Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025
This bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make grants to air pollution control agencies to support the development and implementation of programs that support local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. The EPA must establish a formula to distribute the grants among air pollution control agencies.
The bill requires the EPA to establish four Centers of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat at institutions of higher education to research (1) the effects of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat on public health, and (2) the means by which communities can better respond to impacts from such conditions.
Additionally, the EPA must begin to carry out research to
The EPA must also establish a competitive grant program to assist certain entities (e.g., a state) in developing and implementing collaborative community plans for mitigating the impacts of smoke emissions from wildland fires and extreme heat.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 903 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 903
To amend the Clean Air Act to establish a grant program for supporting
local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating about, or
mitigating the environmental and public health impacts of wildfire
smoke and extreme heat, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 31, 2025
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Ms. Ansari, Ms. Barragan, Ms.
Brownley, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Garcia of California, Ms. Matsui, Mr.
Mullin, Ms. Norton, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Whitesides,
and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Clean Air Act to establish a grant program for supporting
local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating about, or
mitigating the environmental and public health impacts of wildfire
smoke and extreme heat, and for other purposes.
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 ``Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Extreme heat.--The term ``extreme heat'' has the
meaning given the term through a rulemaking of the
Administrator, in consultation with the heads of relevant
Federal agencies.
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(4) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' has the meaning given the term in
section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).
SEC. 3. SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT-READY COMMUNITIES.
Part A of title I of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 139. SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT-READY COMMUNITIES.
``(a) Definition of Extreme Heat.--The term `extreme heat' has the
meaning given the term in section 2 of the Smoke and Heat Ready
Communities Act of 2025.
``(b) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Administrator may make grants under this section to
air pollution control agencies to support air pollution control
agencies in developing and implementing programs that support local
communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public
about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of
wildfire smoke and extreme heat.
``(c) Eligible Activities.--In carrying out a program described in
subsection (b), an air pollution control agency may use funds from a
grant received under this section for--
``(1) activities related to the monitoring of, the
interpretation of, and communicating with the public about
past, present, and future data related to ambient air quality
conditions that are caused by wildfire smoke and extreme heat;
``(2) conducting community outreach in areas that may be
prone to poor air quality that is attributable to elevated
levels of particulate matter, ozone, and other harmful
components of wildfire smoke and extreme heat;
``(3) the deployment of air quality monitoring equipment in
a manner that is sufficient to evaluate an increased prevalence
of poor air quality that is attributable to elevated levels of
particulate matter, ozone, and other harmful components of
wildfire smoke and extreme heat;
``(4) equipping public buildings with air filtration
systems that are capable of removing particulate matter and
other harmful components of wildfire smoke and extreme heat
from the air so that the public buildings may serve as cleaner
air spaces during wildfire smoke events and extreme heat events
and other poor air quality events;
``(5) the purchase, storage, and distribution of face masks
and personal protective equipment, including N-95 filtering
facepiece respirators, portable air filtration systems, and
other masks and equipment that are capable of removing or
otherwise preventing the inhalation of particulate matter,
ozone, and other harmful components of wildfire smoke and
extreme heat from the air;
``(6) subgrants or providing other financing to private or
other public entities with demonstrated financial need--
``(A) to acquire protective gear; or
``(B) to carry out weatherization measures to
mitigate air infiltration; and
``(7) such other activities that the Administrator
determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this
section.
``(d) Allocation of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
Administrator shall establish a formula to distribute grants
under this section among air pollution control agencies.
``(2) Considerations.--In establishing the formula required
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider--
``(A) the vulnerability of communities within a
State to wildfire smoke and extreme heat; and
``(B) the degree to which a State is prone to poor
air quality that is attributable to elevated levels of
particulate matter from wildfire smoke and extreme
heat.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.''.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON WILDFIRE SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT.
(a) Centers of Excellence.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish at
institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) 4
centers, each of which shall be known as a ``Center of
Excellence for Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat'', to carry out
research relating to--
(A) the effects on public health, including the
health of outdoor workers, of--
(i) smoke emissions from wildland fires;
and
(ii) extreme heat; and
(B) means by which communities can better respond
to the impacts of--
(i) emissions from wildland fires; and
(ii) extreme heat events.
(2) Priority.--In selecting institutions of higher
education (as so defined) at which to establish a center under
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall give priority to
institutions of higher education (as so defined) that--
(A) have established expertise with respect to air
quality or dedicated centers of air quality research;
(B) have experience with relevant outreach and
extension work;
(C) have established relationships with relevant
Federal, State, and local agencies, community
organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and
Indian Tribes; and
(D) are located in an area that is economically or
environmentally impacted by wildfire smoke or extreme
heat.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this
subsection $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
(b) Research.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall begin to carry
out research--
(A) to study the health effects of--
(i) smoke emissions from wildland fires;
and
(ii) extreme heat;
(B) to develop and disseminate personal and
community-based interventions to reduce exposure to and
adverse health effects of--
(i) smoke emissions from wildland fires;
and
(ii) extreme heat;
(C) to increase the quality of smoke and extreme
heat monitoring and prediction tools and techniques;
and
(D) to develop implementation and communication
strategies.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this
subsection $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
SEC. 5. COMMUNITY SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT PLANNING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a competitive
grant program to assist eligible entities described in subsection (b)
in developing and implementing collaborative community plans for
mitigating the impacts of smoke emissions from wildland fires and
extreme heat.
(b) Eligible Entities.--An entity that is eligible to submit an
application for a grant under subsection (a) is--
(1) a State;
(2) a unit of local government (including any special
district, such as an air quality management district or a
school district);
(3) an Indian Tribe; or
(4) a Native Hawaiian organization.
(c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an eligible entity described in subsection (b) shall
submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may
require, which shall include a plan to collaborate with a public
institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or other research
institution that--
(1) has established expertise with respect to air quality
or dedicated centers of air quality research;
(2) has experience with relevant outreach and extension
work;
(3) has established relationships with relevant Federal,
State, and local agencies, community organizations, Native
Hawaiian organizations, and Indian Tribes; and
(4) is located in an area that is economically or
environmentally impacted by wildfire smoke or extreme heat.
(d) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator may use amounts made
available to carry out this section to provide to eligible entities
described in subsection (b) technical assistance in--
(1) submitting grant applications under subsection (c); or
(2) carrying out projects using a grant under this section.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $50,000,000
for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
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