To expedite the process by which the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may utilize military aircraft to fight wildfires, and for other purposes.

February 5, 2003

Mr. HEFLEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To expedite the process by which the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may utilize military aircraft to fight wildfires, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Wildfire Response Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. EXPEDITED AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO UTILIZE MILITARY AIRCRAFT TO FIGHT WILDFIRES.

(a) EXCEPTION TO ECONOMY ACT REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding section 1535(a)(4) of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may procure the services of military aircraft (and personnel of the Armed Forces to operate and maintain such aircraft) to fight a wildfire without first comparing the cost and convenience of procuring such services from the Armed Forces to the cost of procuring the same services from a commercial enterprise.

(b) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE- Whenever the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture uses the exception provided in subsection (a) to expedite the procurement of the services of military aircraft (and personnel of the Armed Forces to operate and maintain such aircraft) to fight a wildfire, the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress notice of the use of the exception and the reasons for the use of the exception.

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