Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3389) to require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an evaluation with respect to the use of the container aerial firefighting system (CAFFS), and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3389

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. CONTAINER AERIAL FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM (CAFFS).

(a) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly conduct an evaluation of the container aerial firefighting system to assess the use of such system to mitigate and suppress wildfires.

(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees a report that includes the results of the evaluation required under subsection (a).

(c) Appropriate Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate committees'' means--

(1) the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and

(2) the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 3389, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Congressman Valadao's bill, the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2023.

This legislation, rightly named, has the potential to provide another tool in the toolbox for addressing the catastrophic wildfire crisis. Americans have tragically grown accustomed to increasingly severe wildfire years that are lasting longer and producing more destruction than ever before. This summer, devastating wildfires impacted the community of Lahaina on the island of Maui, devastation I saw firsthand along with several of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Unfortunately, the reality is that decades of inadequate forest management have created an unprecedented forest health crisis. Across the U.S., there are now 1 billion acres of at-risk land for wildfire. In the absence of dramatic change, the future outlook remains bleak.

When it comes to fighting these out-of-control infernos, we simply don't have the luxury of ignoring potential new technologies that could improve the cost efficiency or effectiveness of suppressing fires.

It is critical that wildland firefighting agencies have all tools and methods available to them to fight fires and protect lives and property. Aircraft and helicopters provide lifesaving support to ground crews, often by delivering water or fire retardant. In order to drop water or fire retardant from a plane or helicopter, the aircraft must be designed or retrofitted for such purposes, limiting the number of aircraft that are available.

Mr. Valadao has worked with various stakeholders who have developed and improved a container aerial firefighting system to drop water and fire retardant from aircraft via disposable containers. This technology could decrease the response time to wildfires by increasing the number of aircraft available, thus saving more lives and more structures. This technology is not new. However, the system has not been recently studied by the wildland firefighting agencies.

H.R. 3389 would require the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior to conduct an evaluation on the use of container aerial firefighting systems in response to wildfires. The evaluation will focus on effectiveness, cost, ease of delivery, and safety.

Directing our wildfire fighting agencies to study new and emerging technology is a win for the wildland firefighting crews and a win for those who live in fire-prone areas.

I applaud Congressman Valadao for his leadership on this important topic. He is a leader on bipartisan solutions that meaningfully improve forest health and reduce wildfires.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, September 5, 2023. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 3389, the ``Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2023''. Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction.

The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees should it become necessary and ask that you support such a request.

We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 3389 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, September 6, 2023. Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding H.R. 3389, the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act of 2023, which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on June 13, 2023.

I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and appreciate your willingness to forgo action on the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture will not formally consider H.R. 3389 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.

I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Mr. Valadao for bringing this important piece of legislation. I thank the ranking member and the minority for their support on this bill.

Again, we must provide all necessary tools for the wildland firefighting agencies so that they can combat this wildfire crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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