Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6618) to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6618

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 ``Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act''. SEC. 2. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Counter-UASsystem; unmanned aircraft system.--The 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 incursion.--The 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 Required.--The 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 Contents.--In 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) Report.--Not 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.

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Mr. TAYLOR. 6618.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that requires the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with its Federal partners, to conduct a study and produce a report on the effects of unmanned aircraft system incursions on wildfire suppression efforts.

Federal, State, and local responses to wildfires are incredibly dynamic and require sanitized airspace to ensure rapid response and, ultimately, the effectiveness of an operation. The study and report required in the legislation will produce valuable recommendations that ensure that lawmakers have the necessary information and facts to craft informed policy.

Furthermore, the study will assess the delays of wildfire suppression efforts associated with unlawful UAS incursions and identify the taxpayer resources expended as a result of the incursions.

We witnessed the negative effects that UAS incursions can have on wildfire aerial responses last January during the Pacific Palisades fires when an unauthorized UAS, flying within a temporary flight restriction, struck the wing of a fixed-wing Super Scooper aircraft, endangering the life of the pilot and causing more than $65,000 in damage.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, in the unfortunate event of a wildfire, once that spark is ignited, the only thing that matters is extinguishing the flames as quickly as possible to protect our neighbors, forests, and properties.

We owe all aerial firefighters a great debt of gratitude. In the event of a wildfire, personally, I like for them to be focused on the task at hand rather than worrying about and avoiding unauthorized UAS flying within a Temporary Flight Restriction.

To reiterate, this commonsense study will produce valuable recommendations and ensure lawmakers have the information and facts to craft informed policy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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