Interagency Coordinating Committee on Wildfires

(a) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an interagency coordinating committee to be known as the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Wildfires (in this section referred to as the Committee). The chair of the Committee shall be the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (b) Purpose The Committee shall coordinate the development of accurate and timely wildfire forecasting, detection, monitoring, and delivery of related products or services that best assist State and local emergency officials while avoiding duplication of activities. (c) Membership In addition to the chair, the Committee shall be composed of the heads or appropriate designees of the following program agencies: (1) The Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2) The United States Fire Administration. (3) The United States Forest Service. (4) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (5) The Department of the Interior. (6) The Department of Agriculture. (7) The United States Geological Survey. (8) The Office of Science and Technology Policy. (9) Any other Federal department or agency the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy considers appropriate. (d) Strategic plan Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit to Congress a strategic plan for the Program that includes the following: (1) A description of short-term, mid-term, and long-term objectives to achieve the purpose specified in subsection (b). (2) A description of how agencies specified in subsection (c) will collaborate with stakeholders and take into account stakeholder needs and recommendations in developing such objectives. (3) A description of existing and new observational and data infrastructure needed to accomplish such objectives. (4) A description of the role of each such agency in achieving such objectives. (5) Guidance regarding how the Committee’s recommendations are best used in planning for Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial entities. (e) Interagency agreements The heads of agencies specified in subsection (c) may enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of wildfire forecasting, detection, and monitoring tools, instruments, technologies, and research to accomplish the purpose described in subsection (b). (f) Collaboration The head of each agency specified in subsection (c) shall, to the extent practicable, increase engagement and cooperation with international, academic, State, and local communities regarding the infrastructure, data, and scientific research necessary to best advance the forecasting, detection, and monitoring of and preparation for wildfires.