---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1856a–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1856a–1"
heading: "Authority to enter into contracts with State and local governmental entities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1856a-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 15A — Reciprocal Fire Protection Agreements"
  - "Subchapter I — Protection of United States Property"
---

# §1856a–1. Authority to enter into contracts with State and local governmental entities


Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Interior, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Agriculture, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Energy, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Army, and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the Smithsonian Institution are authorized to enter into contracts with [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) and local governmental entities, including local fire districts, for procurement of services in the presuppression, detection, and suppression of fires on any units within their jurisdiction.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–154, title III, § 309, Nov. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1034; Pub. L. 110–114, title II, § 2012, Nov. 8, 2007, 121 Stat. 1075.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992, and not as part of act May 27, 1955, which comprises this subchapter.

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in the following prior appropriation act: Pub. L. 101–512, title III, § 310, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1959.

### Amendments

2007—Pub. L. 110–114 inserted “the Secretary of the Army,” after “the Secretary of Energy,”.