[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1550 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                      October 18 (legislative day, September 22), 2000.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
1550) entitled ``An Act to authorize appropriations for the United 
States Fire Administration for fiscal years 2000 and 2001, and for 
other purposes.'', do pass with the following

                               AMENDMENT:

            Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fire Administration Authorization 
Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (G);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H) 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(I) $44,753,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which 
                $3,000,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may 
                be used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities 
                for data analysis, including general fire profiles and 
                special fire analyses and report projects, and of which 
                $6,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including 
                associated curriculum development, for fire and 
                emergency services personnel;
                    ``(J) $47,800,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which 
                $3,250,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may 
                be used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities 
                for data analysis, including general fire profiles and 
                special fire analyses and report projects, and of which 
                $7,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including 
                associated curriculum development, for fire and 
                emergency services personnel; and
                    ``(K) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which 
                $3,500,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may 
                be used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities 
                for data analysis, including general fire profiles and 
                special fire analyses and report projects, and of which 
                $8,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including 
                associated curriculum development, for fire and 
                emergency services personnel.''.
None of the funds authorized for fiscal year 2002 may be obligated 
unless the Administrator has verified to the Committee on Science of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate that the obligation of funds is 
consistent with the strategic plan transmitted under section 302 of 
this Act.''.

SEC. 3. STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than April 30, 2001, the Administrator 
of the United States Fire Administration shall prepare and transmit to 
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 5-
year strategic plan of program activities for the United States Fire 
Administration.
    (b) Contents of Plan.--The plan required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a comprehensive mission statement covering the major 
        functions and operations of the United States Fire 
        Administration in the areas of training; research, development, 
        test and evaluation; new technology and non-developmental item 
        implementation; safety; counterterrorism; data collection and 
        analysis; and public education;
            (2) general goals and objectives, including those related 
        to outcomes, for the major functions and operations of the 
        United States Fire Administration;
            (3) a description of how the goals and objectives 
        identified under paragraph (2) are to be achieved, including 
        operational processes, skills and technology, and the human, 
        capital, information, and other resources required to meet 
        those goals and objectives;
            (4) an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of, 
        opportunities for, and threats to the United States Fire 
        Administration;
            (5) an identification of the fire-related activities of the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department 
        of Defense, and other Federal agencies, and a discussion of how 
        those activities can be coordinated with and contribute to the 
        achievement of the goals and objectives identified under 
        paragraph (2);
            (6) a description of objective, quantifiable performance 
        goals needed to define the level of performance achieved by 
        program activities in training, research, data collection and 
        analysis, and public education, and how these performance goals 
        relate to the general goals and objectives in the strategic 
        plan;
            (7) an identification of key factors external to the United 
        States Fire Administration and beyond its control that could 
        affect significantly the achievement of the general goals and 
        objectives;
            (8) a description of program evaluations used in 
        establishing or revising general goals and objectives, with a 
        schedule for future program evaluations;
            (9) a plan for the timely distribution of information and 
        educational materials to State and local firefighting services, 
        including volunteer, career, and combination services 
        throughout the United States;
            (10) a description of how the strategic plan prepared under 
        this section will be incorporated into the strategic plan and 
        the performance plans and reports of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency;
            (11)(A) a description of the current and planned use of the 
        Internet for the delivery of training courses by the National 
        Fire Academy, including a listing of the types of courses and a 
        description of each course's provisions for real time 
        interaction between instructor and students, the number of 
        students enrolled, and the geographic distribution of students, 
        for the most recent fiscal year;
            (B) an assessment of the availability and actual use by the 
        National Fire Academy of Federal facilities suitable for 
        distance education applications, including facilities with 
        teleconferencing capabilities; and
            (C) an assessment of the benefits and problems associated 
        with delivery of instructional courses using the Internet, 
        including limitations due to network bandwidth at training 
        sites, the availability of suitable course materials, and the 
        effectiveness of such courses in terms of student performance;
            (12) timeline for implementing the plan; and
            (13) the expected costs for implementing the plan.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH AGENDA.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Fire 
Administration, in consultation with the Director of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, representatives of trade, professional, and 
non-profit associations, State and local firefighting services, and 
other appropriate entities, shall prepare and transmit to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing 
the United States Fire Administration's research agenda and including a 
plan for implementing that agenda.
    (b) Contents of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) 
shall--
            (1) identify research priorities;
            (2) describe how the proposed research agenda will be 
        coordinated and integrated with the programs and capabilities 
        of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
        Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies;
            (3) identify potential roles of academic, trade, 
        professional, and non-profit associations, and other research 
        institutions in achieving the research agenda;
            (4) provide cost estimates, anticipated personnel needs, 
        and a schedule for completing the various elements of the 
        research agenda;
            (5) describe ways to leverage resources through 
        partnerships, cooperative agreements, and other means; and
            (6) discuss how the proposed research agenda will enhance 
        training, improve State and local firefighting services, impact 
        standards and codes, increase firefighter and public safety, 
        and advance firefighting techniques.
    (c) Use in Preparing Strategic Plan.--The research agenda prepared 
under this section shall be used in the preparation of the strategic 
plan required by section 302.

SEC. 5. SURPLUS AND EXCESS FEDERAL EQUIPMENT.

    The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 33. SURPLUS AND EXCESS FEDERAL EQUIPMENT.

    ``The Administrator shall make publicly available, including 
through the Internet, information on procedures for acquiring surplus 
and excess equipment or property that may be useful to State and local 
fire, emergency, and hazardous material handling service providers.''.

SEC. 6. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended by 
section 304, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 34. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    ``The Administrator shall make publicly available, including 
through the Internet, information on procedures for establishing 
cooperative agreements between State and local fire and emergency 
services and Federal facilities in their region relating to the 
provision of fire and emergency services.''.

SEC. 7. NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN COUNTERTERRORISM.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Fire 
Administration shall conduct an assessment of the need for additional 
capabilities for Federal counterterrorism training of emergency 
response personnel.
    (b) Contents of Assessment.--The assessment conducted under this 
section shall include--
            (1) a review of the counterterrorism training programs 
        offered by the United States Fire Administration and other 
        Federal agencies;
            (2) an estimate of the number and types of emergency 
        response personnel that have, during the period between January 
        1, 1994, and October 1, 1999, sought training described in 
        paragraph (1), but have been unable to receive that training as 
        a result of the oversubscription of the training capabilities; 
        and
            (3) a recommendation on the need to provide additional 
        Federal counterterrorism training centers, including--
                    (A) an analysis of existing Federal facilities that 
                could be used as counterterrorism training facilities; 
                and
                    (B) a cost-benefit analysis of the establishment of 
                such counterterrorism training facilities.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to 
the Congress a report on the results of the assessment conducted under 
this section.

SEC. 8. WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE FIRE SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    From the funds authorized to be appropriated by section 2, 
$1,000,000 may be expended for the Worcester Polytechnic Institute fire 
safety research program.

SEC. 9. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.

    Upon the conclusion of the research under a research grant or award 
of $50,000 made with funds authorized by this Act (or any Act amended 
by this Act), the Administrator of the United States Fire 
Administration shall make available through the Internet home page of 
the Administration a brief summary of the results and importance of 
such research grant or award. Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to require or permit the release of any information 
prohibited by law or regulation from being released to the public.

SEC. 10. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS.

    (a) 1974 Act.--
            (1) In general.--The Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
        Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (b) of section 10 (15 
                U.S.C. 2209) and redesignating subsection (c) of that 
                section as subsection (b);
                    (B) by striking sections 26 and 27 (15 U.S.C. 2222; 
                2223);
                    (C) by striking ``(a) The'' in section 24 (15 
                U.S.C. 2214) and inserting ``The''; and
                    (D) by striking subsection (b) of section 24.
            (2) References to secretary.--The Federal Fire Prevention 
        and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 2203)--
                            (i) by inserting ``and'' after the 
                        semicolon in paragraph (7);
                            (ii) by striking paragraph (8); and
                            (iii) by redesignating paragraph (9) as 
                        paragraph (8);
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) of section 15(a) (15 
                U.S.C. 2214(a)) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) the Director's Award For Distinguished Public Safety 
        Service (Director's Award'),'';
                    (C) by striking ``Secretary's Award'' each place it 
                appears in section 15 (15 U.S.C. 2214) after subsection 
                (a) and inserting ``Director's Award''; and
                    (D) by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears 
                in section 15 (15 U.S.C. 2214) after subsection (a), in 
                section 16(a) (15 U.S.C. 2215(a)), and in section 21(c) 
                (15 U.S.C. 2218(c)) and inserting ``Director''.
    (b) Department of Commerce.-- Section 12 of the Act of February 14, 
1903 (15 U.S.C. 1511) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and'' after ``Census;'' in paragraph 
        (5);
            (2) by striking paragraph (6); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6).

SEC. 11. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Fire 
Administration, in consultation with the Board of Visitors and 
representatives of trade and professional associations, State and local 
firefighting services, and other appropriate entities, shall conduct a 
review of the courses of instruction available at the National Fire 
Academy to ensure that they are up-to-date and complement, not 
duplicate, courses of instruction offered elsewhere. Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
prepare and submit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.
    (b) Contents of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) 
shall--
            (1) examine and assess the courses of instruction offered 
        by the National Fire Academy;
            (2) identify redundant and out-of-date courses of 
        instruction;
            (3) examine the current and future impact of information 
        technology on National Fire Academy curricula, methods of 
        instruction, and delivery of services; and
            (4) make recommendations for updating the curriculum, 
        methods of instruction, and delivery of services by the 
        National Fire Academy considering current and future needs, 
        State-based curricula, advances in information technologies, 
        and other relevant factors.

SEC. 12. REPEAL OF EXCEPTION TO FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENT.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 4 of Public Law 103-195 (107 Stat. 2298) is 
hereby repealed.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 13. NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Purposes.--Section 151302 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) primarily--
                    ``(A) to encourage, accept, and administer private 
                gifts of property for the benefit of the National 
                Fallen Firefighters' Memorial and the annual memorial 
                service associated with the memorial; and
                    ``(B) to, in coordination with the Federal 
                Government and fire services (as that term is defined 
                in section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
                Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203)), plan, direct, and manage 
                the memorial service referred to in subparagraph 
                (A);'';
            (2) by inserting ``and Federal'' in paragraph (2) after 
        ``non-Federal'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``State and local'' and inserting 
                ``Federal, State, and local''; and
                    (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
            (4) by striking ``firefights.'' in paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``firefighters;''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) to provide for a national program to assist families 
        of fallen firefighters and fire departments in dealing with 
        line-of-duty deaths of those firefighters; and
            ``(6) to promote national, State, and local initiatives to 
        increase public awareness of fire and life safety.''.
    (b) Board of Directors.--Section 151303 of title 36, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (f) and (g) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(f) Status and Compensation.--
            ``(1) Appointment to the board shall not constitute 
        employment by or the holding of an office of the United States.
            ``(2) Members of the board shall serve without 
        compensation.''; and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
    (c) Officers and Employees.--Section 151304 of title 36, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``not more than 2'' in subsection (a); and
            (2) by striking ``are not'' in subsection (b)(1) and 
        inserting ``shall not be considered''.
    (d) Support by the Administrator.--Section 151307(a)(1) of title 
36, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Administrator'' and inserting 
        ``During the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment 
        of the Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2000, the 
        Administrator''; and
            (2) by striking ``shall'' in subparagraph (B) and inserting 
        ``may''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
106th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 1550

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                               AMENDMENT

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