Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026
Sen. Merkley Introduces Bill to Allow Federal Emergency Declarations for Wildfire Smoke
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
The bill has strong support from states often hit by smoke, but it may struggle to get enough votes from states that do not see wildfire smoke as a major local issue.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Outdoor gig workers like delivery drivers and landscapers lose income during severe smoke events but typically lack employer-provided protections. While the bill does not directly address gig workers, the smoke shelter provisions and air monitoring would help protect their health during dangerous air quality periods.
Disabilities
State Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesMerkley, Harder push to increase federal response for hazardous wildfire smoke
Representative Josh Harder and Senator Jeff Merkley reintroduced the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act to allow the president to declare smoke emergencies when air quality reaches hazardous levels. The bill would unlock FEMA support for smoke shelters and air purifiers, and allow the SBA to provide grants to small businesses suffering revenue loss. However, the report notes concerns over the current administration's push for states to take on more responsibility for disaster response.
Merkley: Bill Will Unlock Resources During Wildfire Smoke Events
Senator Jeff Merkley highlighted the importance of the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act as Oregon enters fire season. The bill focuses on providing grants to businesses economically impacted by smoke and allowing FEMA to help local jurisdictions establish clean air resources. Merkley noted that many watersheds had zero snowfall this year, leading to expectations of a hotter and dryer summer that could result in significant smoke events across the Pacific Northwest.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.