Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act

119 HR 6618 EH: Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB 119th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 6618

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act.

2.Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression (a)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Counter-UASsystem; Unmanned aircraft systemThe 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 incursionThe 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 requiredThe 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 contentsIn 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)ReportNot 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. Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2026.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.

119 HR 6618 IH: Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-12-11 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 6618IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 11, 2025Ms. Bynum (for herself, Mr. Crane, Mr. Neguse, and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureA BILLTo require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act.2.Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)DroneThe term drone means an unmanned aircraft system owned by a private individual or entity.(2)Drone incursionThe term drone incursion means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire.(3)Unmanned aircraft systemThe term unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including, if applicable, communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently.(b)Study requiredThe 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 drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.(c)Study contentsIn 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 drone incursion 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 various actions to prevent drone incursions, including—(A)the use of counter-drone radio towers;(B)the use of reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy a drone;(C)the seizure of a drone, including seizure with a net device; and(D)the dissemination of educational materials relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression.(d)ReportNot 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.

119 HR 6618 : Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-03-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IIB119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6618IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 25, 2026Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationAN ACTTo require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act.2.Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Counter-UASsystem; Unmanned aircraft systemThe 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 incursionThe 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 requiredThe 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 contentsIn 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)ReportNot 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.Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2026.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.

119 HR 6618 RH: Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-03-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IBUnion Calendar No. 471119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6618[Report No. 119–548]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 11, 2025Ms. Bynum (for herself, Mr. Crane, Mr. Neguse, and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureMarch 16, 2026Additional sponsor: Ms. KapturMarch 16, 2026Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printedStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 11, 2025A BILLTo require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act.2.Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Counter-UASsystem; Unmanned aircraft systemThe 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 incursionThe 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 requiredThe 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 contentsIn 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)ReportNot 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.March 16, 2026Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed