WILDFIRE AERIAL RESPONSE SAFETY ACT

WILDFIRE AERIAL RESPONSE SAFETY ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2654-H2655] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WILDFIRE AERIAL RESPONSE SAFETY ACT Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6618) to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6618 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. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio. General Leave Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 6618. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that requires the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with its Federal partners, to conduct a study and produce a report on the effects of unmanned aircraft system incursions on wildfire suppression efforts. Federal, State, and local responses to wildfires are incredibly dynamic and require sanitized airspace to ensure rapid response and, ultimately, the effectiveness of an operation. The study and report required in the legislation will produce valuable recommendations that ensure that lawmakers have the necessary information and facts to craft informed policy. Furthermore, the study will assess the delays of wildfire suppression efforts associated with unlawful UAS incursions and identify the taxpayer resources expended as a result of the incursions. We witnessed the negative effects that UAS incursions can have on wildfire aerial responses last January during the Pacific Palisades fires when an unauthorized UAS, flying within a temporary flight restriction, struck the wing of a fixed-wing Super Scooper aircraft, endangering the life of the pilot and causing more than $65,000 in damage. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6618, the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, as amended, bipartisan legislation introduced by my good friend from Oregon and fellow freshman, Representative Bynum, Representative Neguse from Colorado, and Representatives Crane and Ciscomani from Arizona. The devastating impacts of wildfires are seen far too often across this country, destroying local communities and the livelihoods of many of our constituents. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were at least 34 drone incursions into active wildfire suppression areas last year. Of those 34, 29 incursions forced aerial [[Page H2655]] firefighting efforts to be grounded and significantly delayed critical response efforts. Most notably, as my colleague Representative Taylor just mentioned, a drone actually struck a Canadian Super Scooper plane during last year's catastrophic wildfires in southern California. Whether these drone disruptions are intentionally malicious or the result of uninformed operators, they are a costly nuisance to Federal wildfire suppression efforts and needlessly risk the lives of first responders and law enforcement, both those in the air and those on the ground. These brave women and men put their lives on the line to fight dangerous fires and should not have to deal with drone incursions while doing their jobs. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6618 requires the FAA to evaluate the number and impact of drone incursions over the previous 5 years, including any cost to the Federal Government, the effectiveness of educational public outreach, and deploying approved counter-UAS systems to detect and mitigate against drone interference. This study and the recommendations will be key in establishing necessary safeguards against drone incursions during wildfire suppression activities. With the growing number and severity of wildfires across the country, we cannot afford to let these dangerous drone incursions go unabated, lest we run the risk of distracting or endangering our firefighters and first responders. These brave individuals put their lives on the line for us, and today, they need our assistance. This is the first step to delivering it. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. FIGURES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bynum). Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6618, my Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act. Mr. Speaker, wildfires are no longer seasonal. They are year-round threats that are growing more intense, destructive, and dangerous for the communities that we serve and the responders that we rely on. In 2020, Oregon experienced one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in our State's history. More than 1 million acres burned. Entire communities were displaced. For days, the air across our State and much of the West was among the worst in the world. What struck me from that moment wasn't just the scale of the destruction but the importance of fast-acting firefighting to slow the spread and protect lives. One of the tools that firefighters use in Oregon is aerial firefighting, but personal aircraft like drones can prevent that tool from being used. That is because aviation rules require the grounding of all aircraft when an unauthorized drone is sighted in active response zones. When that happens, it can stop water drops, delay rescues, and interrupt information gathering, which puts nearby communities at risk. Our ground crews lose critical visibility and protection, which increases the danger for firefighters, rescuers, and residents. Just last August, in my home State of Oregon, a recreational drone delayed the initial air attack of the Flat fire by nearly 30 minutes. This is the window of time when it is most critical in fighting a fire. That is exactly the problem that my bill is designed to address. The Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act ensures that our aerial wildfire response is not just fast but safe, coordinated, and effective. {time} 1620 This bill improves the safety and effectiveness of aerial wildfire response by addressing the growing threat of drone interference. It directs the FAA to evaluate recent disruptions, develop solutions, and to prevent future interference. It makes sure that the public understands the risks of flying drones near active wildfires, because the reality is simple: When the airspace isn't managed well, firefighting slows down, and lives are put at risk. This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that r

Referenced legislation: HR6618, HR6618