[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2502 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2502

To establish in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol the position 
of Director of Fire Safety and Protection to assume responsibility for 
fire safety and protection activities of the Architect of the Capitol, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 3, 2000

 Mr. Sarbanes (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol the position 
of Director of Fire Safety and Protection to assume responsibility for 
fire safety and protection activities of the Architect of the Capitol, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``United States Capitol Fire 
Protection Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) although progress has been made in recent years, the 
        Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, and Library of 
        Congress still do not provide staff and visitors with the fire 
        safety and protection they deserve;
            (2) the Architect of the Capitol must place great emphasis 
        on the need to ensure that these and other properties 
        administered by the Architect, and individuals who visit or 
        work in these properties, enjoy the maximum protection that 
        modern technology and human diligence can provide against fire 
        and related threats to life and property; and
            (3)(A) properties and structures of the United States 
        Capitol Complex are of historical and architectural 
        significance and are an essential public and national resource; 
        and
            (B) it is necessary and essential that such properties and 
        structures be preserved and rehabilitated in such a manner as 
        to retain their historical and architectural significance.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish the 
position of the Director of Fire Safety and Protection to assist the 
Architect of the Capitol in meeting the Architect's responsibilities 
for fire safety and protection so that the properties of the United 
States Capitol Complex will be protected from fire and serve as a safe 
environment for those who work or visit there.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF FIRE SAFETY AND 
              PROTECTION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Office of the 
Architect of the Capitol the position of Director of Fire Safety and 
Protection.
    (b) Appointment and Compensation.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Director of Fire Safety and 
        Protection shall be appointed by the Architect of the Capitol 
        from among individuals with the knowledge, skills, and 
        abilities necessary to carry out the duties described in this 
        Act.
            (2) Compensation.--The Architect of the Capitol shall fix 
        the rate of basic pay and benefits for the Director of Fire 
        Safety and Protection as the Architect considers appropriate, 
        except that such rate and benefits may not be less than the 
        rate of pay and benefits for the Director of Engineering under 
        the Architect of the Capitol.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--Working under the direction and control of 
        the Architect of the Capitol and reporting directly to the 
        Architect, the Director of Fire Safety and Protection shall--
                    (A) be responsible for all fire safety and 
                protection activities of the Architect of the Capitol;
                    (B) ensure that Architect properties meet the 
                applicable codes and standards established by the 
                National Fire Protection Association, except that the 
                Architect may modify the application of such codes to 
                the properties to take into account the historic and 
                architecturally significant features of such properties 
                so long as a reasonable degree of safety and protection 
                is maintained; and
                    (C) carry out the duties specified in paragraph 
                (2).
            (2) Duties specified.--The duties specified in this 
        paragraph are as follows:
                    (A) The routine periodic testing and maintenance of 
                all fire alarm, fire suppression, and fire protection 
                systems in all Architect properties.
                    (B) The conduct of comprehensive inspections and 
                risk assessments on a regular basis (but not less 
                frequently than once each year) of all Architect 
                properties to identify conditions which constitute fire 
                hazards and develop plans for the prompt abatement of 
                such conditions, in accordance with the requirements 
                specified under paragraph (1)(B).
                    (C) The development and implementation of programs 
                to train employees of the Architect of the Capitol and 
                others in--
                            (i) the proper use and maintenance of fire 
                        alarm, fire suppression, and fire protection 
                        systems; and
                            (ii) the proper use and storage of 
                        hazardous chemicals and materials.
                    (D) The identification of structural changes and 
                repairs which may be necessary to assure maximum fire 
                protection and safety in Architect properties, and the 
                development of comprehensive plans to carry out such 
                changes.
                    (E) The preparation of semiannual reports on the 
                efforts made by the Director to carry out the duties 
                required under this subsection.
                    (F) Consultation with experts in fire safety and 
                protection regarding the modification of codes and 
                standards carried out under paragraph (1)(B) and such 
                other matters relating to the Director's duties as the 
                Director considers appropriate.
                    (G) Any other steps as may be reasonably necessary 
                to protect Architect properties from fire and provide a 
                safe environment for employees and visitors.

SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ARCHITECT.

    (a) In General.--The Architect of the Capitol shall provide the 
Director of Fire Safety and Protection with such staff and other 
resources as the Director may reasonably require to carry out duties 
under this Act, except that the Architect of the Capitol shall assign 
not fewer than 12 full-time equivalent employees to the Director for 
carrying out such duties.
    (b) Budget Request.--Beginning with fiscal year 2002, the Architect 
of the Capitol shall include in the budget request for the Architect 
for each fiscal year a separate statement of the total amount to be 
used to carry out the duties of the Director of Fire Safety and 
Protection in that fiscal year.
    (c) Submission of Reports.--The Architect shall submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and 
Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of the Senate the semiannual reports prepared by the 
Director of Fire Safety and Protection under section 3(c)(2)(E).

SEC. 5. ARCHITECT PROPERTIES DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``Architect properties'' means any properties 
under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, including the 
Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, the Library of Congress, 
the United States Botanic Garden, and the Capitol Power Plant.
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