Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
Where it stands
- Introduced1/21/25
- Passed SenatePassed 4/8/25
- HousePassed 6/3/25
- PresidentSigned 6/12/25
- LawPublic Law 119-18
Passed the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent on April 8, 2025. Passed the House by voice vote on June 3, 2025. Became Public Law 119-18 on June 12, 2025.
Passed by voice vote or unanimous consent — no individual positions were recorded.
Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
This act reauthorizes the Department of Defense to sell its excess aircraft and aircraft parts that are acceptable for commercial sale for wildfire suppression purposes. Such authority begins June 12, 2025, and ends October 1, 2035.
The act also provides that such aircraft may be used to deliver water by air in order to suppress wildfire (the previous authority only provided for the delivery of fire retardant).
The act removes the previous limitation on providing international wildfire suppression assistance with such purchased aircraft.
8
1/21/25
What happens next
Became Public Law 119-18.
All actions (18)
- 1/21/25Introduced in Senate
- 1/21/25Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 4/8/25Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 4/8/25Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2480)
- 4/8/25Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 4/8/25Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2480)
- 4/9/25Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 4/9/25Received in the House.
- 4/9/25Held at the desk.
- 6/3/25Mr. Comer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 6/3/25Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2390)
- 6/3/25DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 160.
- 6/3/25Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)
- 6/3/25On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2390)
- 6/3/25Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 6/10/25Presented to President.
- 6/12/25Signed by President.
- 6/12/25Became Public Law No: 119-18.