S.Res. 741

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 741 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 741

Designating May 2026 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 20, 2026

Ms. Hirono (for herself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

June 24, 2026

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Designating May 2026 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness Month''.

Whereas wildfires across the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the 
United States territories have increased in scale, complexity, and 
severity, fire seasons have lengthened in many parts of the United 
States to encompass the entire year, and wildfire has become a threat in 
regions of the United States that have little or no history of wildfire;
Whereas, in the United States from 2016 to 2025, 634,052 wildfires burned, 
consuming a total of 70,543,367 acres;
Whereas, in the United States from January 1 to May 1, 2026, 1,848,210 acres 
have burned, which is 94 percent higher than the previous 10-year 
average, and 24,066 wildfires have been reported, which is 50 percent 
higher than the previous 10-year average;
Whereas, from May 2026 to August 2026, over 40 percent of States in the United 
States are expected to face above normal risk for significant wildfire 
events;
Whereas nearly 85 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by 
humans;
Whereas Federal wildfire suppression efforts cost more than $3,000,000,000 per 
year, and the total cost of wildfire damage across the United States is 
estimated to be tens to hundreds of billions of dollars per year;
Whereas significant investments in proactive planning, mitigation, and risk 
reduction are necessary for the United States to counteract increasingly 
severe wildfire risk, damage, and loss;
Whereas firefighters are on the front lines and are at an increased risk of 
developing cancer and respiratory diseases because they are exposed to 
smoke and hazardous chemicals in the line of duty;
Whereas the effects of long-term exposure to wildfire smoke will harm more 
people, as particulate pollution can cause asthma attacks, heart 
attacks, strokes, and even death;
Whereas preventative measures exist to help individuals and communities increase 
their fire resilience through--

(1) reducing the risk of home ignition by using fire-resistant 
construction materials and maintaining yard vegetation;

(2) community planning that reduces home wildfire exposure and 
increases access for firefighters;

(3) evacuation planning and assistance for people and their animals;

(4) vegetation and forest management; and

(5) limited use of combustibles during high heat or drier seasons, 
including fireworks, exhaust, and open flames; and

Whereas a nationally designated Wildfire Preparedness Month--

(1) increases awareness of the threat of wildfires and the knowledge of 
lifesaving and fire-mitigation practices; and

(2) promotes educational initiatives, encourages community programming, 
and increases overall knowledge and preparedness: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates May 2026 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness 
Month'';
(2) encourages increased awareness of, and preparedness 
for, the threat of wildfires and subsequent suppression efforts 
at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels of government, 
including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities, and by 
nongovernmental organizations and communities; and
(3) supports resources and educational initiatives that 
communicate how communities at risk of exposure to wildfire 
hazards can take preventative measures, including home 
hardening, land management practices that reduce or remove 
highly flammable grasses and shrubs, instituting or enhancing 
early warning systems, reducing unplanned human ignitions, 
reducing adverse health impacts from smoke and fire exposure, 
and safely and efficiently evacuating people and their animals.
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