[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5102-H5103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BETTER EQUIPPING FIREFIGHTERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Valadao) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, last year, California set a record for the 
most acres burned in a single year, 4.1 million acres.
  Already in 2021, devastating fires have burned through 1.6 million 
acres of our State. Hundreds, if not thousands, of residents are 
currently under evacuation orders, uncertain if they will have a home 
to return to once the orders are lifted.
  With another heat wave on its way, fighting the flames will be even 
more challenging, and the risks are even greater.
  Each year, California wildfires destroy our communities and put first 
responders and our firefighters in danger. As these men and women 
sacrifice their safety, it is imperative we provide firefighters with 
the latest and

[[Page H5103]]

most advanced firefighting technologies.
  Containerized aerial firefighting systems provide ground crews with 
dependable cover from the air by providing a rapid surge of retardant 
to attack these fires from multiple points of contact.
  These fires can spread and expand at alarming rates, making rapid and 
aggressive containment strategies absolutely critical.
  We must provide firefighters with the tools and resources to do their 
courageous work effectively and safely.
  Billions of dollars are spent each year on recovering and restoring 
the environment and helping to rebuild communities after wildfires.
  By investing in technology to increase our capacity to fight fires, 
we can reduce the recovery spending and preserve California's renowned 
parkland and countless families' homes and irreplaceable belongings.
  As California faces several devastating wildfires burning through our 
communities and beloved forestland, I ask my colleagues and the U.S. 
Forest Service to consider investment in containerized aerial 
firefighting systems and other technologies and resources.
  We have a responsibility to protect our communities, our environment, 
and the firefighters who run toward danger and sacrifice their safety 
for the safety of others.
  To do so, we must equip these brave men and women with the tools they 
need.
  Again, I ask the Forest Service and my colleagues to examine the 
latest aerial firefighting capabilities as well as additional resources 
to protect our state and communities.

                          ____________________