Sheehy, Cantwell Fire Ready Nation Act Passes Senate Unanimously

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2025

Sheehy, Cantwell Fire Ready Nation Act Passes Senate Unanimously

U.S. SENATE - The bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Maria Cantwell (D - Wash.), today passed the Senate unanimously. Introduced in January, the bill establishes the Fire Weather Services program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help prevent, forecast, and fight wildfires.

"As a former aerial firefighter, one of my top priorities since taking office has been to reform our federal wildland firefighting apparatus to better protect our communities. The Fire Ready Nation Act ensures we can better predict these disasters and respond quickly to prevent the devastation to families, homes, and businesses that is caused by catastrophic wildfire. I'm grateful to my colleagues for their support of this bipartisan bill and proud to see it pass the Senate," said Senator Sheehy.

This is the second wildfire-focused bill introduced by Senator Sheehy to pass the Senate unanimously since he took office. President Trump signed Senator Sheehy's bipartisan Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act into law in June.

Background

The Fire Ready Nation Act would establish the Fire Weather Services program at NOAA to help prevent, forecast, and fight wildfires. This legislation authorizes funding for NOAA to obtain new technologies to better forecast weather conditions that cause and impact wildfires, increasing our capacity to respond quickly when they occur.

NOAA already plays a major role in wildfire preparedness and response; however, it currently has no defined authority in the law for its wildfire services. Establishing clear responsibility and authority is essential to preventing shifting responsibility and finger-pointing between agencies in the midst of these natural disasters.

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Contact: Tate Mitchell, Jack O'Brien