[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Allard, and Mr. Craig):
  S. 1906. A bill to amend Public Law 104-307 to extend the expiration 
date of the authority to sell certain aircraft for use in wildfire 
suppression, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed 
Services.


     wildfire suppression aircraft transfer act of 1996 extension 
                              legislation

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, Airplanes, known as airtankers, play a 
critical role in fighting wildfires. They are used in the initial 
attack of wildfires in support of firefighters on the ground and, on 
large wildfires, to aid in the protection of lives and structures from 
rapidly advancing fires.
  Today, Senators Allard, Craig and I are introducing legislation that 
will help ensure that Federal firefighters continue to have access to 
airtanker services. This technical amendment will extend the expiration 
date of the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 from 
September 30, 2000 to September 30, 2005. The regulations under the act 
are still being finalized, so no aircraft have yet been transferred. 
Extending the 1996 act is critical to help facilitate the sale of 
former military aircraft to contractors who provide firefighting 
services to the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. The 
existing fleet of available airtankers is aging rapidly, and fleet 
modernization is critical to the continued success of the firefighting 
program.
  This bill will extend legislative authority to transfer or sell 
excess turbine-powered military aircraft suitable for conversion to 
airtankers. If we fail to pass this extension, airtanker operators will 
not have access to the planes they need to update the aging airtanker 
fleet. The Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 required 
that the aircraft be used only for firefighting activities.
  I urge my colleagues to support our efforts to ensure that Federal 
firefighters have the resources they need to protect the public and 
their property from the threat of wildfires.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1900

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Section 2 of the Wildlife Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act 
     of 1996 (Public Law No. 104-307) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ``September 30, 2000'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2005'';
       (2) in subsection (d)(2)(C), by striking ``and'' at the 
     end;
       (3) in subsection (d)(2)(D), by striking the period at the 
     end and inserting ``; and'';
       (4) in subsection (d)(2), by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(E) be in effect until September 30, 2005''; and
       (5) in subsection (f), by striking ``March 31, 2000'' and 
     inserting ``March 31, 2005''.
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