[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AERIAL FIREFIGHTING ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2025
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 160) to amend the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of
1996 to reauthorize the sale by the Department of Defense of aircraft
and parts for wildfire suppression purposes, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 160
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Aerial Firefighting
Enhancement Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION AND REAUTHORIZATION OF AUTHORITY FOR
SALE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF AIRCRAFT AND
PARTS FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION PURPOSES.
Section 2 of the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act
of 1996 (Public Law 104-307; 10 U.S.C. 2576 note) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``a period'' and inserting ``the period'';
and
(B) by inserting ``or water'' after ``fire retardant'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``sold under subsection
(a)'' and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``sold under subsection (a) may be used only for
the provision of aircraft services for wildfire suppression
purposes.'';
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or water'' after
``fire retardant'';
(4) in subsection (d)(1), in the second sentence, by
striking ``subsection (a)(1)'' and inserting ``subsection
(g)''; and
(5) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:
``(g) Period for Exercise of Authority.--The period
specified in this subsection is the period beginning on the
date of the enactment of the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement
Act of 2025 and ending on October 1, 2035.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to support S. 160, the Aerial Firefighting
Enhancement Act.
This bill will amend the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act
of 1996 to allow the Department of Defense to, once again, sell excess
aircraft and aircraft parts for wildfire suppression.
This will help facilitate the acquisition of excess military aircraft
for the aerial wildfire suppression fleet.
This lifesaving authority protects our aerial firefighters and brings
in revenue from military aircraft that are not needed. In fact, the
Congressional Budget Office anticipates this legislation will reduce
government spending.
Our brave first responders work tirelessly on the front lines,
fighting wildfires that continue to get more dangerous every year.
This bipartisan, commonsense bill gives these brave men and women
access to more equipment that is critical in an emergency.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Senators Tim Sheehy and Martin Heinrich for
introducing this important legislation which passed the Senate
unanimously in April.
I also thank Representative Dan Newhouse for introducing the House
companion bill and leading the charge in this Chamber. I encourage my
colleagues to once again support S. 160.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 160, the Aerial Firefighting
Enhancement Act.
This bill amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of
1996 to reauthorize the sale of aircraft and parts by the Defense
Department for wildfire suppression for 10 years.
This bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Defense to sell excess
Department of Defense aircraft and aircraft parts, which are acceptable
for commercial sale to persons or entities that contract with the
government for the delivery of fire retardants or water by air to
suppress wildfires. The aircraft and parts could only be used for fire
suppression.
This bill will help the U.S. suppress wildfires and recognizes the
unfortunate reality that fire season is now year-round and additional
resources, including aircraft, are required to effectively suppress
catastrophic wildfires.
S. 160 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that will help the United
States maintain a robust fleet of wildfire suppression aircraft. I urge
all of my colleagues to support this bill, the Aerial Firefighting
Enhancement Act.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
important legislation, which will protect our brave aerial firefighters
across the country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 160.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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