To authorize the purchase of aircraft for use in aerial firefighting.

SA 3295. Mr. ENZI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 280, after line 22, insert the following:

SEC. 1068. AERIAL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The National Interagency Fire Center does not possess an adequate number of aircraft for use in aerial firefighting and personnel at the Center rely on military aircraft to provide such firefighting services.

(2) It is in the national security interest of the United States for the National Interagency Fire Center to purchase aircraft for use in aerial firefighting so that military aircraft used for aerial firefighting may be available for use by the Armed Forces.

(b) Authority To Purchase Aerial Firefighting Equipment.--(1) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to purchase 10 aircraft, as described in paragraph (2), for the National Interagency Fire Center for use in aerial firefighting.

(2) The aircraft referred to in paragraph (1) shall be--

(A) aircraft that are specifically designed and built for aerial firefighting;

(B) certified by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for use in aerial firefighting; and

(C) manufactured in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations for aircraft used in aerial firefighting contained in--

(i) the Blue Ribbon Panel Report to the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management dated December 2002; and

(ii) the Safety Recommendation of the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board related to aircraft used in aerial firefighting dated April 23, 2004.

(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture for fiscal year 2005 such funds as may be necessary to purchase the 10 aircraft described in subsection (b).