Summary#
This bill would add a new program to the Clean Air Act to help communities detect, prepare for, communicate about, and reduce the health and air-quality harms from wildfire smoke and extreme heat. It lets the Environmental Protection Agency (called the Administrator in the bill) make grants to air pollution control agencies for monitoring, outreach, air sensors, air filters in public buildings, masks and other protective gear, and subgrants for protective gear or weatherization. The bill also requires the EPA to set up 4 university "Centers of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat" to study health effects and responses. It creates a competitive grant program for States, local governments, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to make community plans and requires applicants to work with a research or higher-education partner. Several actions must start within 180 days after enactment. The bill says the EPA will define “extreme heat” through rulemaking.
What it means for you#
- If you work at or run an air pollution control agency, your agency could apply for grants to improve monitoring, public outreach, and local response.
- If you run or use public buildings, grants could fund installing or upgrading air filtration so buildings can serve as cleaner-air spaces during smoke or heat events.
- If you are part of a community organization, school, or local government, you could benefit from planning grants, technical help, new local monitors, and distribution of masks or portable filters.
- Colleges and universities can compete to host research centers that study health effects and practical responses to smoke and heat.
Expenses#
- The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter for the 4 Centers of Excellence.
- It authorizes $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter for the research activities described.
- It authorizes $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter for the competitive community planning grants.
- For the new Clean Air Act grant program (section adding grants to air pollution control agencies), the bill authorizes "such sums as are necessary" and makes grants subject to the availability of appropriations.
- No other specific cost or funding schedule is provided in the bill text.
Proponents' View#
The bill aims to give air agencies, communities, and researchers tools and funding to detect and reduce the public health harms of wildfire smoke and extreme heat. It supports local monitoring, public outreach, cleaner public spaces, protective gear, community planning, and university research to improve health protection and response.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.