Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4732 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4732 To authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2026 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR SMOKE EMERGENCY DECLARATION. (a) In General.--The President may declare a smoke emergency in any State in which the President determines there is, or anticipates there will be, a significant decrease in air quality due to wildland fire smoke in one or more States. (b) Request From Governor.--The Governor, or other appropriate agency, of a State that is or will be affected by a significant decrease in air quality due to wildland fire smoke may request a declaration under subsection (a). (c) Assistance.--If the President declares a smoke emergency under subsection (a), the President, acting through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate Federal agencies, may provide smoke emergency assistance to States and local communities that are or will be affected by the smoke emergency, including grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel and resources for establishing smoke shelters, air purifiers, and additional air monitoring sites. (d) SBA Grants.--The Administrator of the Small Business Administration may provide