Press Releases

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) released the statement below following House passage of the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act. Earlier this year, Carbajal joined Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) in introducing this legislation to improve our nation’s aerial firefighting capabilities through expanded use of excess military aircrafts and parts. The legislation will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 

“As wildfires continue to threaten communities across the Western U.S., we must expand the resources available to fire departments,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This bipartisan legislation will boost our firefighting aircraft fleet and ensure first responders have the air support they need to combat severe fires.”

"This legislation is a huge step in mitigating the impacts of wildfires and gives our firefighters the tools they need to keep our communities safe," said Rep. Newhouse. "Utilizing the Department of Defense’s excess aircraft gives aerial firefighters an upper hand while leveraging the assets we already have at our disposal. I thank Senator Sheehy from Montana for his leadership as we send this legislation to the president’s desk."

“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 Sen. Sheehy (R-MT).

“10 Tanker Air Carrier supports and thanks the bipartisan efforts of Congress 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.

“Billings Flying Service is grateful to Rep. Carbajal and Rep. Newhouse for their leadership in introducing the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025. As an operator providing aerial wildfire suppression services across the United States, maintaining BFS fleet readiness is ever so critical to our mission. This 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. We are proud of the advancements Congress has made in protecting the sustainment of aerial wildfire resources, and we look forward to the Aerial Firefighter Enhancement Act becoming law,” said Bridger Blain, President of Billings Flying Service.

“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.

This bipartisan bill aims to improve our country’s ability to combat wildfires year-round by enabling the use of military surplus aircrafts, sold at fair market value, for the aerial firefighting fleet. Additionally, the sale of aircraft parts will help maintain the current fleet of firefighting aircrafts.

The bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Defense to sell excess Department of Defense aircrafts and parts, which are deemed suitable for commercial sale, to individuals or entities contracted by the government for the aerial delivery of fire retardants or water to fight wildfires, provided the aircraft and parts are used solely for wildfire suppression. The original authority expired in 2005, was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017, and has since lapsed again.