Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 390) to utlitize the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response to Operations project of NASA to improve aerial responses to wildfires, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 390

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 ``Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act'' or the ``ACERO Act''. SEC. 2. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE OPERATIONS.

(a) In General.--The Administrator shall leverage NASA- developed tools and technologies to conduct research and development activities under the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project, or appropriate successor project or projects, to improve aerial responses to wildfires.

(b) Goals.--The research and development activities conducted under subsection (a) may include the following:

(1) Advanced aircraft technologies and airspace management efforts to assist in the management, deconfliction, and coordination of aerial assets during wildfire response efforts.

(2) Information sharing and real-time data exchange for wildfire response teams.

(3) Development of an interoperable platform to provide situational awareness of aerial assets during wildfire response.

(4) Establishment of a multi-agency concept of operations, which may involve Federal, State, and local government agencies, to enable coordination of aerial activities for wildfire response.

(c) Collaboration.--In carrying out this section, the Administrator--

(1) may coordinate and collaborate with other Federal, State, and local government agencies, regional organizations, and commercial partners and academic institutions involved in wildfire management; and

(2) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consult with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies to avoid duplication of activities.

(d) Prohibition.--

(1) In general.--Except as provided in this subsection, the Administrator may not procure an unmanned aircraft system to conduct activities described in this section if such unmanned aircraft system is manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

(2) Exemption.--The Administrator may waive the prohibition under paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis if the Administrator--

(A) determines that the procurement of an unmanned aircraft system is--

(i) in the national interest of the United States; and

(ii) necessary for the sole purpose of improving aerial responses to wildfires; and

(B) notifies the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 30 days after a determination in the affirmative under subparagraph (A).

(e) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter until December 31, 2030, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing the activities, including results, carried out pursuant to this section. Each such report, at minimum, shall contain the following:

(1) A description of any research and development activities.

(2) A description of the Administrator's activities pursuant to subsection (c).

(3) An identification of any topics related to improvement of aerial responses to wildfires that could benefit from further research.

(4) A description of any continuing efforts under this section.

(5) Any other information determined appropriate by the Administrator.

(f) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign entity'' has the meaning given such term in section 1822 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31).

(3) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(4) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft system'' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

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Mr. BABIN. 390, the bill that is now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 390, the ACERO Act, sponsored by Representatives Fong and McClellan. This important, bipartisan legislation will enhance our ability to respond to wildfires and mitigate the destruction that they cause.

Each year, wildfires burn millions of acres, threatening lives, destroying homes, and causing billions of dollars in damage. Federal agencies are increasingly turning to advanced technologies to improve wildfire detection, response, and suppression efforts.

Aerial capabilities are critical tools in combating wildfires, enabling crews to monitor fire behavior and spread, conduct suppression activities, and support ground operations. As unmanned aircraft systems continue to mature, they present new opportunities to strengthen aerial operations. Drones can map fire perimeters, assist with suppression efforts, enhance communications across large or remote areas, and even deliver equipment. In the future, some missions currently carried out by piloted helicopters may be performed by unmanned aircraft, which reduces risk to human life.

At the same time, aerial wildfire operations face significant challenges. Heavy smoke can severely limit visibility, grounding aircraft and disrupting response efforts. Rapidly changing fire behavior can complicate navigation and real-time coordination among multiple aircraft operating simultaneously. These airspace management challenges can hinder operations at the very moment decisive action is required.

NASA's Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations, or ACERO, project seeks to improve airspace management and coordination during emergency response activities. Building on prior NASA research, ACERO aims to enhance information sharing, communications, and airspace coordination while developing interoperable tools to improve situational awareness. More timely and accurate information can support safer, more effective decisionmaking and better coordination among Federal, State, and local agencies during wildfire events.

This legislation directs NASA to leverage its unique research and development expertise in aeronautics, airspace systems, and advanced technologies to further the objectives of the ACERO project in support of wildfire response.

This is a practical, forward-looking application of American innovation to protect lives, including those of our first responders. These brave men and women who risk their safety to combat wildfires deserve every available tool to bolster response capabilities and enhance operational safety.

I thank Representatives Fong and McClellan for their work to address this pressing need.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the ACERO Act promotes the development of advanced technologies to strengthen our wildfire response efforts. NASA should leverage its unique aeronautics expertise to improve the emergency operations involving aerial assets. ACERO seeks to enhance situational awareness, coordination, and information sharing among aerial platforms, both piloted and unmanned. This bill recognizes the important work already underway and encourages NASA to continue advancing these efforts.

Again, I thank Representatives Fong and McClellan for their bipartisan leadership.

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