DETERMINATION AND REPORT ON FULL-TIME AIRLIFT SUPPORT FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE OPERATIONS.

SEC. 1052. DETERMINATION AND REPORT ON FULL-TIME AIRLIFT SUPPORT FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE OPERATIONS.(a) Determination Required.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall determine the feasibility and advisability of dedicating an airlift capability of the Armed Forces to the support of homeland defense operations, including operations in support of contingent requirements for transportation of any of the following in response to a disaster:(A) Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams.(B) National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Explosive Enhanced Response Force Packages.(C) Air Force expeditionary medical teams.(D) Department of Energy emergency response teams.(2) In making the determination under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into consideration the results of the study required under subsection (b).(b) Requirement for Study and Plan.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the plans and capabilities of the Department of Defense for meeting contingent requirements for transporting teams and packages specified in subsection (a)(1) in response to disasters.(2) The Secretary shall prepare a plan for resolving any deficiencies in the plans and capabilities for meeting the transportation requirements described in paragraph (1).118 STAT. 2055(3) The Secretary of Defense shall require the commander of the United States Northern Command and the commander of the United States Transportation Command to carry out jointly the study required under paragraph (1) and to prepare jointly the plan required under paragraph (2).(c) Report.—Not later than April 1, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study under subsection (b). The report shall include the following matters:(1) The Secretary’s determination under subsection (a).(2) An assessment and discussion of the adequacy of existing plans and capabilities of the Department of Defense for meeting the transportation requirements described in subsection (b)(1).(3) The plan required under subsection (b)(2).(d) Definition.—In this section, the term “Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team” has the meaning given that term in section 305b(e) of title 37, United States Code.