural Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives; and
(C) any other committee of Congress with the 
authority to facilitate the development of wildland 
fire research.
(2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Center 
Coordination Board established by section 3(c)(1).
(3) Career pathway.--The term ``career pathway'' has the 
meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(4) Chief.--The term ``Chief'' means the Chief of the 
Forest Service.
(5) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science 
agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 103(f) of 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6623(f)).
(6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(7) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(8) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term ``land-
grant colleges and universities'' has the meaning given that 
term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
(9) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution defined in any of 
paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(10) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(11) Regional center.--The term ``regional center'' means a 
regional wildland fire research center established under 
section 3.
(12) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior.
(13) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304).
(14) 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 fire.
(15) Wildland fire management agencies.--The term 
``wildland fire management agencies'' means--
(A) the Forest Service;
(B) the Bureau of Land Management;
(C) the National Park Service;
(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
and
(E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(16) Wildland fire research.--The term ``wildland fire 
research'' means research to better understand--
(A) the causes and consequences of wildland fires, 
including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that 
increase the risk of catastrophic events;
(B) the spread and behavior of wildland fires, 
including fires in the wildland-urban interface;
(C) the efficacy of mitigation strategies for 
wildland fires;
(D) the impact of wildland fires on public health, 
safety, and the environment;
(E) the rehabilitation and restoration of affected 
ecosystems after wildland fires; and
(F) the development of mitigation strategies and 
techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire 
managers and firefighters.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH CENTERS.

(a) In General.--The Secretaries shall establish a competitive 
process for the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire 
research centers in accordance with subsection (b).
(b) Selection and Establishment of Regional Centers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall select not fewer 
than 8 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges 
and universities at which to establish, in accordance with the 
timeline described in paragraph (2), regional centers to 
coordinate the development of wildland fire research.
(2) Timeline.--In establishing regional centers under 
paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall establish--
(A) as soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, a pilot program under which not fewer 
than 2 regional centers shall be established; and
(B) not later than 2 years after the date on which 
the pilot program is established under subparagraph 
(A), the remaining regional centers.
(3) Criteria for selection.--
(A) In general.--In establishing a regional center 
at an institution of higher education or land-grant 
college or university under this section, the 
Secretaries shall prioritize the selection of 
institutions, colleges, or universities that meet not 
fewer than one of the following criteria:
(i) Have existing programs of record in 
wildland fire research.
(ii) Have existing partnerships with 
research institutions of the Federal Government 
and other academic institutions and entities 
relating to wildland fire research.
(iii) Participate in or lead a program 
under the Joint Fire Science Program.
(iv) Are a minority-serving institution.
(B) Regions.--The Secretaries shall establish not 
fewer than 1 regional center in each of the following 
regions of the United States, as defined by the 
Secretaries:
(i) Alaska.
(ii) California.
(iii) The Pacific Northwest.
(iv) The Pacific Islands.
(v) The Plains and Northeast.
(vi) The Rockies.
(vii) The Southeast.
(viii) The Southwest.
(4) Purpose.--Each regional center, with respect to the 
region covered by the regional center, shall--
(A) to the extent practical, coordinate research 
with other wildland fire research entities, such as 
other academic institutions, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, the National Science Foundation, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
Department of Energy, the research and development 
program of the Forest Service, the National 
Laboratories, the United States Geological Survey, and 
State and regional research organizations;
(B) improve the understanding of wildland fire 
through wildland fire research that can be applied by 
wildland fire management agencies;
(C) develop technologies and other tools to 
understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, 
including--
(i) models to predict fire potential and 
the spread and behavior of wildland fire and 
smoke;
(ii) models to predict how vegetation will 
respond to changes in the environment and 
wildland fire;
(iii) the integration of technologies to 
predict the spread and behavior of wildland 
fire and smoke in as near-real-time as 
possible; and
(iv) other innovations to be integrated 
into operational decision support systems 
relating to wildland fire, such as the Wildland 
Fire Decision Support System and the 
Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support 
System;
(D) develop technologies and other tools to safely 
support land management activities to reduce the 
severity of wildland fire;
(E) leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the 
impact of smoke on communities and wildfire incident 
management teams, including wildland firefighters;
(F) improve the understanding of post-fire risk to 
the landscape, including flash flooding potential and 
watershed impacts;
(G) test and operate models to support land 
management decision-making, including through--
(i) operating models to support management 
of wildland fire and vegetation;
(ii) the demonstration of integration 
technologies to support management of wildland 
fire in as near-real-time as possible; and
(iii) the incorporation of decision science 
and social science that examines the perception 
and adoption of information related to wildland 
fire risk;
(H) develop a career pathway training program with 
respect to carrying out wildland fire research;
(I) develop data management protocols to allow for 
full and open exchange of data pursuant to the 
principles of findability, accessibility, 
interoperability, and reusability (commonly referred to 
as the ``FAIR principles'') and archive and access that 
data;
(J) develop training programs for prescribed fire 
implementation; and
(K) make its work and data fully and openly 
available.
(c) National Center Coordination Board.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established a coordination 
board, to be known as the ``National Center Coordination 
Board''.
(2) Composition.--
(A) Members.--
(i) In general.--The Board shall be 
composed of one member representing each 
regional center.
(ii) Appointment.--Each member under clause 
(i) shall be selected by the relevant regional 
center.
(B) Chair.--The Administrator and the Chief shall 
serve as the Co-Chairs of the Board.
(3) Duties.--The Board shall--
(A) establish wildland fire science, data 
management, and sharing protocols, and technological 
research priorities in cooperation with each regional 
center and informed by the operational needs of 
wildland fire management agencies;
(B) coordinate data collection efforts supporting 
the efforts of each regional center, including--
(i) building data layers across each region 
described in subsection (b)(2)(B); and
(ii) providing updates on the development 
of wildland fire research models;
(C) ensure the coordination of, and avoid 
unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the 
regional centers and the activities of institutions of 
higher education, land-grant colleges and universities, 
Federal science agencies, and State research 
organizations with respect to wildland fire research, 
including--
(i) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration;
(ii) the National Laboratories;
(iii) the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration;
(iv) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(v) the United States Fire Administration;
(vi) the United States Geological Survey; 
and
(vii) any other relevant entity with 
specialized expertise in wildland fire 
research; and
(D) support end-to-end applications that assist 
wildland fire management agencies in adopting 
technologies and incorporating research findings 
produced by the regional centers.
(4) Meetings.--
(A) Board meetings.--The Board shall meet 
quarterly.
(B) Public meetings.--
(i) 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 research.
(ii) Frequency.--Not less frequently than 
annually, the Board shall hold at least one 
public meeting in each State covered by a 
region described in subsection (b)(2)(B).
(5) Term.--A member of the Board shall be appointed for a 
term of 4 years, except that of the members first appointed, 
the Secretaries shall ensure that approximately--
(A) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 4 
years;
(B) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 3 
years; and
(C) \1/3\ of members are appointed for a term of 2 
years.
(6) Vacancies.--
(A) In general.--A vacancy on the Board--
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Board; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment was made by not later 
than 180 days after the date on which the 
vacancy occurs.
(B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen 
to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired 
term of the member replaced.
(7) Recommendations.--Not less frequently than annually, 
the Board shall submit to the Secretaries recommendations to 
improve wildland fire research to be included in the report 
described in subsection (e).
(d) Advisory Boards.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with chapter 10 of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Federal 
Advisory Committee Act''), the Secretaries shall establish at 
each regional center an advisory board, to be known as the 
``Regional Advisory Board'', to carry out the duties described 
in paragraph (4).
(2) Composition.--
(A) In general.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall 
consist of members, who shall be from, or have 
responsibility covering, the region covered by the 
relevant regional center, including at minimum--
(i) 1 regional representative from each 
wildland fire management agency, appointed by 
that agency;
(ii) 1 representative a State government 
agency from each State located in that region 
with expertise in forestry and wildland fire 
mitigation and management, appointed by the 
Governor of that State;
(iii) 1 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 
land, appointed by the Secretaries; and
(iv) additional representatives elected 
under subparagraph (B)(ii).
(B) Elected membership.--
(i) Subcommittee.--Each Regional Advisory 
Board shall solicit and approve, on at least an 
annual basis, 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 (ii), composed of not more than 15 
individuals, including representatives from, as 
applicable--
(I) institutions of higher 
education or land-grant colleges and 
universities;
(II) nongovernmental organizations;
(III) private industry;
(IV) the wildland firefighter 
community, including organizations that 
represent the interests of wildland 
firefighters; and
(V) Southwest Ecological 
Restoration Institutes established 
under section 5(a) of the Southwest 
Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention 
Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704(a)).
(ii) Election.--The subcommittee described 
in clause (i) 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 (A)(iv) for a 2-year 
term.
(3) Compensation.--Each member of a Regional Advisory Board 
shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
(4) Duties.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall--
(A) ensure and support the coordination of wildland 
fire research between the relevant regional center and 
Federal and State land management agencies in that 
region;
(B) 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 Board;
(C) advise, in coordination with the relevant 
regional center, on research goals and objectives; and
(D) 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 region.
(5) Meetings.--Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet 
quarterly.
(6) Term.--Unless specified otherwise, a member of a 
Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.
(7) Vacancies.--
(A) In general.--A vacancy on a Regional Advisory 
Board--
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Regional Advisory Board; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment was made by not later 
than 180 days after the date on which the 
vacancy occurs.
(B) Filling unexpired term.--An individual chosen 
to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired 
term of the member replaced.
(e) Report on Wildland Fire Research.--Not later than each of 2 
years and 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretaries, in consultation with the Board, shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report describing--
(1) the progress each regional center has made in the 
development of wildland fire research; and
(2) recommendations to improve wildland fire research.
(f) Consultation.--In carrying out the requirements of this 
section, the Secretaries shall consult with--
(1) Federal science agencies; and
(2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Regional centers.--For establishing and 
administering the regional centers established under 
subsection (a), there is authorized to be 
appropriated--
(i) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(ii) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(iii) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(iv) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
(v) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.
(B) Board.--For the Board established under 
subsection (c), there is authorized to be appropriated 
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
(2) Eligible use of funds.--A regional center may use 
amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of 
appropriations under paragraph (1)(A) for construction or the 
acquisition of equipment necessary to carry out the 
requirements of this Act.
(3) Flexibility.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
Secretaries shall adjust appropriations under paragraph 
(1) between the regional centers established under 
subsection (a) as needed to account for differences in 
administrative costs and research challenges specific 
to a particular region.
(B) Notice.--Before adjusting appropriations under 
subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Administrator 
shall--
(i) include that adjustment in the budget 
justification materials submitted by the 
Administrator and the Chief in support of the 
budget of the President (as submitted to 
Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code) for that fiscal year; and
(ii) provide notice of that adjustment to 
the appropriate committees of Congress.
(4) Transfer of funds.--A Federal science agency may 
transfer, as necessary, additional appropriated amounts to a 
regional center for the purpose of carrying out wildland fire 
research described in subsection (b)(3)(B).
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