II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1770 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 11, 2007 Mr. Baucus (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To provide for the establishment of emergency wildland fire suppression funds.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stable Fire Funding Act of 2006.

2.

Bureau of Land Management emergency firefighting Fund

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be used to pay 80 percent of the cost to the United States for Bureau of Land Management emergency wildland fire suppression activities that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities (referred to in this section as the Fund), consisting of— (1)such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under subsection (e); (2)such amounts as are appropriated but not expended for fire suppression activities, to be transferred to the Fund by the Secretary of the Interior; and (3)any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under subsection (c). (b)

Expenditures from Fund

Subject to paragraph (2), upon request by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Secretary of the Interior such amounts as the Secretary of the Interior determines is necessary for wildland fire suppression activities under subsection (a). (c)

Investment of amounts

(1)

In general

The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current withdrawals. Investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. (2)

Acquisition of obligations

For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired— (A)on original issue at the issue price; or (B)by purchase of outstanding obligations at the market price. (3)

Sale of obligations

Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the market price. (4)

Credits to Fund

The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund. (d)

Accounting and reporting system

The Secretary of the Interior shall establish an accounting and reporting system for the Fund in accordance with National Fire Plan reporting procedures. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund— (1)for fiscal year 2008, $200,000,000 for emergency wildland fire suppression activities carried out by the Bureau of Land Management that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities; and (2)for each subsequent fiscal year, such amount as is necessary to maintain in the Fund the amount that is equal to 80 percent of the greatest of the amounts incurred by the Secretary of the Interior for emergency fire suppression during any of the 5 preceding fiscal years that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities.

3.

Forest Service emergency firefighting Fund

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be used to pay 80 percent of the cost to the United States for Forest Service emergency wildland fire suppression activities that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities (referred to in this section as the Fund), consisting of— (1)such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under subsection (e); (2)such amounts as are appropriated but not expended for fire suppression activities, to be transferred to the Fund by the Secretary of Agriculture; and (3)any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under subsection (c). (b)

Expenditures from Fund

Subject to paragraph (2), upon request by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Secretary of Agriculture such amounts as the Secretary of Agriculture determines is necessary for wildland fire suppression activities under subsection (a). (c)

Investment of amounts

(1)

In general

The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current withdrawals. Investments may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. (2)

Acquisition of obligations

For the purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired— (A)on original issue at the issue price; or (B)by purchase of outstanding obligations at the market price. (3)

Sale of obligations

Any obligation acquired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the market price. (4)

Credits to Fund

The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund. (d)

Accounting and reporting system

The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an accounting and reporting system for the Fund in accordance with National Fire Plan reporting procedures. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund— (1)for fiscal year 2008, $600,000,000 for emergency wildland fire suppression activities carried out by the Forest Service that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities; and (2)for each subsequent fiscal year, such amount as is necessary to maintain in the Fund the amount that is equal to 80 percent of the greatest of the amounts incurred by the Secretary of Agriculture for emergency fire suppression during any of the 5 preceding fiscal years that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities.