Garamendi Votes to Pass the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), who served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior under President Clinton, voted to pass the "Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act" (H.R. 5118) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation passed by a vote of 218 to 199 and now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The "Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act" (H.R. 5118) would improve climate resilience, restoration, and mitigation efforts to protect communities in California and across the country from the devastating effects of climate, wildfire, and drought. This legislation makes strategic and targeted investments to protect frontline communities from the impacts of climate change by modernizing data and technology, and ensuring a whole-of-government approach to wildfire and drought issues.

"California's devastating wildfire season is now year-round due to the climate crisis," Garamendi said. "Congress needs to provide every protection possible to help states like California prepare and recover from wildfires.

"The ‘Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act' would provide strategic investments to protect communities from wildfires. Specifically, this bill would establish new pay and hiring authorities for Federal wildland firefighters by setting a minimum basic pay rate of approximately $20 per hour for wildland firefighters. The legislation will also provide tools and resources to assist with wildfire-related activities as well as enhanced assistance for those impacted by recent wildfires," Garamendi continued.

"This is a good piece of legislation that will increase protections from wildfires and keep our communities safe. I will work tirelessly to ensure it passes the U.S. Senate and becomes law," Garamendi concluded.

The "Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act" (H.R. 5118) will work:

To improve wildfire response:

• Establishes new hiring authorities and a minimum basic pay rate (approximately $20/hour) for wildland firefighters, as well as mental health leave and hazard pay.
• Authorizes a 10-Year National Wildfire Response Plan for landscape-scale projects across the country.
• Provides tools and resources to assist communities' wildfire activities, including prescribed fires, and supports opportunities for Tribes and Conservation Corps in wildfire activities.

To improve drought resiliency:

• Provides $500 million to prevent key reservoirs of the Colorado River from declining to unsafe levels.
• Invests in innovative drought-proof water infrastructure, including water recycling and desalination projects.
• Secures water reliability for Indian Country, by advancing tribal water rights settlements, investing $1 billion in tribal clean water access, and supporting technical assistance for tribal water needs.
• Supports the development of modern water management data and technology.
• Protects and restores important ecosystems and wildlife populations that have been impacted by drought and climate change.

To ensure a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to wildfire and drought:

• Improves wildfire-related programs at the Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fire Administration and provides improved assistance and relief for communities that have been impacted by recent wildfires.
• Establishes the National Disaster Safety Board and directs the President to establish a National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program.
• Advances environmental justice for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by environmental discrimination and climate change-induced wildfire and drought.