[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 131 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10063-S10065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Hollings, and Mr. 
        Rockefeller):
  S. 1231. A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1998 and 
1999 for the United States Fire Administration, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


 the u.s. fire administration authorization for fiscal years 1998 and 
                                  1999

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the authorization bill 
for the U.S. Fire Administration for fiscal years 1998 and 1999. I 
would like to thank the cosponsors of this bill, Senator McCain, 
Senator Hollings, and Senator Rockefeller, for their hard work and 
dedication to making this bill a possibility.
  The mission of the U.S. Fire Administration is to enhance the 
Nation's fire prevention and control activities and thereby 
significantly reduce the Nation's loss of life from fire while also 
achieving a reduction in property loss and nonfatal injury due to fire.
  The bill, which authorizes the Fire Administration for $29.6 million 
in fiscal year 1998 and $30.5 million for fiscal year 1999, provides 
for collection, analysis, and dissemination of fire incidence and loss 
data; development and dissemination of public fire education materials; 
development and dissemination of better hazardous materials response 
information for first responders; and support for research and 
development for fire safety technologies.
  With this authorization, our local and State firefighters will 
continue to have assess to the training from the National Fire Academy 
necessary to allow them to better perform their jobs of saving lives 
and protecting property.
  Additionally, a number of amendments have been proposed to the 
legislation that established the National Fallen Firefighters 
Foundation. The Foundation was created by Congress in 1992 to assist 
their families. These proposed amendments offer some major changes to 
the structure of the Foundation. In order to allow for a more thorough 
evaluation of the issues surrounding these amendments, we plan to 
continue our review of these changes along with an examination of the 
Foundation's relationships with the U.S. Fire Administration and the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency next year.
  Therefore, I along with my cosponsors, urge the Members of this body 
to support this bill and allow the U.S. Fire Administration to continue 
the fine job it has been performing for so many years.
  I ask unanimous consent that the full text of this legislation be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1231

       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 Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 
     1999''.

     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 a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) $29,664,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1998; and
       ``(H) $30,554,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1999.''.

     SEC. 3. SUCCESSOR FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS.

       The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
     U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 29(a)(1), by inserting ``or any successor 
     standard to that standard'' after ``Association Standard 
     74'';
       (2) in section 29(a)(2), by inserting ``, or any successor 
     standard to that standard'' before ``, whichever is 
     appropriate,'';
       (3) in section 29(b)(2), by inserting ``, or any successor 
     standard to that standard'' after ``Association Standard 13 
     or 13-R'';
       (4) in section 31(c)(2)(B)(i), by inserting ``or any 
     successor standard to that standard'' after ``Life Safety 
     Code)''; and
       (5) in section 31(c)(2)(B)(ii), by inserting ``or any 
     successor standard to that standard'' after ``Association 
     Standard 101''.

     SEC. 4. TERMINATION OR PRIVATIZATION OF FUNCTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days before the 
     termination or transfer to a private sector person or entity 
     of any significant function of the United States Fire 
     Administration, as described in subsection (b), the 
     Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall 
     transmit to Congress a report providing notice of that 
     termination or transfer.
       (b) Covered Terminations and Transfers.--For purposes of 
     subsection (a), a termination or transfer to a person or 
     entity described in that subsection shall be considered to be 
     a termination or transfer of a significant function of the 
     United States Fire Administration if the termination or 
     transfer--
       (1) relates to a function of the Administration that 
     requires the expenditure of more than 5 percent of the total 
     amount of funds made available by appropriations to the 
     Administration; or
       (2) involves the termination of more than 5 percent of the 
     employees of the Administration.

     SEC. 5. NOTICE.

       (a) Major Reorganization Defined.--With respect to the 
     United States Fire Administration, the term ``major 
     reorganization'' means any reorganization of the 
     Administration that involves the reassignment of more than 25 
     percent of the employees of the Administration.
       (b) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds appropriated 
     pursuant to the amendments made by this Act are subject to a 
     reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to 
     the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives, notice of that action shall concurrently 
     be provided to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (c) Notice of Reorganization.--Not later than 15 days 
     before any major reorganization of any program, project, or 
     activity of the United States Fire Administration, 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.

     SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.

       With the year 2000 rapidly approaching, it is the sense of 
     Congress that the Administrator of the United States Fire 
     Administration should--
       (1) give high priority to correcting all 2-digit date-
     related problems in the computer systems of the United States 
     Fire Administration to ensure that those systems continue to 
     operate effectively in the year 2000 and in subsequent years;
       (2) as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, assess the extent of the risk to the operations of 
     the United

[[Page S10064]]

     States Fire Administration posed by the problems referred to 
     in paragraph (1), and plan and budget for achieving 
     compliance for all of the mission-critical systems of the 
     system by the year 2000; and
       (3) develop contingency plans for those systems that the 
     United States Fire Administration is unable to correct by the 
     year 2000.

     SEC. 7. ENHANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAMS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
       (2) Educationally useful federal equipment.--The term 
     ``educationally useful Federal equipment'' means computers 
     and related peripheral tools and research equipment that is 
     appropriate for use in schools.
       (3) School.--The term ``school'' means a public or private 
     educational institution that serves any of the grades of 
     kindergarten through grade 12.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--
       (1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
     Administrator should, to the greatest extent practicable and 
     in a manner consistent with applicable Federal law (including 
     Executive Order No. 12999), donate educationally useful 
     Federal equipment to schools in order to enhance the science 
     and mathematics programs of those schools.
       (2) Reports.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Administrator shall prepare and submit to the President a 
     report that meets the requirements of this paragraph. The 
     President shall submit that report to Congress at the same 
     time as the President submits a budget request to Congress 
     under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.
       (B) Contents of report.--The report prepared by the 
     Administrator under this paragraph shall describe any 
     donations of educationally useful Federal equipment to 
     schools made during the period covered by the report.

     SEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 
     Fire Administration (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Administrator'') shall prepare and submit to the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives a 
     report that meets the requirements of this section.
       (b) Contents of Report.--The report under this section 
     shall--
       (1) examine the risks to firefighters in suppressing fires 
     caused by burning tires;
       (2) address any risks that are uniquely attributable to 
     fires described in paragraph (1), including any risks 
     relating to--
       (A) exposure to toxic substances (as that term is defined 
     by the Administrator);
       (B) personal protection;
       (C) the duration of those fires; and
       (D) site hazards associated with those fires;
       (3) identify any special training that may be necessary for 
     firefighters to suppress those fires; and
       (4) assess how the training referred to in paragraph (3) 
     may be provided by the United States Fire Administration.

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise in support of Senator Frist's 
authorization bill for the U.S. Fire Administration for fiscal years 
1997 and 1998. I would also like to thank the additional cosponsors, 
Senator Hollings and Senator Rockefeller, for their support of this 
very important legislation.
  As chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, I 
am very pleased to see that the bill represents the bipartisan support 
that is so necessary to move this and other science and technology 
bills before the committee. It would be my hope that this bipartisan 
support would be continued for the many actions before this body, the 
U.S. Senate.
  The United States has one of the highest fire death rates in the 
industrialized world. Fires account for approximately 4,500 deaths and 
30,000 injuries annually. The extent of this problem covers all sectors 
of society and costs American taxpayers approximately $50 billion per 
year.
  With these huge losses, the work of the U.S. Fire Administration 
plays a key role in reducing these numbers. Their work with the 
firefighters, those who are on the front lines in fighting these 
problems, should be commended. Their efforts in collecting data and 
other relevant information play a key role in the prevention of future 
fires.
  The U.S. Fire Administration should continue to educate the public 
against the dangers of fire and how to safely protect ourselves and our 
property against such dangers.
  I, along with my cosponsors, urge the Members of this body to support 
this bill.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague, 
Senator Frist, in introducing legislation to reauthorize the programs 
of the U.S. Fire Administration [USFA].
  The United States currently has one of the worst fire records of any 
country in the industrial world. More than 2 million fires are reported 
in the United States every year. Annually, these fires result in 
approximately 4,500 deaths, 30,000 civilian injuries, more than $8 
billion in direct property losses, and more than $50 billion in costs 
to taxpayers. In my State of South Carolina, in 1995, the most recent 
year in which data are available, 12,776 fires were reported resulting 
in 12 deaths, 103 injuries, and over $40 million in property losses. 
Even more disheartening is the fact that over 80 percent of the annual 
deaths and injuries from fires occur in residential fires. In South 
Carolina, while only 3,196 of the fires were residential, those fires 
claimed 8 lives and caused 74 injuries.
  As terrible as these statistics are, they would reflect a far more 
tragic picture were it not for the USFA. The USFA was created under the 
1974 act, pursuant to the recommendation of the National Commission on 
Fire and Control. The USFA is a part of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, and its responsibilities are to administer programs, 
research, and applied engineering projects to assist State and local 
governments in fire prevention and control. The USFA works with State 
and local governments specifically to educate the public in fire safety 
and prevention, control arson, collect and analyze data related to 
fire, conduct research and development in fire suppression, promote 
firefighter health and safety, and conduct fire service training.
  The USFA assists our Nation's fire service which comprises of 
approximately 1.2 million members, 80 percent of whom are volunteers. 
The fire service is one of the most hazardous professions in the 
country. Firefighters not only confront daily the dangers of fire; they 
also are required to respond to other natural disasters, such as 
earthquakes, floods, medical emergencies, and hazardous materials 
spills. The USFA administers the National Fire Academy, which sponsors 
off-campus and on-campus training and management programs for members 
of the fire and rescue services, and allied professionals.
  The effort of the USFA is focused in four areas: First, public 
education and awareness and arson control; second, data collection and 
analysis; third, fire service training; and fourth, technology and 
research and firefighter health and safety.
  Through public education and awareness the USFA seeks to identify and 
educate the groups for whom fire presents the greatest menace. Efforts 
are focused to increase safety and reduce losses. For example, whether 
by accident or on purpose, children start over 100,000 fires per years. 
About 25 percent of the fires that kill young children are started by 
children playing with fire. The USFA through public-private 
partnerships had educated children with initiatives such as the 
``Sesame Street Fire Safety Activity Book for Preschoolers,'' National 
Safe Kids, and various guides for parents and teachers.
  Senior citizens are at the highest risk of being killed in a fire. 
The USFA has targeted this group through public service announcements 
with added focus on the importance of buying and maintaining 
residential smoke detectors.
  Arsonists are responsible for over 500,000 fires every year. Arson is 
the No. 1 cause of all fires. Even though it is the leading cause of 
fire, only 15 percent of arson cases result in arrests with juveniles 
accounting for 55 percent of arrests, and only 2 percent result in 
convictions. It is the second leading cause of fire deaths in 
residences and the leading cause of dollar loss due to fire. In 1994, 
the most recent year for which comprehensive data is available, the 
total number of arson fires in the United States was estimated at 
548,500--accounting for an estimated 560 fire deaths, 3,440 fire 
injuries, and $3.6 billion in property damage.
  Of greater concern are investigators reports that more people are 
choosing to use fire as a weapon. According to the USFA's ``Arson in 
the United

[[Page S10065]]

States'' report, ``Investigators are becoming more aware of Molotov 
cocktails and pipe bombs being used as incendiary devices. Fires caused 
by explosives or motivated by spite and revenge tend to be more deadly 
because they often target residential structures, in keeping with the 
desire to inflict personal harm.'' In my own State of South Carolina, 
we suffer from the worst record for church burnings--over 30 since 
1991. I visited with Rev. Lester Grant of Shiloh Baptist Church in 
Townville, SC, last month, and we discussed the recent trend of 
targeting churches with this new weapon of hatred and violence. I was 
impressed with how our church communities are rallying and growing 
stronger in the rubble of fires. Church burnings, whether acts of 
hatred or vandalism, have to stop.
  We must do more to assist our church communities in stopping these 
vile efforts. The USFA has initiated several measures to combat this 
crime, including: community grants in high risk areas to hire part-time 
law enforcement officers, and to pay for law enforcement overtime and 
other church arson prevention activities; National Fire Academy 
training courses; additional training and education for arson 
investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; arson 
prevention information for the general public; and juvenile arson 
prevention workshops. Although the President's budget request for 
fiscal year 1997 for arson-fighting activities was reduced, this bill 
restores that funding at last year's level.
  USFA's emphasis on data collection and analysis provides it with the 
necessary tools for identifying problems and forecasting trends. USFA 
use this data to focus efforts in the areas that will most 
significantly reduce casualties and property losses caused by fire. 
National Fire data are published through USFA's National Fire Incident 
Reporting System, the only centralized and uniform collection of fire 
data in the United States.
  Regarding fire service training, Mr. President, and the National Fire 
Academy provides national leadership for fire and emergency medical 
services personnel through education and training. The Academy offers 
training and educational programs at the Emmitsburg campus and at other 
sites throughout the country. The Academy trained 83,000 students in 
1996 and plans to increase this number to 300,000 per year in the 
future. There now are four applicants for each available slot for many 
of the Academy's courses.
  Finally, the USFA conducts research on technology to improve the 
occupational health and safety of firefighters including improvements 
to protective clothing and equipment, lifesaving operational 
technologies and equipment like liquid fire extinguishing agents, and 
equipment used in vehicle extrication and complex rescues.
  Mr. President, the efforts of our Nation's 1.2 million firefighters 
are invaluable; they risk their lives every day to save the lives and 
property of others. The USFA provides the necessary education, data 
analysis, training, and technology needed to ensure that these brave 
individuals do their job as efficiently and safely as possible. We in 
Congress need to do our job: We need to enact this legislation to 
ensure that both firefighters and the USFA get the financial resources 
they need to serve the public. I encourage my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues, 
Senator Frist, Senator McCain, and Senator Hollings in introducing 
legislation to reauthorize the programs of the U.S. Fire Administration 
[USFA].
  I just want to say a few quick words about this program. The USFA has 
a tough and rewarding mission. As I am sure my colleagues have noted, 
the statistics relating to fires in this country are staggering: 
Approximately 4,500 people die annually, and over 30,000 people are 
injured. In West Virginia, there were over 9,000 fires in 1995 causing 
28 fatalities and 160 injuries. The fact is, Mr. President, these 
numbers would be worse if it were not for the brave men and women 
firefighters who put their lives on the line to save and protect 
others.
  I want to take this moment to commend the 1.2 million members of the 
Nation's fire service of whom 80 percent are volunteers. In 1995, 163 
firefighters were injured in West Virginia in the line of duty. They 
deserve the best training, assistance, and technology available to do 
their job. The USFA provides these invaluable services to these men and 
women in an effort to ensure their safety, their health, and to improve 
their ability to fight fires with the best available technology.
  If there is a Federal program that is worth its value in dollars, it 
is this one--an ounce of prevention is clearly worth a pound of cure. 
In addition to the services the USFA provides firefighters, I want to 
commend this agency for its education and awareness programs, 
particularly those that target young children, and for their use of the 
Internet. Children start over 100,000 fires a year from just playing. 
The USFA has developed an interactive homepage and guide for parents 
clearly demonstrating their awareness of today's tools needed to reach 
today's youth.
  In closing, Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleague, the 
chairman of the Science Subcommittee, Senator Frist, for his efforts to 
move legislation in a bipartisan manner. This bill is a fine example of 
his efforts to work with Members of both parties to move good 
legislation that benefits the public as a whole. I encourage my 
colleagues to support this bill.
                                 ______