Bipartisan legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives today
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), announced that their Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025, legislation to strengthen the aerial wildfire suppression fleet and better combat the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfire, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This is the first bill passed by Vasquez in the House this Congress. Heinrich announced passage of the bill in the U.S. Senate in April. The legislation now heads to the White House to be signed into law.
This news comes on the heels of Heinrich’s announcement today that he successfully secured the continued operation of the Interagency Dispatch Centers in Albuquerque and Silver City, which help get resources – like airtankers from Kirtland Air Force Base — to where they’re needed to help protect New Mexicans during wildfires, floods, and other emergencies.
The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.).
Alongside Heinrich and Vasquez, the legislation is led by U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and U.S. Representatives Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.). Alongside Luján and Stansbury, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).
“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 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. I will never stop fighting to deliver the resources that our communities need to effectively respond to wildfires.”
“In the West — and especially in New Mexico — wildfire season never really ends. Getting this bill through the House is a big step toward making sure our communities have the tools they need to stay safe,” said Vasquez. “This legislation strengthens our aerial firefighting fleet and supports critical partners like Albuquerque’s 10 Tanker. I look forward to President Trump signing my bipartisan bill into law.”
“Wildfires have ravaged New Mexico and Western states in recent years, making the need to boost wildfire suppression more urgent than ever,” said Luján. “The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act will strengthen our aerial wildfire suppression fleet, help our firefighters respond faster, and better protect our communities. I’m proud to see this bipartisan legislation head to the president’s desk and soon become law.”
"Deeply proud to help get this bipartisan, bicameral bill to help address wildfires across the finish line in Congress," said Stansbury. "New Mexico is on the frontlines and we are working every day to ensure our firefighters and first responders have the resources they need."
“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. Eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to fight wildfires more quickly and aggressively is America First common sense, and I appreciate my colleagues in the House and Senate for their support. I look forward to seeing this bipartisan bill cross the finish line so we can better support the brave first responders on the front lines fighting wildfires across the country,” said Sheehy.
“In Arizona and across the West, wildfires are more frequent, more intense, and no longer confined to a single season. Our response capabilities need to reflect that new reality,” said Kelly. “Strengthening our aerial firefighting fleet by making more aircraft and parts available is a smart, proven way to help firefighters respond faster and keep communities safe. I’m excited to see this bipartisan effort to support our firefighters heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”
“As catastrophic wildfires devastate communities across the country, we need to be smarter and more resourceful in our approach to wildfire suppression,” said Padilla. “Californians saw firsthand the power of our aerial wildfire suppression fleet in putting out the Los Angeles fires as quickly as possible. Shoring up aerial firefighting fleets by allowing the Defense Department to sell excess aircraft parts is a lifesaving, commonsense priority — and I urge President Trump to swiftly sign this bipartisan bill into law.”
The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 to reauthorize the sale of excess aircraft and parts by the Department of Defense for wildfire suppression. The bill will help the U.S. better suppress wildfires year-round by facilitating the acquisition of military excess aircraft, sold at fair market value, for the aerial wildfire suppression fleet. Additionally, the sale of parts will help the U.S. maintain its existing aerial firefighting aircraft fleet.
The bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Defense’s authority to sell excess Department of Defense aircraft and aircraft parts, which are acceptable for commercial sale, to persons or entities that contract with the government for the delivery of fire retardant or water by air to suppress wildfires, as long as the aircraft and parts are used only for wildfire suppression. The initial authority expired in 2005 and was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017 before lapsing again.
"10 Tanker Air Carrier supports and thanks the bipartisan efforts of Sen. Heinrich and Sen. Sheehy to help the many operators involved with aerial firefighting to purchase at fair market value excess, retired military spare parts, particularly desperately needed engines and brakes. This commonsense approach 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. We are pleased that the Department of Defense and the Air Force also support the national security mission of companies like ours,” said Joel Kerley, President and CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier.
"Firehawk Helicopters is encouraged by the passing of the Aerial Firefighting and Enhancement Act and would like to thank Rep. Newhouse, Rep. Carbajal, Sen. Tim Sheehy and Sen. Martin Heinrich for leading the efforts in seeing this bill passed. Since 20017 the aerial firefighting community has lost access to a critical aircraft and parts supply source. Taxpayers have lost hundreds of millions of dollars as valuable aircraft and aircraft parts were no longer made available for commercial sale. The law will save these critical aircraft and parts from being scrapped. By making these aircraft and parts available for commercial sale again, the 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,” said Bart Brainerd, CEO Firehawk Helicopters.
Read more on the bill here.