Bill Summary
The "Wildfire Smoke Relief Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at providing transitional sheltering assistance to individuals living in areas affected by unhealthy air quality due to wildfires. The bill defines "individuals at risk of wildfire smoke related illness" as low-income individuals, parents or guardians with children under 19, pregnant women, seniors aged 65 and older, and those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, who are exposed to unhealthy air quality for at least three consecutive days.
Under this act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is authorized to work with qualified entities—such as state governments, local public health authorities, and coordinated care organizations—to supply smoke-inhalation prevention equipment. This includes portable air filtration units, air filters, masks, and other devices designed to protect against smoke exposure. If such equipment is inadequate to ensure safety, the act also allows for the provision of cost-effective transitional shelter assistance to affected individuals. The bill seeks to address public health concerns related to wildfires and ensure that vulnerable populations have the necessary support during such emergencies.
Possible Impacts
The "Wildfire Smoke Relief Act" proposes measures to assist individuals affected by unhealthy air quality due to wildfires. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Improved Health Outcomes for Vulnerable Populations**: Individuals at risk of smoke-related illnesses, such as low-income families, pregnant women, and the elderly, will receive access to smoke-inhalation prevention equipment. This assistance can help reduce their exposure to harmful air pollutants, potentially lowering the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular issues, ultimately leading to better overall health outcomes for these vulnerable groups.
2. **Increased Access to Shelter**: The legislation emphasizes the provision of transitional sheltering assistance for individuals when smoke-inhalation prevention equipment is insufficient. This means that those living in areas with unhealthy air quality will have options for temporary housing that offers cleaner air, safeguarding their health during wildfire events. Families with children and other at-risk individuals will particularly benefit from this support, ensuring that they have a safe place to stay.
3. **Economic Relief for Low-Income Households**: By defining low-income individuals and providing resources to qualified entities to assist them, the act aims to alleviate the financial burden that smoke-related health emergencies can impose. By supplying equipment like air filters and masks, as well as transitional shelter, the legislation helps to ensure that low-income households do not have to choose between spending on health-related supplies and other essential needs, thus promoting financial stability during crisis situations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5481 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5481
To authorize transitional sheltering assistance for individuals who
live in areas with unhealthy air quality caused by wildfires, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 18, 2025
Mr. Neguse (for himself, Ms. Dexter, Ms. Stansbury, and Mr. Morelle)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize transitional sheltering assistance for individuals who
live in areas with unhealthy air quality caused by wildfires, 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 ``Wildfire Smoke Relief Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSITIONAL SHELTERING ASSISTANCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Individual at risk of wildfire smoke related illness.--
The term ``individual at risk of wildfire smoke related
illness'' means an individual, living in an area where the air
quality index is determined to be unhealthy for not less than 3
consecutive days as a result of a wildfire, who is--
(A) a low-income individual;
(B) a parent or guardian with a child who has not
attained 19 years of age;
(C) a pregnant woman;
(D) an individual who is 65 years of age or older;
(E) an individual with chronic respiratory or
cardiovascular illness; or
(F) an individual with a chronic disease that is
exacerbated by smoke inhalation.
(2) Low-income individual.--The term ``low-income
individual'' means an individual from a family whose taxable
income (as defined in section 63 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986) for the preceding year did not exceed 200 percent of
an amount equal to the poverty level, as determined by using
criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of Census.
(3) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity''
means--
(A) a State or unit of local government;
(B) a local public health authority; and
(C) a coordinated care organization.
(b) Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program.--In carrying out
the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency under section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b), the President
shall--
(1) provide assistance to a qualified entity to purchase
and provide, to an individual at risk of wildfire smoke related
illness, smoke-inhalation prevention equipment, including--
(A) a portable air filtration unit;
(B) an air filter;
(C) a face mask or respirator, such as--
(i) an N95 respirator;
(ii) a P100 respirator; or
(iii) other equipment certified by the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health to protect from airborne particle
exposure;
(D) low-cost equipment to keep smoke out of a
house, such as:
(i) a weather strip;
(ii) not more than 1 portable air-
conditioning unit per household;
(iii) ventilation equipment;
(iv) a screening and shading device; or
(v) a window covering; or
(E) other similarly effective devices; and
(2) in any case in which smoke-inhalation prevention
equipment is not sufficient to mitigate the risk of illness,
provide cost-efficient transitional shelter assistance to an
individual at risk of wildfire smoke related illness.
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