[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 131 (Wednesday, October 18, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FIRE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2000

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
1550 and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1550) to authorize appropriations for the 
     United States Fire Administration for fiscal years 2000 and 
     2001, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, the United States has over 2 million 
fires annually. Each one can devastate a family or business. I should 
know. Last year, I lost my home in Charleston, SC to fire. The 
statistics--approximately 4500 deaths, 30,000 civilian injuries, more 
than $8 billion in direct property losses, and more than $50 billion in 
costs to taxpayers each year--do not tell the whole story. A fire can 
take away a lifetime of things that have true value only to the person 
who has suffered the loss. The tragic thing is that most of these fires 
are preventable.
  H.R. 1550 would authorize appropriations for the United States Fire 
Administration for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003. The Fire 
Administration provides invaluable services--such as training, data, 
arson assistance, and research for better safety equipment and 
clothing--to the more than 1.2 million paid and volunteer firefighters 
throughout the Nation.
  The administration's FY 2001 budget request for the Fire 
Administration was $69 million, $25 million of which was for grants to 
local fire departments. S. 1941, the Firefighter Investment and 
Response Enhancement Act, authorizes $100 million in FY 2001 and $300 
million in FY 2002 for these grants. That bill was ordered to be 
reported by the Commerce Committee on Spetember 20, 2000. Subsequently, 
the text of S. 1941, as reported, was included in the Department of 
Defense Authorization Act. Therefore, the substitute amendment to H.R. 
1550 now under consideration does not include funding for grants to 
local fire departments within the Fire Administration's FY 2001 
authorization.
  The bill also provides additional funding for counterterrorism 
training, requires the Fire Administration to submit a strategic plan 
and a plan for research, and makes technical corrections to the Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 and the National Fallen Firefighters 
Foundation Act. I support H.R. 1550 and urge its immediate passage.


                           Amendment No. 4324

(Purpose: To authorize appropriations for the Fire Administration, and 
                          for other purposes)

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, Senator Frist has an amendment at the 
desk, and I ask for its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alabama [Mr. Sessions], for Mr. Frist, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 4324.

  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1550), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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