Overview

Title

To utilize the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response to Operations program of NASA to improve aerial responses to wildfires, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

NASA has a new project to help firefighters stop big forest fires using cool flying machines and technology, and they have $15 million to spend in 2025 to make it happen. But some people are worried because they don't know all the details about how the money will be spent or if the fancy gadgets will be bought from countries that aren't friendly.

Summary AI

The H.R. 8118, also known as the “Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act of 2024,” aims to improve aerial responses to wildfires using NASA's advanced tools and technologies. It directs NASA to work on developing better aircraft technologies, real-time data exchange, and coordinated platforms for wildfire management. The bill also sets conditions on the procurement of unmanned aircraft systems, ensuring they aren’t acquired from certain foreign entities unless absolutely necessary. Additionally, it authorizes $15 million for 2025 to support these activities, and requires annual reports on the effectiveness and progress of the program until 2029.

Published

2024-04-23
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-04-23
Package ID: BILLS-118hr8118ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
927
Pages:
5
Sentences:
13

Language

Nouns: 286
Verbs: 62
Adjectives: 54
Adverbs: 4
Numbers: 38
Entities: 62

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.62
Average Sentence Length:
71.31
Token Entropy:
4.96
Readability (ARI):
39.38

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The bill, titled the "Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act of 2024" or the "ACERO Act of 2024," seeks to leverage NASA’s technological capabilities to enhance aerial responses to wildfires. Spearheaded by NASA’s Administrator, the initiative includes areas such as advanced aircraft technology, improved data sharing, and the development of platforms that enable better coordination among various agencies. An important stipulation prohibits the procurement of unmanned aircraft systems from certain foreign entities, with some case-by-case exceptions allowed. The bill also calls for annual reports to be submitted to Congress to ensure progress and accountability. For this effort, a funding authorization of $15 million is proposed for fiscal year 2025.

Summary of Significant Issues

Waiver Provisions: The bill includes a clause allowing NASA’s Administrator to waive the prohibition on procuring unmanned aircraft from foreign entities under certain conditions. This could lead to favoritism or ethical concerns if waivers lack transparency and oversight.

Funding Concerns: The authorization of a large sum of $15 million without detailed plans raises concerns about the potential for wasteful spending. This lack of specificity necessitates a more detailed budget to ensure that funds are used efficiently.

Annual Reporting and Evaluation: Required annual reports lack specific metrics to assess effectiveness, which might make it challenging to objectively evaluate success in reducing injuries, economic losses, and property damage.

Collaboration and Duplication of Efforts: The bill’s provisions for inter-agency collaboration lack specific guidelines, which could lead to overlapping efforts or inefficiencies.

Complex Terminology: Certain terms used in the bill, such as “multi-agency concept of operations,” might not be easily understood by the general public, potentially hindering transparency and comprehension.

Impact on the Public

This bill could broadly impact the public by potentially enhancing the effectiveness of wildfire response efforts, thereby reducing injury, loss of life, and damage to property during such natural disasters. Improved coordination and technological advancements might lead to quicker and more efficient responses, benefiting communities at risk of wildfire threats.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For communities that frequently face wildfires, the bill could have a positive impact by improving emergency response capabilities. Firefighting agencies and teams might benefit from the technological tools and improved coordination frameworks, leading to safer and more effective operations.

Conversely, certain stakeholders, particularly domestic manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems, might feel the bill negatively if the waiver provision leads to increased foreign competition, especially if such waivers are not effectively managed. Policymakers and governmental bodies could face increased scrutiny regarding the fiscal responsibility of the program, emphasizing the necessity for transparency and clear guidelines in its execution.

Overall, while the bill seeks to address important areas of wildfire management and response, it is crucial that potential loopholes and ambiguities are addressed to ensure accountability, appropriate use of funds, and effective implementation.

Financial Assessment

The H.R. 8118, or the "Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act of 2024," outlines a financial commitment aimed at enhancing wildfire response capabilities through advanced technologies developed by NASA. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to carry out its objectives.

Summary of Financial Allocations

The bill's sole financial reference is the authorized appropriation of $15,000,000 for the fiscal year 2025. This allocation is earmarked to support the integration of NASA's advanced tools and technologies in improving aerial responses to wildfires. The objective is to incentivize research and development by facilitating the implementation of cutting-edge aircraft technologies, enhancing information sharing among wildfire response units, and establishing coordinated platforms for effective management during wildfires.

Relation to Identified Issues

  1. Appropriations and Expenditure Concerns: The authorization of $15,000,000 raises important questions from a fiscal responsibility standpoint. The lack of a detailed expenditure plan or budget leaves room for concerns regarding potential inefficient or wasteful spending. It is crucial to have clarified guidelines or frameworks within the legislation detailing how these funds would be utilized to ensure transparency and financial responsibility, as noted in the issues concerning potential wasteful spending.

  2. Reporting Requirements and Financial Oversight: The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing activities carried out under the program. However, the issues identified note a lack of specific metrics or benchmarks for evaluating the program's effectiveness, such as in preventing injuries or economic damage. Without such measures, assessing the true financial impact and success of the $15,000,000 allocation may become subjective, potentially reducing the program's accountability.

  3. Coordination and Efficiency: Collaboration with various agencies is encouraged but lacks specific guidelines to avoid duplication of efforts. The absence of clear criteria for financial allocation in these collaborative efforts could lead the funds to be spread too thinly across multiple initiatives, some of which might overlap or lack efficiency.

To fully address these concerns while ensuring the effective use of taxpayer money, it is recommended that future legislative drafts provide a clear, detailed financial overview. Including specific spending plans and performance indicators will enhance transparency and accountability in implementing the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act of 2024.

Issues

  • Section 2(d): The waiver provision allowing the Administrator to procure unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities could lead to favoritism or lack of accountability. Given the sensitivity of national interests, any lack of transparency or oversight in granting such waivers can raise ethical and political concerns.

  • Section 2(f): The authorization of $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 without detailed expenditure plans raises concerns about potential wasteful spending. There is a need for a more detailed budget to ensure financial responsibility and transparency in how the funds are utilized.

  • Section 2(e): The annual reporting requirements lack specific metrics or benchmarks for evaluating the effectiveness of the activities in preventing injuries, property damage, and economic losses. This lack of clarity can make assessing the program's success subjective and reduce accountability.

  • Section 2(c): Collaboration and coordination with other agencies do not have specific guidelines that could lead to duplication of efforts, resulting in inefficiency and potentially redundant initiatives. Clear criteria and prioritization are needed to enhance operational effectiveness.

  • Section 2(b) and (c): The use of complex terminology without clear definitions, such as 'multi-agency concept of operations' and 'interoperable platform,' could hinder public understanding of the policy's implications and objectives. Providing clearer language and definitions would improve transparency and accountability.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill provides its official name, which is the "Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act of 2024" or simply the "ACERO Act of 2024."

2. Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The ACERO program, led by NASA's Administrator, seeks to enhance aerial firefighting through advanced aircraft technology, real-time data sharing, interoperable platforms, and multi-agency coordination, banning procurement of unmanned aircraft from certain foreign entities unless it's deemed vital for U.S. interests. Annual reports on these efforts must be submitted to Congress, with $15 million suggested for the project's funding in 2025.

Money References

  • (f) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to carry out this section.