[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1753-H1757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FIRE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1272) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1998
and 1999 for the United States Fire Administration, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1272
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 ``Fire Administration
Authorization Act of 1997''.
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 (E);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F)
and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon; and
[[Page H1754]]
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(G) $29,600,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1998; and
``(H) $30,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1999.''.
SEC. 3. SUCCESSOR FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is
amended--
(1) in section 29(a)(1), by inserting ``, or any successor
standard thereto,'' after ``Association Standard 74'';
(2) in section 29(a)(2), by inserting ``or any successor
standards thereto,'' after ``whichever is appropriate,'';
(3) in section 29(b)(2), by inserting ``, or any successor
standards thereto'' after ``Association Standard 13 or 13-
R'';
(4) in section 31(c)(2)(B)(i), by inserting ``or any
successor standard thereto,'' after ``Life Safety Code),'';
and
(5) in section 31(c)(2)(B)(ii), by inserting ``or any
successor standard thereto,'' after ``Association Standard
101,''.
SEC. 4. TERMINATION OR PRIVATIZATION OF FUNCTIONS.
The Administrator of the United States Fire Administration
shall transmit to Congress a report providing notice at least
60 days in advance of the termination or transfer to a
private sector entity of any significant function of the
United States Fire Administration.
SEC. 5. LIMITATIONS.
(a) Prohibition of Lobbying Activities.--None of the funds
authorized by the amendments made by this Act shall be
available for any activity whose purpose is to influence
legislation pending before the Congress, except that this
subsection shall not prevent officers or employees of the
United States or of its departments or agencies from
communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any
Member or to Congress, through the proper channels, requests
for legislation or appropriations which they deem necessary
for the efficient conduct of the public business.
(b) Limitation on Appropriations.--No sums are authorized
to be appropriated to the Administrator of the United States
Fire Administration for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for the
activities for which sums are authorized by the amendments
made by this Act, unless such sums are specifically
authorized to be appropriated by the amendments made by this
Act.
(c) Eligibility for Awards.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States
Fire Administration shall exclude from consideration for
grant agreements made by the Administration after fiscal year
1997 any person who received funds, other than those
described in paragraph (2), appropriated for a fiscal year
after fiscal year 1997, under a grant agreement from any
Federal funding source for a project that was not subjected
to a competitive, merit-based award process. Any exclusion
from consideration pursuant to this subsection shall be
effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives
such Federal funds.
(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the
receipt of Federal funds by a person due to the membership of
that person in a class specified by law for which assistance
is awarded to members of the class according to a formula
provided by law.
(3) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term
``grant agreement'' means a legal instrument whose principal
purpose is to transfer a thing of value to the recipient to
carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation
authorized by a law of the United States, and does not
include the acquisition (by purchase, lease, or barter) of
property or services for the direct benefit or use of the
United States Government. Such term does not include a
cooperative agreement (as such term is used in section 6305
of title 31, United States Code) or a cooperative research
and development agreement (as such term is defined in section
12(d)(1) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(d)(1))).
SEC. 6. NOTICE.
(a) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds authorized by
the amendments made by this Act are subject to a
reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to
the Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, notice of such action shall concurrently be
provided to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
(b) Notice of Reorganization.--The Administrator of the
United States Fire Administration shall provide notice to the
Committees on Science and Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate, not later
than 15 days before any major reorganization of any program,
project, or activity of the United States Fire
Administration.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.
With the year 2000 fast approaching, it is the sense of
Congress that the United States Fire Administration should--
(1) give high priority to correcting all 2-digit date-
related problems in its computer systems to ensure that those
systems continue to operate effectively in the year 2000 and
beyond;
(2) access immediately the extent of the risk to the
operations of the United States Fire Administration posed by
the problems referred to in paragraph (1), and plan and
budget for achieving Year 2000 compliance for all of its
mission-critical systems; and
(3) develop contingency plans for those systems that the
United States Fire Administration is unable to correct in
time.
SEC. 8. BUY AMERICAN.
(a) Compliance With Buy American Act.--No funds
appropriated pursuant to the amendments made by this Act may
be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in
expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections
2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c,
popularly known as the ``Buy American Act'').
(b) Sense of Congress.--In the case of any equipment or
products that may be authorized to be purchased with
financial assistance provided under the amendments made by
this Act, it is the sense of Congress that entities receiving
such assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase
only American-made equipment and products.
(c) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.--In providing
financial assistance under the amendments made by this Act,
the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration
shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice
describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the
Congress.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner] and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr.
Barcia] each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr.
Sensenbrenner].
{time} 1900
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. SENSENBRENNER asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1272, the Fire Administration
Authorization Act of 1977.
Mr. Speaker, this bill, as amended, was reported favorably by voice
vote with overwhelming bipartisan support by the Committee on Science
on April 16, 1997.
H.R. 1272 reauthorizes the programs and activities of the U.S. Fire
Administration, a small but important Federal agency within the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. The USFA was created by Congress in 1974
in response to a report by the President's National Commission on Fire
Prevention and Control, entitled ``America Burning,'' which presented a
dismal assessment of the Nation's fire problem. The report found that
nearly 12,000 lives were lost to fire yearly in this country. In
addition, fire was found to be responsible for more than 300,000
injuries and over $3 million in economic losses.
Congress reacted to the report by declaring a Federal role for
reducing fire losses and created the USFA and the National Fire
Academy. The USFA is currently charged with helping prevent and control
fire-related losses through, first, coordination of the Nation's fire
safety and emergency medical service activities; second, educating the
public on fire prevention and control; third, collecting, analyzing and
disseminating data related to fire; fourth, promoting the use of
sprinkler systems in residential and commercial buildings; fifth,
conducting research and development on fire suppression; sixth,
promoting fire fighter health and safety; and seventh, coordinating
with other agencies charged with emergency response responsibilities.
The USFA administers the National Fire Academy. The academy provides
management-level training and education to fire and emergency service
personnel and fire protection and control activities. The Fire Academy,
located in Emmitsburg, MD, trains tens of thousands of fire and
emergency personnel a year through its on and off campus programs.
Year after year during budget hearings held by the committee,
witnesses from the volunteer and paid fire services, as well as
emergency services, have testified to the important and indispensable
role the USFA and NFA pay and their ability to perform their
responsibilities. For a modest Federal expenditure, the USFA leverages
the resources of tens of thousands of fire departments nationwide. The
USFA provides training and education to firefighters, provides them
with data which enables them to fight fires more efficiently and
safely, and performs research on lifesaving protective clothing and
gear as well as new fire suppression technologies. All of these
activities could not be done as well, if at
[[Page H1755]]
all, if the tight budgets of volunteer fire departments, without whom
the Nation would be incapable of protecting lives and property without
an enormous expenditure of money, money which I will hasten to say
would be raised through local property taxes.
H.R. 1272 authorizes $29.6 million in fiscal year 1998 and $34.5
million in fiscal year 1999, a 3 percent annual increase over the
administration's request of $28.7 million. The USFA needs the slight
increase because the agency recently acquired a new mission.
The USFA's new mission, counter terrorism training for emergency
response personnel, arose from the enactment of the Antiterrorism and
Effective Death Penalty Act passed last year by the Congress and signed
by the President. Counter terrorism training for first responders is an
appropriate function for the USFA as it is frequently local fire and
emergency departments who are first on the scene not only to battle
fires, but also to react to acts of terrorism such as the bombings in
Oklahoma City and the World Trade Center in New York. In fact, counter
terrorism training complements and supplements many of the traditional
first responder training programs currently offered through the
National Fire Academy.
Following enactment of the Antiterrorism Act, money was appropriated
to FEMA and the USFA in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1997 to begin
counter terrorism training this year. The USFA's fiscal 1998 budget
request includes for the first time an appropriation for this activity,
without a corresponding increase in the overall budget request. During
the committee's budget hearing on USFA, the administrator explained
that request reflects the incorporation of counter terrorism training
as a new, permanent mission of the agency and that the arson budget
would be decreased in order to fund this mission.
As I have stated before, counter terrorism training is relevant and
appropriately performed within the USFA. However, the Committee on
Science feels that a slight increase in the budget is necessary in
order to accommodate the new mission, while ensuring that the agency's
core missions, including arson, are not negatively impacted.
The other sections of H.R. 1272 include: first, technical changes to
the fire protection standards; second, a provision requiring that the
administrator inform Congress in advance of any effort to privatize or
terminate agency activities; third, a prohibition of funds authorized
by this act for congressional lobbying; fourth, a limitation on
unauthorized appropriations; fifth, a 5-year limitation on future
grants to a person who received noncompetitive, merit-reviewed awards;
sixth, a requirement that reprograming notices be required by the
Appropriations Committees must be provided to the authorizing
committees; and seventh, a sense of Congress resolution emphasizing
that planning should begin immediately to assess and correct any
computer systems affected by the year 2000 date-related software
problem and requires the USFA to comply with the Buy American Act.
I understand that there is some confusion among Members about this
bill based upon erroneous information that many offices received
regarding the bill's authorization levels compared with fiscal year
1997 spending. The original appropriation to USFA for fiscal 1997 was
$27.6 million. However, late last year Congress appropriated an
additional $2.5 million to USFA for a new mission in counter terrorism
training, which raised the spending level to 30.1 million in fiscal
year 1997. This was in response to a supplemental request by the
administration for funds authorized in the antiterrorism and effective
death penalty act of 1996.
Let me be clear that the authorization levels in this bill of 29.6
million for fiscal 1998 and $30.5 million for fiscal 1999 are lower
than the fiscal 1997 appropriated final level of $30.1 million.
Mr. Speaker, in closing I wish to thank the chairman, the gentleman
from New Mexico [Mr. Schiff], and the ranking minority member, the
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Barcia], of the Subcommittee on Basic
Research of the Committee on Science for their hard work on this
legislation as well as the full committee's ranking member, the
gentleman from California [Mr. Brown]. I urge the Houses's support of
this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1272, the Fire
Administration Authorization Act of 1997. I want to commend the
gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Schiff], the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Basic Research, for his efforts to develop this
legislation. I also want to especially acknowledge the leadership of
the chairman of the Committee on Science, the gentleman from Wisconsin
[Mr. Sensenbrenner] and the ranking Democratic member, the gentleman
from California [Mr. Brown] for bringing the bill before the House so
expeditiously.
The U.S. Fire Administration is a small Federal agency with a
disproportionate impact. Its programs make a difference by improving
the skills of firefighters and other emergency rescue workers in all
parts of the Nation, improving the tools available to detect and subdue
fires and by raising public awareness of fire prevention measures.
Although the Federal expenditure for the agency is small, its impact on
the well-being of all Americans is enormous.
The Fire Administration was created by the Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 in response to a growing awareness that the
high loss of life and destruction of property due to fire was a
national problem which could be improved by focused and coordinated
education, training and research efforts. During the past 25 years,
significant progress has been made through the programs of the Fire
Administration which increases public awareness of fire safety
measures, improves the effectiveness of fire and emergency services and
spurs the wider use of home fire safety devices. Nevertheless the
United States still has one of the highest fire death rates among
advanced nations.
While much has been accomplished by the Fire Administration, the
record of fire death rates and property loss in our Nation reveals that
much remains to be done. H.R. 1272 authorizes funding for the Fire
Administration above the President's request for fiscal year 1998 and
provides sufficient growth to offset inflation for fiscal year 1999.
On the basis of testimony to the Science Committee, the Fire
Administration operates effective programs that are widely acclaimed by
firefighters and emergency response personnel alike. H.R. 1272 provides
the slight growth needed to allow the agency to sustain its new and
ongoing programs and continue to successfully carry out its multiple
missions.
In particular, the increase above the fiscal year 1998 request is for
the purpose of providing sufficient resources to allow the Fire
Administration to continue its important new education and training
programs for counter terrorism, which have been expressed so eloquently
by the chair of the Science Committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin
[Mr. Sensenbrenner] in his remarks.
With our world becoming no less dangerous, it is vital that the first
responders to emergencies in every community are well-trained and ready
to deal with terrorist actions. In giving the Fire Administration this
important, new responsibility, it is essential to also provide
sufficient resources to ensure that the agency's traditional functions
involving firefighter training and public fire education do not suffer.
H.R. 1272 provides the modest growth that will prevent such an adverse
impact on the agency.
The Fire Administration has long enjoyed the bipartisan support of
Congress because of the recognition of its vital mission to increase
public safety. I would like to commend the majority members of the
Science Committee for working in a bipartisan fashion with the minority
to develop H.R. 1272.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1272 is a good bill which authorizes the programs
of an agency that truly contributes to the well-being of all of our
citizens; and I am pleased to recommend the measure to my colleagues
for their approval.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Texas [Ms. Jackson Lee].
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member
[[Page H1756]]
for yielding me the time, and I thank very much the chairman and the
ranking member for this bipartisan effort on behalf of the Fire
Administration Authorization Act.
If there was a pleasurable act in the House Science Committee,
certainly, being able to support this agency and all that it does was
that. I would also like to stand today to salute all of the Nation's
firefighters and emergency staff across the Nation, for it is through
their sacrifice and effort that we are, in fact, a safer country.
In 1974, Congress created the U.S. Fire Administration and its
National Fire Academy in order to halt the tragic loss of firefighters
and individuals in the United States. Training, research, and public
education have accounted for the success of the U.S. Fire
Administration's commitment to reduce the loss of life.
There is no doubt that the people of America in our communities are
safer as a result of the USFA. Every man, woman, and child in America
benefits from its efforts, as do the Nation's 1.2 million fire servers,
emergency medical servers, and emergency response personnel.
Emergencies will continue to occur. How we react to emergencies
depends on the readiness of those that are dispatched to respond to our
most critical emergency situations. We must be prepared to handle the
critical situations that inevitably will arise.
The United States does have one of the highest fire death rates in
the industrialized world. We are obviously working hard to bring that
number down. More Americans die in fires each year than in all the
natural disasters combined. With this agency, however, we feel
comfortable that we are working steadfastly to stem that tide.
For example, approximately 4,500 deaths and 30,000 civilian injuries
occur annually. Eighty percent of all civilian deaths occur in the
home. Approximately 2 million fires are reported each year, with the
direct property loss of about $8.5 billion per year, with the cost to
taxpayers of about $50 billion a year.
{time} 1915
One of the missions of the USFA is leadership coordination and
support for the Nation's fire prevention and control, fire training and
education and emergency medical services activities. This mission is
carried out through programs directed at reducing injuries and loss of
life and property resulting from fire.
Certainly our heart goes out to those citizens in North Dakota
suffering from the flood and then the absolute irony of seeing their
buildings burned down. Certainly this is an aspect of firefighting that
many of us never thought we would have to confront, but this agency has
the ability to try and solve those particular problems.
The USFA promotes firefighter health and safety and initiates
research into and conducts special studies to improve fire prevention
and protection. USFA's national fire incidents reporting system
collects, analyzes and disseminates data to assist State and local
governments in reducing fire losses.
In NFA classrooms there are individuals who are trained to save
lives, not only from terrorist attacks, but also from natural disasters
and hazardous materials disasters.
It is important to know exactly what we are funding. Particularly,
the activities of the National Fire Academy and those courses include
training individuals on command and control of fire department
operations in multialarm incidences, something very important for our
urban areas and even in our smaller communities. It also assists, if
you will, in fighting the overall world threat of terrorism. Terrorism
is a worldwide threat that waits until the most vulnerable moment to
shatter the lives and dreams of families and individuals. One terrorist
attack affects hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals. The ability
to swiftly mitigate the damages of terrorism must be firmly and solidly
in place. We do not know where the next terrorist attack will take
place, but fire departments across this country must be ready and able
to respond if called upon.
The National Fire Academy trains students from all across the United
States. I am very proud that in Houston a total of 29 firefighting
students attended classes at the Emergency Management Institute and the
National Fire Academy during the fiscal year 1996. The United States
must have as its priority to bring down the terrible loss of life and
property damage as it relates to fire. This supportive legislation will
help us do that in the years to come.
Again, I am gratified for the bipartisan effort. My thanks to the
chairperson and ranking member.
Finally, we must remember we do not know where the next fire
emergency will occur, but we must be prepared to combat it and handle
it effectively. The efforts of the U.S. Fire Administration allows us
to accomplish this task. I rise in support of this legislation.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in 1974, Congress created the
U.S. Fire Administration [USFA] and its National Fire Academy [NFA] in
order to halt the tragic loss of firefighters and individuals in the
United States. Training, research, and public education have accounted
for the success of the U.S. Fire Administration's commitment to reduce
the loss of life.
There is no doubt that the people of America and our communities are
safer as a result of the USFA. Every man, woman, and child in America
benefits from its efforts, as do the Nation's 1.2 million fire service,
emergency medical service, and emergency response personnel.
Emergencies will continue to occur. How we react to emergencies
depends on the readiness of those who are dispatched to respond to our
most critical emergency situations. We must be prepared to handle the
critical situations that inevitably arise.
The United States has one of the highest fire death rates in the
industrialized world. According to the USFA, more Americans die in
fires each year than in all the natural disasters combined.
Approximately 4,500 deaths and 30,000 civilian injuries occur
annually. Eighty percent of all civilian deaths occur in the home.
Approximately 2 million fires are reported each year with a direct
property loss of about $8.5 billion per year with a cost to taxpayers
of about $50 billion per year.
According to the USFA, its mission is to provide leadership,
coordination, and support for the Nation's fire prevention and control,
fire training and education, and emergency medical services activities.
The mission is carried out through programs directed at reducing
injuries and loss of life and property resulting from fire.
The USFA also is responsible for the development and delivery of
training programs to advance the professionalism of the fire service
and allied personnel. USFA assists State and local governmental efforts
to prevent and control fire-related incidents, arson, and enhance the
capability of the fire service to material incidents.
The USFA promotes firefighter health and safety and initiates
research into and conducts special studies to improve fire prevention
and protection. USFA's national fire incidents reporting system [NFIRS)
collects, analyzes, and disseminates data to assist State and local
governments in reducing fire losses.
The National Emergency Training Center [NETC] in Emmitsburg, MD, is a
107-acre campus which is shared by the Emergency Management Institute
[EMI], the National Fire Academy, and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Through the courses and programs of the National Fire Academy, it
works to enhance the ability of the fire service and allied
professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related
emergencies. The Fire Academy trains approximately 4,000 students
through resident courses. An additional 3,500 students attend State
weekend programs which offer shorter, more intense courses on
designated weekends set aide for specific States.
More than 500 students attended regional delivery courses annually,
and off campus direct delivery courses reach 7,000 participants.
According to the National Fire Academy, its delivery system is
diverse. Teaching facilities include modern classrooms, residence
halls, and training facilities.
In NFA classrooms are individuals who are trained to save lives; not
only from terrorists attacks, but also from natural disasters and
hazardous materials disasters.
It is important to know exactly what we are funding. National Fire
Academy courses provide resident training in incident command and
include:
Command and control of fire department operations in multi-alarm
incidents;
Command and control of fire department operations at natural and
manmade disasters, which addresses fire and rescue department
operations at natural and manmade disasters that may require
interagency or interjurisdictional coordination. Earthquakes,
hurricanes, blizzards, civil disturbances, terrorism, hazardous
materials releases, tornadoes, and floods are a few of the topics that
are covered;
[[Page H1757]]
Command and control of fire department operations at target hazards,
which is designed to introduce command officers to the complexities
involved in commanding incidents at high risk areas;
Incident command system for emergency medical services, where
students use scenarios, case studies, graphics, audiovisual, and role
playing in order to demonstrate an understanding of the concept;
Basic life support and hazardous materials response, which emphasize
critical concerns for emergency medical responders at hazardous
materials incidents;
Initial response to hazardous materials incidents: basic concepts
which gives students an understanding of the basic concepts and
techniques of hazardous materials first response;
Fire service communication, which focuses on verbal and written
communication skills for fire service managers;
Terrorism is a worldwide threat that waits until the most vulnerable
moment to shatter the lives and dreams of families and individuals. One
terrorist attack effects hundreds if not thousands of individuals. The
ability to swiftly mitigate the damages of terrorism must be firmly and
solidly in place.
We do not know where the next terrorist attack will take place. But
fire departments across this country must be ready and able to respond
if called upon. Fire response teams in Texas must be as quickly able to
rapidly combat terrorist attacks as fire response teams in New York.
Each must possess the same cutting edge training that will allow them
to protect the lives and property of the American people.
The National Fire Academy trains students from all across the United
States. In Houston, a total of 29 firefighting students attended
classes at the Emergency Management Institute and the National Fire
Academy during fiscal year 1996.
The priorities of the U.S. Fire Administration include public
education and fire safety in order to reduce fire deaths, injuries, and
property losses; assist State and local government efforts to prevent
and control for related incidents, especially arson; and develop
programs to encourage State and local fire and EMS service delivery
organizations to coordinate and cooperate with State and local
emergency management agencies.
The USFA also participates in research and technology initiatives to
enhance the capability of the fire service to respond to all types of
emergencies, including emergency medical and hazardous materials
incidents; to promote the health, safety, and efficiency of
firefighters; and to initiate research and evaluation procedures to
improve fire prevention and protection.
We do not know where the next fire emergency will occur. But we must
be prepared to combat it and handle it effectively. The efforts of the
U.S. Fire Administration allows us to accomplish this task.
Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time
to just briefly thank the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Barcia], and the
gentleman from California [Mr. Brown], and all of the members of the
Committee on Science for working hard to expedite in a bipartisan
manner this very important bill.
Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1272, the
Fire Administration Authorization Act of 1997. This important
legislation is the product of a truly bipartisan effort to adequately
fund a small Federal agency whose impact can be felt nationwide, every
day.
Mr. Speaker, the United States Fire Administration [USFA] was created
in 1974 in order to help reverse a very disconcerting trend of
increasing deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by fires. Since
its establishment, the USFA has assisted our nation's first responders
in reducing fire losses. The USFA, charged with coordinating the
nation's fire fighting efforts, funds programs in public education in
fire prevention and control, firefighter health and safety, research
and technology, and data gathering and analysis. In addition, the USFA
administers the National Fire Academy [NFA] in Emmitsburg, MD through
which tens of thousands of firefighters annually receive management
level education and training.
During the hearing which I chaired in the Basic Research Subcommittee
of the Committee on Science earlier this year, witnesses from the
volunteer and paid fire fighting communities testified as to the
importance of the USFA and NFA to their efforts. These programs
leverage the modest resources available to local fire departments.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1272 provides a 3 percent annual increase in the
USFA's FY 1998 and 1999 budgets. This increase is necessary in order to
fund a new mission undertaken by the agency in counter terrorism
training for emergency first responders, without negatively impacting
USFA's traditional missions. The new mission is complementary to the
training programs currently run by USFA, and I fully support this
effort. Unfortunately, our nation must deal with the reality that
terrorism has reached our borders. Because it will be local fire and
emergency service personnel who are first on the scene at these
horrible events, as was the case in Oklahoma City, it makes sense for
USFA to integrate counter terrorism training with their other training
programs.
Mr. Speaker, before I close I think it is important to mention that,
as we consider H.R. 1272, the first in a series of bills reported by
the House Science Committee, this week is National Science & Technology
Week. National Science and Technology Week is an informal and public
education outreach program of the National Science Foundation,
dedicated to expanding participation by all Americans in the fields of
science, technology and engineering. Since its inception in 1985,
National Science & Technology Week has gradually expanded in scope and
impact, involving millions of Americans in national and local events.
As part of this celebration of innovation and intellect in my home
state of New Mexico, the Space Center in Alamogordo, provides training
workshops for teachers and planning interactive, hands-on science
events. The programs are resourceful in assisting in the distribution
of education materials, which are issued annually, both in English and
Spanish. These packets assist both formal and informal educators and
parents in engaging children in innovative, hands-on learning
activities geared to science, mathematics and technology.
I encourage the House and Senate to strongly support this outreach
program, recognizing the importance of involving all people in the
awareness that science, engineering and technology are important in our
lives today and crucial to our progress tomorrow. I hope you will join
me in celebrating National Science and Technology Week.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner, Mr. Brown, and
Mr. Barcia for all of their hard work in getting this legislation to
the floor today. I support this bill and ask the House for its
expeditious enactment.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). The question is on the motion
offered by gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Sensenbrenner] that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1272, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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