On June 17, Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the FIRE SMART Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand funding eligibility for water infrastructure projects with wildfire suppression benefits in high-risk rural areas. The measure would amend the EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to allow projects that serve both drinking water and fire suppression purposes in wildfire-prone communities with fewer than 50,000 residents. The legislation is intended to help rural communities optimize water systems to provide the flow capacity needed for emergency response during active wildfires.
Eight senators have signed on to co-sponsor the measure, including Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.