119th Congress (2025-2026)

S 160

Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025

Law

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

Senate

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

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, the Department can sell these assets, and the aircraft can be used to deliver water as well as fire retardant. The bill also expands the ability to provide international assistance with these purchased aircraft for wildfire suppression.

Key provisions

Reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression.
The sale period is from October 1, 2025, to October 1, 2035.
Aircraft can deliver both water and fire retardant.
Removes restrictions on using purchased aircraft for international wildfire suppression assistance.
Clarifies that aircraft sales are for wildfire suppression purposes only.

Who is affected

Department of Defense
Wildfire Suppression Organizations
International Wildfire Assistance Recipients
Aircraft Manufacturers
Federal Government

Notable changes

Expands the types of materials (water) that can be delivered by firefighting aircraft.
Extends the authorization period for aircraft sales.
Allows for international wildfire suppression assistance using purchased aircraft.

Fiscal impact

The bill does not explicitly state a fiscal impact.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

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Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

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Legislative history

2025-01-21Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

2025-01-21

Introduced in Senate

2025-04-08Senate

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2480)

2025-04-08

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

6/3/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
6/3/2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
4/8/2025SenateUnanimous consent
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2480)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
4/8/2025Unanimous consent
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

6/3/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
6/3/2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
4/8/2025SenateUnanimous consent
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2480)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
4/8/2025Unanimous consent
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Jan 21, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

S. 160

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

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.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025

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 October 1, 2025, and ending on October 1, 2035.

S 160