HR 956
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
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Bill overview
This bill reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell surplus aircraft and parts suitable for use in fighting wildfires. Starting October 1, 2025, and continuing through October 1, 2035, the Department can sell these assets to commercial buyers. The bill expands the use of these aircraft to deliver water, in addition to fire retardant, and removes restrictions on providing wildfire suppression assistance to other countries.
Key provisions
- Reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression.
- The reauthorization period is from October 1, 2025, to October 1, 2035.
- Aircraft can be used to deliver water as well as fire retardant.
- Restrictions on international wildfire suppression assistance are removed.
- The sale of aircraft is authorized under the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996.
Who is affected
- Department of Defense
- Wildfire suppression organizations
- International firefighting agencies
- Commercial aircraft buyers
- United States
Notable changes
- Allows aircraft to deliver water in addition to fire retardant.
- Extends the authorization period for sales from 10 years to 10 years.
- Removes restrictions on providing wildfire suppression assistance to foreign countries.
Fiscal impact
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Doug LaMalfa
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 956
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
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.
This Act may be cited as the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
.
Section 2 of the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–307; 10 U.S.C. 2576 note) is amended—
a periodand inserting
the period; and
by inserting or water
after fire retardant
;
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.
;
in subsection (c), by inserting or water
after fire retardant
;
subsection (a)(1)and inserting
subsection (g); and
The period specified in this subsection is the period beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on October 1, 2035.