Relating to the transfer of excess aircraft.

1. Adds SEC. 1084. TRANSFER OF EXCESS AIRCRAFT FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION PURPOSES at the end of subtitle H of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 3254 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (2) to strongly urge the Department of Defense to investigate innovative mechanisms (subject to all appropriate security requirements) to access to the pool of talent of non- United States citizens with advanced scientific and technical degrees from United States institutions of higher education, especially in those scientific and technical areas that are most vital to the national defense (such as those identified by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Armed Forces).

   Inserted: SEC. 1084. TRANSFER OF EXCESS AIRCRAFT FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION PURPOSES.

   Inserted: (a) Transfer.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall transfer excess aircraft specified in subsection (b) to the Secretary of Agriculture for use by the Forest Service for wildfire suppression purposes. The transfer of any excess aircraft under this subsection shall be without reimbursement.

   Inserted: (b) Aircraft.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The aircraft transferred under subsection (a) are aircraft of the Department of Defense that are--

   Inserted: (A) identified by the Forest Service as a suitable platform for wildfire suppression missions;

   Inserted: (B) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), excess to the needs of the Department of Defense, as determined by the Secretary of Defense; and

   Inserted: (C) acceptable for use by the Forest Service, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

   Inserted: (2) Limitation on number.--The number of aircraft that may be transfered may not exceed 12 aircraft.

   Inserted: (3) Limitations on determination as excess.--Aircraft may not be determined to be excess for the purposes of this subsection unless such aircraft are determined to be excess in the report referenced by subsection (b) of section 1703 of title XVII of this Act, subject to title XVII, or if such aircraft are otherwise prohibited from being determined excess by law.

   Inserted: (c) Priority in Transfer.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall be afforded a priority in the transfer under subsection (a) of excess aircraft of the Department of Defense specified in subsection (b) before any other department or agency of the Federal Government.

   Inserted: (d) Conditions of Transfer.--Excess aircraft transferred under subsection (a)--

   Inserted: (1) may be used only for wildfire suppression purposes; and

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   Inserted: (2) may not be flown or otherwise removed from the United States unless dispatched by the National Interagency Fire Center in support of an international agreement to assist in wildfire suppression efforts or for other purposes approved by the Secretary of Agriculture in writing in advance.

   Inserted: (e) Expiration of Authority.--The authority to transfer excess aircraft under subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 2013.

   Inserted: SEC. 1085. REAUTHORIZATION OF SALE OF AIRCRAFT AND PARTS FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION PURPOSES.

   Inserted: Section 2 of the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 (10 U.S.C. 2576 note) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in subsection (a), by striking "during the period beginning on October 1, 1996, and ending on September 30, 2005" and inserting "during a period specified in subsection (g)";

   Inserted: (2) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and

   Inserted: (3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g):

   Inserted: "(g) Periods for Exercise of Authority.--The periods specified in this subsection are the following:

   Inserted: "(1) The period beginning on October 1, 1996, and ending on September 30, 2005.

   Inserted: "(2) The period beginning on October 1, 2012, and ending on September 30, 2017.".

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:

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As printed