ACQUISITION OF AERIAL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER.

SEC. 1086. ACQUISITION OF AERIAL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER.(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:(1) The National Interagency Fire Center does not possess an adequate number of aircraft for use in aerial firefighting, and personnel at the Center rely on military aircraft to provide such firefighting services.(2) It is in the national security interest of the United States for the National Interagency Fire Center to acquire aircraft for use in aerial firefighting so that the military aircraft made available for aerial firefighting will instead be available for use by the Armed Forces. (b) Authority To Purchase Aerial Firefighting Equipment.—(1) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to purchase 10 aircraft, as described in paragraph (2), for the National Interagency Fire Center for use in aerial firefighting.(2) The aircraft referred to in paragraph (1) shall be aircraft that are—(A) specifically designed and built for aerial firefighting;(B) certified by the Chief of the Forest Service as suited for conditions commonly experienced in aerial firefighting operations carried out in the United States, including Alaska; and118 STAT. 2066(C) manufactured in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations for aircraft used in aerial firefighting contained in—(i) the Blue Ribbon Panel Report to the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management dated December 2002; and(ii) the Safety Recommendation of the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board related to aircraft used in aerial firefighting dated April 23, 2004.(c) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture for fiscal year 2005 such funds as may be necessary to purchase the 10 aircraft described in subsection (b).