H.R. 178
119th Congress
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.
9
Cosponsors
9
Actions
0
Amendments
2
Committees
—
Since introduced
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.
8 January 2026·6 months ago
Summary
Introduced in House · Updated 18 March 2025
This bill sets out requirements for wildfire suppression and management activities carried out by the Forest Service.
These requirements apply to Forest Service land that (1) has a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought intensity rating; (2) has a National Wildland Fire Preparedness level of 5 (i.e., the highest level of wildland fire activity); or (3) is located in a fireshed ranked in the top 10% of wildfire exposure.
Within 24 hours of detecting a wildfire on such Forest Service land, the service must use all available resources to extinguish the wildfire. Additionally, the service may not inhibit the firefighting activities of state and local agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfires on the Forest Service land.
Further, the service may only initiate a backfire or burnout as part of a fire suppression strategy if it is ordered by the responsible incident commander or is necessary to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. The service must use all available resources to control any initiated fire until it is extinguished.
The bill also limits the service's use of prescribed fires (i.e., the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire). When using prescribed fires as a fire resource management tool, the service must comply with applicable laws and regulations and immediately suppress any prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription.
Timeline
9 actions
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.
8 January 2026 · Committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.
8 January 2026 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
23 July 2025 · Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
23 July 2025 · Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
7 February 2025 · Committee
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
3 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
3 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
3 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
3 January 2025 · IntroReferral
Sponsorship
9 cosponsors
Sponsor
Republican:Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]CACosponsors
- Republican9100%
- Republican:Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]MT
- Republican:Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]UT
- Republican:Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]MT
- Republican:Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]CA
- Republican:Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]MN
- Republican:Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]CA
- Republican:Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]CA
- Republican:Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]AZ
- Republican:Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]CA
Classification
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural ResourcesLegislative subjects
Committees
2
Agriculture Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To3 Jan 2025
Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee
- Referred to7 Feb 2025
Natural Resources Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To3 Jan 2025
- Markup By23 Jul 2025
- Reported By8 Jan 2026
Reports
Cosponsor momentum
Cumulative over time
Cosponsors grew from 5 on 3 January 2025 to 9 on 10 March 2025.
Track To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes. as it moves through Congress
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