# Understanding the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act

This bill creates a temporary task force to study how the federal government handles wildfire prevention, firefighting, and recovery. Think of it as assembling a team of experts to figure out what's working and what isn't when it comes to protecting communities from catastrophic wildfires.

The commission will bring together about 25-30 people, including representatives from federal agencies like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, plus state officials, local government representatives, and experts from industries affected by fires—like utilities and real estate developers. The team will focus especially on states and tribal lands that have experienced serious fires in recent years. Within a year, they'll produce a detailed report with recommendations for Congress on how to better prevent fires, suppress them more effectively, manage forests to reduce fire risk, and help communities recover after fires strike. They'll also look at whether current federal spending on fire management is working well and suggest improvements to disaster assistance programs.

Additionally, the commission will examine what military aircraft and equipment could be repurposed for firefighting. The Department of Defense will provide an inventory of surplus planes and parts, and the commission will recommend the most cost-effective way to use these resources to meet firefighting needs through 2030.

The commission will exist for roughly two years—long enough to do its work and submit reports—then dissolve. Congress allocated $1 million to fund the commission's operations. While this bill doesn't directly change any laws or immediately affect how fires are fought, its recommendations could lead to significant policy changes down the road if Congress acts on them.

Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021

Curtis, John R.

Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021 This bill directs the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to jointly establish a commission to study and make recommendations to improve federal policies relating to wildland fire prevention, mitigation, suppression, management, and rehabilitation. The Department of Defense and other relevant federal departments and agencies must submit to the commission an inventory of surplus cargo and passenger aircraft and excess common-use aircraft parts that may be used for wildland firefighting purposes.