[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 45 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2531-S2532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROTH;
  S. 2389. A bill to provide additional assistance for fire and 
emergency services, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


          21st century fire and emergency services act of 2000

 Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, firefighters and EMS personnel are 
truly our nation's first responders. When the tragic images of natural 
or manmade disasters flash across our TV screens, there is one image 
that stands alone. The American firefighter is always there to rescue 
the family from a burning building, always there in the wake of a 
natural disaster, and is always there should a terrorist strike in our 
nation's heartland. These scenes are played out around our country on a 
daily basis. And while we see these images on TV as just a part of our 
society today, what is not realized is the cost our first responders 
bear.
  The 1.2 million men and women that serve in our nation's 32,000 fire 
departments do so with little fanfare, and often with little or no pay. 
Our nation's first responders ask very little of us, but, thankfully, 
they are always there when we need them.
  That is why I have introduced the 21st Century Fire and Emergency 
Services Act which is a companion to the House-passed legislation. This 
legislation is an important step forward for the fire and EMS 
community.
  Every year I hear from fire departments in Delaware who are looking 
to acquire state-of-the-art equipment to enhance their performance on a 
fire scene, or attempting to secure funding to train personnel in arson 
detection. I also hear from fire personnel seeking funds to create all-
important fire prevention programs at local elementary schools. These 
are just a few examples. The point is that for all too many 
departments, after the general operating expenses are calculated, there 
is no funding for this equipment or special program. Funds raised 
through chicken dinners, bingo and bake sales can only go so far.
  Back home, the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association is sending 
out the call for help. My legislation establishes two grant programs at 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The first is an $80 million 
competitive grant program for volunteer and paid fire and emergency 
services departments. With these 50/50 matching grants, I believe this 
legislation will give departments throughout our country an opportunity 
to have the thermal imaging camera or the health and wellness program 
needed to help them do their jobs even better.
  Second, this bill establishes a $10 million burn research grant 
program through FEMA. Under this program, safety organizations, 
hospitals, and governmental and nongovernmental entities that are 
responsible for burn research, prevention, or treatment are eligible 
for competitive grants to continue their important work.
  Finally, this bill recognizes the contributions of volunteer 
firefighters by providing $10 million to fully fund the USDA's 
Volunteer Fire Assistance Program. This program allows the nearly 
28,000 rural fire departments nationwide to apply for cost-share grants 
for training, equipping and organizing their personnel. These rural 
fire departments represent the first line of defense for rural areas 
coping with fires and other emergencies.
  Personally, I am excited about the technology that is available to 
first responders today, and I am committed to working to ensure that 
every department in Delaware and throughout the country has the tools 
it needs to make us all safer in our homes and communities. Let's not 
wait for the next disaster to hear the call.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2389

       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 ``21st Century Fire and 
     Emergency Services Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Agency.--The term ``Agency'' means the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency.
       (2) Burn program.--The term ``burn program'' means the Burn 
     Services Grant Program established by section 3(a).
       (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the Agency.
       (4) Fire program.--The term ``fire program'' means the 
     ``Fire Services Grant Program'' established under section 
     4(a).

     SEC. 3. BURN SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Agency 
     a grant program to be known as the ``Burn Services Grant 
     Program''.
       (b) Competitive Grants.--The Director may make a grant 
     under the burn program, on a competitive basis, to--
       (1) a safety organization that has experience in conducting 
     burn safety programs, for the purpose of assisting the 
     organization in conducting or augmenting a burn prevention 
     program;
       (2) a hospital that serves as a regional burn center, for 
     the purpose of conducting acute burn care research; or
       (3) a governmental or nongovernmental entity, for the 
     purpose of providing after-burn treatment and counseling to 
     individuals that are burn victims.
       (c) Program Office.--The Director shall establish within 
     the Agency an office to--
       (1) establish criteria for use by the Director in awarding 
     grants under the burn program; and
       (2) administer grants awarded under the burn program.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

     SEC. 4. FIRE SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish within the 
     Agency a grant program known as the ``Fire Services Grant 
     Program'' to award grants to volunteer, paid, and combined 
     volunteer-paid departments that provide fire and emergency 
     medical services.
       (b) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under the fire program 
     may be used to--
       (1) acquire--
       (A) personal protective equipment required for firefighting 
     personnel by the Occupational Safety and Health 
     Administration; and
       (B) other personal protective equipment for firefighting 
     personnel;
       (2) acquire additional firefighting equipment, including 
     equipment for communication and monitoring;
       (3) establish wellness and fitness programs for 
     firefighting personnel to reduce the number of injuries and 
     deaths related to health and conditioning problems;
       (4) promote professional development of fire code 
     enforcement personnel;
       (5) integrate computer technology to improve records 
     management and training capabilities;
       (6) train firefighting personnel in--
       (A) firefighting;
       (B) emergency response; and
       (C) arson prevention and detection;
       (7) enforce fire codes;
       (8) fund fire prevention programs and public education 
     programs on--
       (A) arson prevention and detection; and
       (B) juvenile fire setter intervention; and
       (9) modify fire stations, fire training facilities, and 
     other facilities to protect the health and safety of 
     firefighting personnel.
       (c) Applications.--An applicant for a grant awarded under 
     the fire program shall submit to the Director an application 
     that includes--
       (1) a demonstration of the financial need of the applicant;
       (2) evidence of a commitment by the applicant to provide 
     matching funds from non-Federal sources for the project that 
     is the subject of the application in an amount that is at 
     least equal to the amount of funds requested in the 
     application;
       (3) a cost-benefit analysis linking the funds requested to 
     improvements in public safety; and
       (4) a commitment by the applicant to provide information to 
     the National Fire Incident Reporting System for the period 
     for which the grant is received.
       (d) Audits.--The Director shall conduct audits of grant 
     recipients to ensure that grant funds are used for the 
     purposes for which the grant is awarded.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $80,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

[[Page S2532]]

     SEC. 5. COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE.

       The Secretary of Agriculture shall use the funds, 
     facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation to carry out paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
     section 10(b) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 
     1978 (16 U.S.C. 2106(b)), not to exceed $10,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.
                                 ______