H.R. 6618

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6618 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6618

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 25, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to 
conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, 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 ``Wildfire Aerial Response Safety 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Counter-UASsystem; unmanned aircraft system.--The terms 
``counter-UAS system'' and ``unmanned aircraft system'' have 
the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 49, 
United States Code.
(2) Unmanned aircraft system incursion.--The term 
``unmanned aircraft system incursion'' means the operation of 
an unmanned aircraft system within any airspace for which the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued 
a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire.
(b) Study Required.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
Service, shall conduct a study on the effects of unmanned aircraft 
system incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to land managed 
by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.
(c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required under 
subsection (b), the Administrator shall--
(1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar 
years--
(A) the number of occurrences in which a unmanned 
aircraft system incursion has interfered with wildfire 
suppression; and
(B) the estimated effect of each occurrence 
described in subparagraph (A) on--
(i) the length of time required to achieve 
complete suppression;
(ii) any associated delay in the fielding 
of aerial firefighting response units; and
(iii) the amounts expended by the Federal 
Government; and
(2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of--
(A) the dissemination of educational materials 
relating to the effects of unmanned aircraft system 
incursions on wildfire suppression operations; and
(B) the deployment of approved counter-UAS systems 
by authorized entities as a means to detect, mitigate, 
and prevent unmanned aircraft system incursions during 
such operations.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources, the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Appropriations, 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report describing--
(1) the findings of the study required under subsection 
(b); and
(2) any recommendations relating to those findings.

Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.