[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2606 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2606
To reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 7 (legislative day, February 6), 2008
Mr. Dodd (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Biden, and Mr. McCain)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, 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 Fire Administration
Reauthorization Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The number of lives lost each year because of fire has
dropped significantly over the last 25 years in the United
States. However, the United States still has one of the highest
fire death rates in the industrialized world. In 2005, the
National Fire Protection Association reported 3,675 civilian
fire deaths, 17,925 civilian fire injuries, and $10,672,000,000
in direct losses due to fire.
(2) Every year, more than 100 firefighters die in the line
of duty. The United States Fire Administration should continue
its leadership to help local fire agencies dramatically reduce
these fatalities.
(3) Members of the fire service community should continue
to work together to further the promotion of national voluntary
consensus standards that increase firefighter safety.
(4) The United States Fire Administration provides crucial
support to the 30,300 fire departments of the United States
through training, emergency incident data collection, fire
awareness and education, and support of research and
development activities for fire prevention, control, and
suppression technologies.
(5) The collection of data on fire and other emergency
incidents is a vital tool both for policy makers and emergency
responders to identify and develop responses to emerging
hazards. Improving the data collection capabilities of the
United States Fire Administration is essential for accurately
tracking and responding to the magnitude and nature of the fire
problems of the United States.
(6) The research and development performed by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, the United States Fire
Administration, other government agencies, and non-governmental
organizations on fire technologies, techniques, and tools
advance the capabilities of the fire service of the United
States to suppress and prevent fires.
(7) The United States Fire Administration is one of the
strongest voices representing the fire service of the United
States within the Federal Government, and, as such, it should
have a prominent place within the Department of Homeland
Security.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR UNITED STATES FIRE
ADMINISTRATION.
Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding after subparagraph (D) the following:
``(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which
$2,520,000 shall be used to carry out section 8;
``(F) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which
$2,595,600 shall be used to carry out section 8;
``(G) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which
$2,673,468 shall be used to carry out section 8; and
``(H) $76,490,890 for fiscal year 2012, of which
$2,753,672 shall be used to carry out section 8.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY TRAINING PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS AND
REPORTS.
(a) Amendments to Fire Academy Training.--Section 7(d)(1) of the
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1))
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``terrorist-caused
national catastrophes'' and inserting ``all hazards, including
acts of terrorism'';
(2) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``forest'' and
inserting ``wildland'';
(3) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``response tactics
and'' and inserting ``response, tactics, and'';
(4) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (N) as
subparagraphs (M) through (R), respectively; and
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
``(I) response, tactics, and strategies for
fighting large-scale fires or multiple fires in a
general area that cross jurisdictional boundaries;
``(J) response, tactics, and strategies for
fighting fires occurring at the wildland-urban
interface;
``(K) response, tactics, and strategies for
fighting fires involving hazardous materials;
``(L) advanced emergency medical services
training;''.
(b) Triennial Reports.--Section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2206) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Triennial Report.--In the first annual report filed pursuant
to section 16 for which the deadline for filing is after the expiration
of the 18-month period that begins on the date of the enactment of the
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008, and in
every third annual report thereafter, the Administrator shall include
information about changes made to the National Fire Academy curriculum,
including--
``(1) the basis for such changes, including a review of the
incorporation of lessons learned by emergency response
personnel after significant emergency events and emergency
preparedness exercises performed under the National Exercise
Program; and
``(2) the desired training outcome of all such changes.''.
(c) Authorizing the Administrator To Enter Into Contracts To
Provide On-Site Training Through Certain Accredited Organizations.--
Section 7(f) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2206) is amended to read as
follows:
``(f) Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator may provide assistance
to State and local fire service training programs through
grants, contracts, or otherwise.
``(2) Authorization to enter into contracts to provide on-
site training through certain accredited organizations.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the Administrator may enter into a
contract with nationally recognized organizations that
have established on-site training programs that comply
with national voluntary consensus standards for fire
service personnel to facilitate the delivery of the
education and training programs outlined in subsection
(d)(1) directly to fire service personnel.
``(B) Limitation.--The Administrator may not enter
into a contract with an organization described in
subparagraph (A) unless such organization--
``(i) operates a fire service training
program accredited by a nationally recognized
accreditation organization experienced with
accrediting such training; or
``(ii) at the time the Administrator enters
into the contract, provides training under such
a program under a cooperative agreement with a
Federal agency.
``(3) Restriction on use of funds.--The amounts expended by
the Administrator to carry out this subsection in any fiscal
year shall not exceed 8 per centum of the amount authorized to
be appropriated in such fiscal year pursuant to section 17 of
this Act.''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM UPGRADES.
(a) Incident Reporting System Database.--Section 9 of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2208) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(d) National Fire Incident Reporting System Update.--Of the
amounts made available pursuant to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of
section 17(g)(1), the Administrator shall use not more than an
aggregate amount of $5,000,000 during the 3-year period consisting of
fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011 to carry out activities necessary to
update the National Fire Incident Reporting system to an Internet-
based, real-time incident reporting database, including capital
investment, contractor engagement, and user education.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 9(b)(2) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
2208(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``assist State,'' and inserting
``assist Federal, State,''.
SEC. 6. FIRE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH DISSEMINATION.
(a) Assistance to Fire Services for Fire Prevention and Control in
Wildland-Urban Interface.--Section 8(d) of the Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207(d)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(d) Rural and Wildland-Urban Interface Assistance.--The
Administrator may, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture,
assist the fire services of the United States, directly or through
contracts, grants, or other forms of assistance, to sponsor and
encourage research into approaches, techniques, systems, equipment, and
land-use policies to improve fire prevention and control in--
``(1) the rural and remote areas of the United States; and
``(2) the wildland-urban interface.''.
(b) Technology Research Dissemination.--Section 8 of such Act (15
U.S.C. 2207) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Research Dissemination.--Beginning 1 year after the date of
the enactment of the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization
Act of 2008, the Administrator, in collaboration with the relevant
departments and agencies of the Federal Government, shall make
available to the public information about all ongoing and planned fire-
related research funded by the Administration during fiscal year 2008
and each fiscal year thereafter, as well as the results generated from
such research, through a regularly updated Internet-based database.''.
SEC. 7. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 37. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
``The Administrator shall promote adoption by fire services of
national voluntary consensus standards for firefighter health and
safety, including such standards for firefighter operations, training,
staffing, and fitness, by--
``(1) educating fire services about such standards;
``(2) encouraging the adoption at all levels of government
of such standards; and
``(3) making recommendations on other ways in which the
Federal government can promote the adoption of such standards
by fire services.''.
SEC. 8. STATE AND LOCAL FIRE SERVICE REPRESENTATION AT NATIONAL
OPERATIONS CENTER.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 22 the following:
``SEC. 23. STATE AND LOCAL FIRE SERVICE REPRESENTATION AT NATIONAL
OPERATIONS CENTER.
``(a) Establishment of Position.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall, in consultation with the Administrator, establish a
fire service position at the National Operations Center established
under section 515 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321d)
(also known as the `Homeland Security Operations Center') to represent
the interests of State and local fire services.
``(b) Designation of Position.--The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall designate, on a rotating basis, a State or local fire service
official for the position described in subsection (a).
``(c) Management.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall manage
the position established pursuant to subsection (a) in accordance with
such rules and regulations as govern other similar rotating positions
at the National Operations Center.''.
SEC. 9. COORDINATION REGARDING FIRE SERVICE-BASED EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES.
Section 21(e) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2218(e)) is amended to read as follows:
``(e) Coordination.--
``(1) In general.--To the extent practicable, the
Administrator shall use existing programs, data, information,
and facilities already available in other Federal Government
departments and agencies and, where appropriate, existing
research organizations, centers, and universities.
``(2) Coordination of fire prevention and control
programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at an
appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of the
activities of the Administrator with State and local government
agencies, departments, bureaus, or offices concerned with any
matter related to programs of fire prevention and control with
private and other Federal organizations and offices so
concerned.
``(3) Coordination of fire service-based emergency medical
services programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at
an appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of
the activities of the Administrator with State and local
government agencies, departments, bureaus, or offices concerned
with programs related to emergency medical services provided by
fire service-based systems with private and other Federal
organizations and offices so concerned.''.
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974
(15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Administration'' and
inserting ``Administration, who is the Assistant Administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and'';
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) as
paragraphs (7), (8), and (9), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) `hazardous material' has the meaning given such term
in section 5102 of title 49, United States Code;''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) `wildland-urban interface' has the meaning given
such term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).''.
<all>