Sheehy’s Bipartisan Wildfire Bill Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy’s bipartisan Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk after passing the House of Representatives last Tuesday, marking a significant victory for wildfire suppression efforts nationwide.

The legislation, introduced by Sheehy in January alongside Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), strengthens the nation’s wildfire suppression fleet and ensures better combat capabilities against year-round catastrophic wildfire threats. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in April.

“This year is the most dangerous and expensive wildfire year in history, and the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act will give wildland firefighters the tools they need to protect communities and save lives,” said Senator Sheehy. “Eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to fight wildfires more quickly and aggressively is America First common sense.”

Sheehy becomes the only first-year senator to pass a bill through both chambers of Congress in the 119th Congress.

The legislation amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 to reauthorize the sale of aircraft and parts by the Department of Defense for wildfire suppression. The bill facilitates acquisition of military excess aircraft, sold at fair market value, for the aerial wildfire suppression fleet while helping maintain existing aircraft through parts sales.

“I’m pleased that my Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act passed both chambers of Congress and is headed to the White House to be signed into law,” said Senator Heinrich. “I urge the president to immediately sign the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, which is urgently needed to expand the operations of Very Large Air Tankers that have proven absolutely essential to firefighters battling large wildfires in New Mexico and across the West.”

The bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Defense to sell excess Department of Defense aircraft and aircraft parts to persons or entities contracting with the government for fire retardant or water delivery by air to suppress wildfires. The original authority expired in 2005, was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017, then lapsed again.

Several senators joined Sheehy and Heinrich in introducing the legislation, including Mullin (R-Okla.), Luján (D-N.M.), Kelly (D-Ariz.), Crapo (R-Idaho), Risch (R-Idaho), Padilla (D-Calif.), and Warnock (D-Ga.). The companion House version is led by Representatives Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Zinke (R-Mont.).

Industry leaders praised the legislation’s passage. Joel Kerley, President and CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier, called it “commonsense approach” that “will ensure that our aging fleet will remain available to the United States to battle the devastating wildland fires of today and well into the future.”

Bridger Blain, President of Billings Flying Service, emphasized the bill’s operational importance, stating the act “opens up direct access to U.S. Armed Forces surplus parts, allowing operators to keep their aircraft in the air and deployed on life-saving missions.”

Bart Brainerd, CEO of Firehawk Helicopters, noted the financial benefits, explaining that “taxpayers will reap the maximum return on their original investment, but more importantly, see these aircraft and parts utilized in a second life that prioritizes the protection of the public from the growing threat of devastating wildfires.”