Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3389, the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act, was introduced by my colleague, Representative Valadao of California. The bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, in coordination with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and Interagency Airtanker Board, to complete an evaluation of the container aerial fighting system to support wildland fire mitigation and suppression. In 2011, the Forest Service conducted a study and determined that this particular delivery system did not meet existing standards and posed safety risks to our communities and forests. However, there have been technological advancements in the decades since the initial report, and this bill aims to kick-start research that could promote the use of under-utilized technology. {time} 1715 The climate crisis is clearly increasing the severity and the duration of the wildfire season, so it is imperative that we continuously research and re-evaluate any emerging technology. Mr. Speaker, I thank the majority for their willingness to work with us on amending the bill at markup. The updated text that we are considering today ensures that the Forest Service retains the decisionmaking authority with respect to the use of this particular tool. This is an important safeguard for the safety of wildland firefighters and the communities impacted by the wildfire crisis. Mr.…”