Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno plans to introduce legislation to sanction Canada following wildfire smoke that has blanketed the Midwest and East Coast.
Moreno's proposal comes as millions of Americans across the Great Lakes and the Northeast have endured unhealthy air quality from Canadian wildfires, with Republicans increasingly accusing Ottawa of failing to properly manage its forests.
Moreno said he will introduce the CANADA FIRE Act, legislation that would declare a national emergency over the smoke and impose sanctions on Canadian officials deemed responsible for failing to prevent the recurring wildfire crisis.
"I'll be introducing a bill next week to sanction Canada and the responsible Canadian government officials for this atrocity," Moreno posted on X.
In a statement, Moreno's office argued the Canadian government "failed to invest in wildfire prevention methods including forest thinning, fuel reduction, prescribed burns, and stronger enforcement against arson."
Under a draft of the legislation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio would designate certain Canadian officials as persona non grata, stripping them of diplomatic privileges until President Donald Trump certifies that air quality in affected U.S. communities remains below an Air Quality Index of 100 for 90 consecutive days after the wildfire smoke ends, the Washington Examiner reported.
Moreno's proposal follows a sharply worded letter from four Michigan Republicans — Reps. Jack Bergman, John James, John Moolenaar, and Lisa McClain — who demanded Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney take immediate action to reduce future wildfires.
"We are done accepting apologies in place of action," the lawmakers wrote. "If Canada will not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the United States will look elsewhere, and act on our own."
The lawmakers argued Canadian officials have repeatedly promised improvements but failed to adequately invest in forest management and wildfire mitigation despite years of cross-border smoke affecting American communities.
According to Canadian wildfire officials, more than 850 fires remain active nationwide, with hundreds burning in Ontario and Manitoba, the CBC reported Thursday.
Smoke has prompted air-quality alerts stretching from Minnesota to Maryland, with some U.S. cities briefly reaching unhealthy or hazardous pollution levels.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected criticism that Canada alone bears responsibility, saying climate change is a shared challenge and urging greater international cooperation.
Republicans, however, contend better forest management, not simply climate policies, would significantly reduce the severity of the fires.
Moreno's legislation reflects the Trump administration's broader emphasis on holding foreign governments accountable when actions abroad have direct consequences for the health and safety of Americans.