| HR 575 IH
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 575
To expedite the process
by which the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
may utilize military aircraft to fight wildfires, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2003
Mr. HEFLEY introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition
to the Committees on Resources, Government Reform, and Armed Services,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
A BILL
To expedite the process
by which the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
may utilize military aircraft to fight wildfires, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the
Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as
the `Wildfire Response Act of 2003'.
SEC. 2. EXPEDITED AUTHORITY
OF SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO UTILIZE MILITARY
AIRCRAFT TO FIGHT WILDFIRES.
(a) EXCEPTION TO ECONOMY
ACT REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding section 1535(a)(4) of title 31, United
States Code, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
may procure the services of military aircraft (and personnel of the Armed
Forces to operate and maintain such aircraft) to fight a wildfire without
first comparing the cost and convenience of procuring such services from
the Armed Forces to the cost of procuring the same services from a commercial
enterprise.
(b) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE-
Whenever the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture
uses the exception provided in subsection (a) to expedite the procurement
of the services of military aircraft (and personnel of the Armed Forces
to operate and maintain such aircraft) to fight a wildfire, the Secretary
concerned shall submit to Congress notice of the use of the exception and
the reasons for the use of the exception.
END
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