Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
Became Law
Summary
Reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression through October 1, 2035, and adds explicit authority to deliver water as well as fire retardant.
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It narrows how those assets can be used by requiring that purchased aircraft serve only to provide wildfire suppression services and it removes a prior restriction on international assistance.
- Residents near wildfire-prone areas: May see greater aerial firefighting capacity, including aircraft that can perform water drops, available through 2035.
- State and local firefighting agencies and contractors: Can acquire airworthy surplus aircraft and parts for suppression missions, but purchases must be used only to provide aircraft services for wildfire suppression.
- International partners and incident commanders: Gain access to these purchased aircraft for cross-border wildfire assistance because the previous limitation on international use is removed.
*Creates no new funding, tax changes, or explicit appropriations.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Defense Department aircraft sales for firefighting
The law lets the Defense Department sell certain aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression from enactment until October 1, 2035. Items sold may be used only to provide aircraft services for fighting wildfires. The law also allows firefighting aircraft to use water as well as fire retardant.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 1/21/2025
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Sponsored 2/3/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 2/3/2025
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/19/2025
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/1/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov