[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 28, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E162-E163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REINTRODUCTION OF THE MILITARY SUPPORT FOR FIGHTING WILDFIRES ACT

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                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2023

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Military 
Support for Fighting

[[Page E163]]

Wildfires Act'' with Representatives Panetta (D-CA), Scanlon (D-PA), 
Schiff (D-CA), Jacobs (D-CA), and Carbajal (D-CA) as original 
cosponsors.
  As California and other western states face increasingly severe and 
frequent wildfires due to the climate crisis, we need all the help we 
can get from our federal government. My comprehensive ``Military 
Support for Fighting Wildfires Act'' would improve the American 
military's support for civilian emergency response to wildfires and 
similar natural disasters. It would also provide permanent 
Congressional authorization for the California Air National Guard's 
``FireGuard'' program, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and the 
National Geospatial-lntelligence Agency.
  The James M. lnhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263) included provisions from my bill (H.R. 
5560) last Congress extending the National Guard's Fireguard program 
until 2029; requiring the U.S. Department of Defense to budget for 
extreme weather events linked to climate change; directing the National 
Guard to consult with the National lnteragency Fire Center when 
training for domestic emergency response to wildfires; and requiring an 
updated interagency review of the U.S. Air Force and National Guard's 
existing legal authorities to respond to domestic wildfires. The White 
House Office of Management and Budget last completed such a review in 
2004.
  The FY2023 NOAA also enacted my bill section authorizing the 
Department of Defense to transfer excess aircraft to other federal 
departments for search and rescue or emergency operations related to 
wildfires. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced my bill section 
as the bipartisan ``Emergency Aircraft Act of 2022'' (S. 4672) last 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you and other members of 
the California delegation to advance these remaining reforms included 
in my ``Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act.'' As ranking 
member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I plan to 
make this a top priority for the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2024.

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