United States 116th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 7978 — Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Addresses wildfire preparedness and response. Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select three forest landscapes on which to conduct projects to reduce the risk of wildfire, restore ecological health, or adapt to the increased risk of wildfire due to climate change. USDA and the Department of the Interior shall expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment in areas at risk of wildfire, expedite related permitting, expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response, and establish a center to train individuals in methods to mitigate wildfire risk. The bill excludes certain forest management activities from environmental review requirements. Interior may make a determination that an emergency situation exists regarding National Forest System land and authorize specified emergency actions. Such a determination and such actions are not subject to administrative review. Interior shall provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to support biomass conversion facilities. The bill allows the export of unprocessed timber of dead and dying trees from federal land in California. Interior shall establish a grant program to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the forest sector, raise public awareness about the forest sector, and connect individuals to careers in the forest sector. The Department of Energy shall provide support to improve the energy resilience, power needs, and energy efficiency of critical facilities.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HR 7978 on the official United States source →

Action History

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

  5. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

  6. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

  7. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

  8. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

  9. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.

  10. Introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

Public lands and natural resources Air quality Alternative and renewable resources Aquatic ecology Building construction California Civil actions and liability Climate change and greenhouse gases Congressional oversight Correctional facilities and imprisonment Disaster relief and insurance Ecology Education programs funding Educational facilities and institutions Educational guidance Electric power generation and transmission Elementary and secondary education Employment and training programs Endangered and threatened species Energy efficiency and conservation Energy storage, supplies, demand Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Fires First responders and emergency personnel Forests, forestry, trees Government lending and loan guarantees Health facilities and institutions Higher education Home and outpatient care Hydrology and hydrography Indian social and development programs Industrial facilities Insects Judicial review and appeals Lakes and rivers Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care Materials Nursing Pest management Public utilities and utility rates Roads and highways Teaching, teachers, curricula Trade restrictions Urban and suburban affairs and development Vocational and technical education Water quality Water use and supply Watersheds Wetlands Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 7978 do?
Addresses wildfire preparedness and response. Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select three forest landscapes on which to conduct projects to reduce the risk of wildfire, restore ecological health, or adapt to the increased risk of wildfire due to climate change. USDA and the Department of the Interior shall expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment in areas at risk of wildfire, expedite related permitting, expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response, and establish a center to train individuals in methods to mitigate wildfire risk. The bill excludes certain forest management activities from environmental review requirements. Interior may make a determination that an emergency situation exists regarding National Forest System land and authorize specified emergency actions. Such a determination and such actions are not subject to administrative review. Interior shall provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to support biomass conversion facilities. The bill allows the export of unprocessed timber of dead and dying trees from federal land in California. Interior shall establish a grant program to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the forest sector, raise public awareness about the forest sector, and connect individuals to careers in the forest sector. The Department of Energy shall provide support to improve the energy resilience, power needs, and energy efficiency of critical facilities.
Who sponsors HR 7978?
HR 7978 is sponsored by Jimmy Panetta (D).
What is the current status of HR 7978?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 7978?
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