H.R. 956 · Where this bill is now
Became law through another bill
Its text was included in S. 160, Public Law 119-18 (per the Congressional Research Service). This bill number itself: In committee.
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAllows Pentagon to sell planes for wildfire fighting
The Department of Defense currently has extra aircraft and aircraft parts sitting around. This bill lets the Pentagon sell those excess items to companies that fight wildfires from the air, starting in October 2025 through October 2035. It also expands what those aircraft can do: instead of just dropping fire retardant, they can now drop water to suppress fires. Plus, it removes restrictions on using these purchased aircraft to help with wildfire suppression internationally.
How it affects you
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, this could mean more aircraft resources available for aerial firefighting efforts. Wildfire suppression companies gain access to additional planes and parts they might otherwise have to buy new, potentially making aerial firefighting operations more available or affordable during fire season.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 4, 2025)
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell its excess aircraft and aircraft parts that are acceptable for commercial sale for wildfire suppression purposes. Such authority begins October 1, 2025, and ends October 1, 2035.
The bill also provides that such aircraft may be used to deliver water by air in order to suppress wildfire (the previous authority only provided for the delivery of fire retardant).
The bill removes the previous limitation on providing international wildfire suppression assistance with such purchased aircraft.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 956
A BILL
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4) · Introduced Feb 4, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 7, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.”