Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026

Jeff Merkley

Democrat · OR · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Adam B. Schiff (D-CA)Original· 2026-06-10
• Alex Padilla (D-CA)Original· 2026-06-10
• Ron Wyden (D-OR)Original· 2026-06-10

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

2026-06-10

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would give the President the power to officially declare a smoke emergency when wildfire smoke or other smoke sources create serious public health threats across the country. During such a declared emergency, the federal government could coordinate response efforts and potentially provide additional resources to affected states and communities to protect people from dangerous air quality. The bill is currently under review by the Senate committee responsible for homeland security matters.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4732 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4732 To authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2026 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency, 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 Emergency Declaration Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR SMOKE EMERGENCY DECLARATION. (a) In General.--The President may declare a smoke emergency in any State in which the President determines there is, or anticipates there will be, a significant decrease in air quality due to wildland fire smoke in one or more States. (b) Request From Governor.--The Governor, or other appropriate agency, of a State that is or will be affected by a significant decrease in air quality due to wildland fire smoke may request a declaration under subsection (a). (c) Assistance.--If the President declares a smoke emergency under subsection (a), the President, acting through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate Federal agencies, may provide smoke emergency assistance to States and local communities that are or will be affected by the smoke emergency, including grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel and resources for establishing smoke shelters, air purifiers, and additional air monitoring sites. (d) SBA Grants.--The Administrator of the Small Business Administration may provide grants to any small business concern, as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632), that loses a significant amount of revenue due to wildland fire smoke in an area in which the President has declared a smoke emergency under subsection (a). (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. SEC. 3. BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR SMOKE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. Section 251(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(H) Smoke emergency assistance.-- ``(i) If, for any fiscal year, appropriations for discretionary accounts are enacted that Congress designates as being for smoke emergency assistance in statute, the adjustment for a fiscal year shall be the total of such appropriations for the fiscal year in discretionary accounts designated as being for smoke emergency assistance. ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term `smoke emergency assistance' means assistance provided under a determination under section 2 of the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026. ``(iii) Appropriations considered smoke emergency assistance under this subparagraph in a fiscal year shall not be eligible for adjustments under subparagraph (A) for the fiscal year.''. <all>

• S5362Assuring the Future of Tibet Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-08-07
• S5319Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-08-06
• S5302Truth in Labeling Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-08-06
• S5357TABOO Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-08-06