Community protection and wildfire resilience grant program

(a) Establishment Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the United States Fire Administrator and in coordination with the Chief, shall establish a program, which shall be separate from the program established under section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), under which the Administrator shall award grants to eligible entities to— (1) in the case of an eligible entity that has a community protection and wildfire resilience plan, carry out projects described in the community protection and wildfire resilience plan of the eligible entity in accordance with subsection (c); or (2) in the case of an eligible entity that does not have a community protection and wildfire resilience plan, develop a community protection and wildfire resilience plan in accordance with subsection (d). (b) Criteria for grants (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the United States Fire Administrator and in coordination with the Chief, shall establish criteria to award grants under the program. (2) Communities Amounts provided under the program shall be used to conduct projects and activities only in communities in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Priority In awarding grants under the program, the Administrator shall give priority to eligible entities that will carry out projects or plans supporting a community located in an area with a high risk for fire or wildfire, as evidenced by a State wildfire hazard map or a map generated pursuant to section 210(a) of division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (16 U.S.C. 6501 note; Public Law 115–141). (c) Community protection and wildfire resilience grants (1) Use of grant funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program must use grant funds to carry out projects that support a diverse portfolio of community protection and wildfire resilience strategies described in the community protection and wildfire resilience plan of the eligible entity. (2) Grant amounts A grant under this subsection shall be for not more than $10,000,000. (d) Community protection and wildfire resilience plan development grants (1) Use of grant funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program may use grant funds to develop a community protection and wildfire resilience plan for the eligible entity. (2) Grant amounts An award under this subsection shall be for not more than $250,000. (e) Preference for local contractors and labor In carrying out a project using a grant awarded under the program, the grant recipient shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give preference to contracting with entities, and hiring individuals, from the area in which the project is being carried out, including by partnering with local corps groups such as AmeriCorps or a conservation corps. (f) Cost-Sharing (1) Non-Federal share requirement The non-Federal share of the cost (including the administrative cost) of carrying out a project using funds from a grant awarded under the program— (A) (i) shall be not less than 25 percent of the cost of the project to be carried out using grant funds in accordance with subsection (c); and (ii) shall be 0 percent of the cost of the project to be carried out using grant funds in accordance with subsection (d); (B) may be provided by— (i) a State, a unit of local government, an Indian Tribe, a nonprofit organization, private industry, or a combination of those entities; or (ii) volunteer hours and in-kind donations; and (C) may, in the case of a project that serves a low-income community, be in the form of a low-interest Federal loan to the eligible entity carrying out the project through the Community Disaster Loan program authorized under section 417 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184). (2) Waiver; reduction In carrying out the program, the Administrator may waive or reduce the non-Federal share amount required under paragraph (1). (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.