Janelle Bynum will let the Secretary of Agriculture waive local match requirements for certain wildfire recovery grants.

An amendment to provide authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the local match for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program for low-capacity rural communities recovering from wildfires;

Bynum proposed giving USDA waiver authority for local matching funds in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.

Bynum Introduces Amendments to Protect Americans from the Harmful Republican Farm Bill | Representative Janelle Bynum
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

unverified · Source version 24463 · locator unknown

Section 3(b): “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may waive any covered matching requirement for a project in response to a covered wildland fire that is in an area affected by that covered wildland fire.” The bill also defines the Secretary as the Secretary of Agriculture and defines covered matching requirement as a cash matching-funds requirement for wildland fire recovery projects.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): This is the clearest official text matching the claim: it would let USDA waive local/state matching requirements for certain wildfire recovery projects.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 5963 (119th Congress) – Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act (introduced bill text)
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

unverified · Source version 24464 · locator unknown

Congress.gov shows the bill status as “Introduced,” with latest action on 2025-11-06: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.” The text repeats the waiver language allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to waive covered matching requirements for projects responding to covered wildland fires.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): An identically worded Senate companion was introduced, but no later enactment, passage, or committee disposition is shown in the source.

unresolved same_term A for effort

S. 3149 – Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act (Congress.gov text and status)
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 94%

unverified · Source version 58305 · locator unknown

This bill has the status Introduced SEC. 302. Cost-share waiver for rehabilitation from wildland fires. (b) Waiver.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may waive any covered matching requirement for a project in response to a covered wildland fire that is in an area affected by that covered wildland fire.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): A later House bill includes the same wildfire cost-share waiver language, but Congress.gov still labels the vehicle as introduced rather than passed or enacted, so this is continued legislative effort without delivery.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R.7007 - Governing for the People Act, 119th Congress (2025-2026), Congress.gov text
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

unverified · Source version 58307 · locator unknown

Last action Dec 2, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture. This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements for matching federal funds in fire recovery projects.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The House companion matching the promise shows only a subcommittee referral as its latest recorded action, not passage, enactment, or implementation. No concrete delivery signal was found in the September 16-18, 2026 lookback window.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 5963: Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act, Congress Docket
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 88%

unverified · Source version 70447 · locator unknown

333 | Version 1 | Bynum (OR) | Democrat | Late Provides authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the local match for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program for low-capacity rural communities recovering from wildfires. | Submitted

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Official Rules Committee materials show Bynum submitted a Farm Bill amendment matching the promise, but the amendment is listed only as submitted, not enacted or otherwise delivered.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 7567 – Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 | House of Representatives Committee on Rules
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 92%

unverified · Source version 70455 · locator unknown

``(d) Waived Matching Requirements.--The Secretary shall waive any matching requirements for payments made under subsection (c)(1).

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): A newer official wildfire bill contains matching-requirement waiver language, but GovInfo identifies it as an introduced House bill, so this is not evidence of enactment or implementation by the lookback date.

unresolved same_term

H.R. 10061 (IH) - Wildfire Response and Readiness Act - GovInfo bill text
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 87%