H.R. 5965

To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

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I

112th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5965

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 19, 2012

Mr. Gallegly introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

1.

Availability of Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems (MAFFS) for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve

(a)

First generation MAFFS units

In order to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires, the Chief of the Forest Service shall make the eight Forest Service First Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS I) units available, without compensation, to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have C–130H aircraft configured to contain such a MAFFS unit and adequate pilot and crew member training in the use of such a MAFFS unit.

(b)

Second generation MAFFS units

(1)

Requirement to make units available

In order to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires, the Chief of the Forest Service shall make the nine Forest Service Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS II) units immediately available, without compensation, to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve as follows:

(A)

Up to two MAFFS II units will be located at the Air National Guard unit in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

(B)

Up to two MAFFS II units will be located at the Air National Guard unit in Charlotte, North Carolina.

(C)

Up to two MAFFS II units will be located at the Air Force Reserve unit in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

(D)

A minimum of three MAFFS II units will be located at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Base, California.

(2)

Configuration

The MAFFS II units to be made available under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) are intended for use in MAFFS-configured C–130H aircraft. The MAFFS II units to be made available under subparagraph (D) of such paragraph are intended for use in MAFFS-configured C–130J aircraft.

(c)

Priority for domestic sources of air tanker support

The Chief of the Forest Service may not procure air tankers to fight wildfires from a foreign government unless the Chief of the Forest Service certifies to Congress that MAFFS air tanker support available from units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve—

(1)

is being fully utilized; or

(2)

is not sufficient to address wildfires on National Forest System land.

(d)

Implementation report

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief of the Forest Service shall submit to the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing—

(1)

how the Forest Service intends to make the MAFFS II units immediately available under subsection (b); and

(2)

the process and proposed timeline to make the MAFFS I units available under subsection (a).