S.453 - Wildfire Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Wildfire Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025 (S.453) aims to establish a Wildfire Intelligence Center. This center will be a joint effort by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Interior. The goal is to improve the assessment, prediction, and management of wildfires.
The center's functions include providing real-time data, scientific analysis, and decision support services to various entities involved in wildfire management. It also focuses on facilitating collaboration and information sharing among federal, state, tribal, and private sector stakeholders.
The act outlines the center's administration, governance through a board, and the appointment of an Executive Director. It also addresses interagency financing and coordination with other relevant agencies and entities.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to improved coordination and data sharing among agencies involved in wildfire management. This could result in more effective prevention, response, and recovery efforts related to wildfires. The establishment of a central hub for wildfire intelligence aims to enhance decision-making at all levels.
Better predictive services and decision support tools should enable more proactive land and fuels management. Communities at risk may benefit from improved evacuation plans and public safety measures. The Act also promotes interoperability of information technology systems, which can streamline communication and resource allocation during wildfire events.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced wildfire prediction and risk assessment capabilities.
- Improved coordination and information sharing among federal, state, tribal, and local entities.
- Development of accessible tools and products to support emergency and land management decisions.
- Better air quality monitoring and forecasting to protect public health from smoke impacts.
- Support for communities in developing evacuation plans and wildfire response strategies.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for bureaucratic inefficiencies in establishing and managing the joint office.
- Possible challenges in achieving data interoperability across different agencies and levels of government.
- Risk of funding limitations or inconsistent support affecting the center's long-term effectiveness.
- Concerns about the scope of data collection and potential privacy implications.
- Overlap with existing wildfire management efforts, leading to duplication of resources.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the US Constitution, particularly the General Welfare Clause (Preamble) by aiming to protect communities and resources from wildfires. It also aligns with the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3) by addressing the management of federal lands and resources. The establishment of the Wildfire Intelligence Center and its functions do not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
The Act delegates authority to the executive branch (Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior) to implement its provisions, which is a common practice. The interagency financing provisions are subject to congressional oversight through the appropriations process, ensuring accountability. The Act does not appear to raise any significant constitutional concerns.
However, the potential for data collection and sharing could raise privacy concerns, which would need to be addressed to ensure compliance with the Fourth Amendment.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).