To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 19, 2012

Requires the Chief of the Forest Service to make the eight Forest Service First Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS I) units available, without compensation, to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have C-130H aircraft configured to contain such an MAFFS I unit and adequate pilot and crew member training in its use to fight wildfires.

Directs the Chief to make the nine Forest Service Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS II) units immediately available, without compensation, to specified units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve in Wyoming, North Carolina, Colorado, and California.

Prohibits the Chief from procuring air tankers to fight wildfires from a foreign government without certifying that MAFFS air tanker support available from units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve is being fully utilized or is insufficient to address wildfires on National Forest System land.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-24] · R–CA

Committees

Agriculture Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 27, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.
Jun 19, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Jun 19, 2012
Introduced in House
Jun 19, 2012
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 19, 2012 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 24, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5965 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5965, 112th Congress: To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5965

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr5965/BILLS-112hr5965ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-24T18:06:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5965 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5965 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5965, 112th Congress: To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5965

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr5965/BILLS-112hr5965ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-24T18:06:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5965 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5965 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5965, 112th Congress: To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5965

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr5965/BILLS-112hr5965ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-24T18:06:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5965 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5965 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5965, 112th Congress: To require the Chief of the Forest Service to make the Forest Service First and Second Generation Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) units available to units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve that have the aircraft capability and pilot and crew member training adequate for utilizing such firefighting systems to help alleviate the shortage of air tankers to fight wildfires.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5965

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr5965/BILLS-112hr5965ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-24T18:06:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5965 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.