HR3922-119

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Comptroller General to study how federal programs, rules, and authorities help or hinder wildfire mitigation across ownership boundaries on federal and non-federal land. The study must examine whether changes would give federal land management agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, States, local governments, and Tribal governments more capacity or access to funding to mitigate wildfires.

The study must also evaluate activities under section 103(e) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, including how to improve those activities and whether the subsection has increased cross-boundary mitigation. GAO must submit a report to Congress within two years. The bill does not directly fund projects or change land-management rules, but it creates an evidence base for future changes to wildfire mitigation programs and funding access.

Who Benefits and How

Federal land management agencies benefit from a review of barriers that prevent wildfire treatments from crossing ownership boundaries. State forestry agencies, local fire agencies, and Tribal wildfire offices benefit if the study identifies changes that improve access to federal mitigation funding. Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, FEMA mitigation staff, and U.S. Fire Administration staff benefit from a clearer map of overlapping authorities. Wildfire mitigation contractors may benefit in the future if Congress expands cross-boundary project funding based on GAO recommendations. Congressional natural resources staff benefit from a report identifying program gaps and possible legislative fixes.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Government Accountability Office staff must conduct the study and produce the congressional report within two years. Federal land management agencies, State forestry agencies, local governments, and Tribal governments may need to provide program information to GAO. Agencies whose rules are identified as barriers may face later oversight or legislative pressure. The bill itself does not impose new wildfire project duties, but it creates a review burden across multiple land-management and emergency-management programs.

Key Provisions

• Requires GAO to study federal programs, rules, and authorities affecting wildfire mitigation across federal and non-federal land.
• Requires GAO to assess whether changes would improve capacity or funding access for federal, State, local, and Tribal governments.
• Requires evaluation of Healthy Forests Restoration Act section 103(e) activities.
• Requires recommendations on improving cross-boundary wildfire mitigation activities.
• Requires a report to Congress within two years.