InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Wildfire Disaster Recovery Act of 1989

Public Law 101-286 · H.R. 1011 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on May 9, 1990 · Emergency Management

Sponsor: Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA-2)

Cosponsors (10): Rep. Ronald Marlenee,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Wildfire Disaster Recovery Act of 1989 - Title I: National Commission on Wildfire Disasters - Establishes a National Commission on Wildfire Disasters to study the effects of disastrous wildfires and make recommendations concerning a smooth and timely transition from the loss of natural resources due to such fires. Directs the Commission to study the effects of such fires on: (1) the current and future economy of affected communities; (2) the availability of sufficient timber supplies to meet future industry needs; (3) fish and wildlife habitats; (4) recreation in the affected areas; (5) watershed and water quality protection plans in effect within National Forest System lands; (6) ecosystems in the areas; (7) management plans of the affected National Forest System lands; (8) national parks; (9) Bureau of Land Management public lands; (10) wilderness; and (11) the biodiversity of affected areas. Requires the Commission to report to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, by December 1, 1991, concerning the future management of National Forest System lands, national parks, Bureau of Land Management public lands, and community redevelopment activities and programs. Directs the Secretaries to submit such report to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Commission 90 days after it submits its report to the Secretaries.

Title II: Forest Firefighting Planning and Cooperation - Requires annual reports to the Congress, by the Secretary of Agriculture, on the rehabilitation needs of each Forest System Region and, by the Secretary of the Interior, on the rehabilitation needs of the Bureau of Land Management public lands and of each National Park Region resulting from disastrous forest fire damage during the previous year.

Requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to annually offer training programs to certify volunteers for suppressing forest fires on National Forest System Lands, National Park System lands and Bureau of Land Management public lands. Directs the Secretaries to submit information to the Congress within one year after this Act's enactment on firefighting mobilization plans and presuppression needs for such lands.

Compensates volunteer forest firefighters for personal losses and damages incident to their services.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.

  1. May 9, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-286.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. May 3, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Apr 27, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  5. Apr 26, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. Mar 13, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  7. Jan 17, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  8. Nov 16, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
  9. Nov 13, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  10. FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  11. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  12. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  13. FloorFloor · Mr. Morrison (WA) demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  14. FloorFloor · Mr. de la Garza moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  15. Nov 8, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Agriculture Committee
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Oct 26, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Agriculture Committee
  18. Jun 7, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  20. Mar 15, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  21. Feb 16, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Forests, Family Farms, and Energy Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee
  22. Feb 9, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
  23. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.