[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H12129-H12133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT of 2003
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 1152) to reauthorize the United States Fire
Administration, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 1152
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``United States Fire
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003''.
SEC. 102. RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION OF UNITED STATES FIRE
ADMINISTRATOR.
Section 1513 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
553) does not apply to the position or office of
Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, who
shall continue to be appointed and compensated as provided by
section 5(b) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2204(b)).
SEC. 103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)) is amended by striking
subparagraphs (A) through (K) and inserting the following:
``(A) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which $2,266,000
shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
``(B) $64,850,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which $2,334,000
shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
``(C) $66,796,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which $2,404,000
shall be used to carry out section 8(f); and
``(D) $68,800,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $2,476,000
shall be used to carry out section 8(f).''.
TITLE II--FIREFIGHTING RESEARCH AND COORDINATION
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Firefighting Research and
Coordination Act''.
SEC. 202. NEW FIREFIGHTING TECHNOLOGY.
Section 8 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Assistance to Other Federal Agencies.--At the request
of other Federal agencies, including the Department of
Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, the
Administrator may provide assistance in fire prevention and
control technologies, including methods of containing insect-
infested forest fires and limiting dispersal of resultant
fire particle smoke, and methods of measuring and tracking
the dispersal of fine particle smoke resulting from fires of
insect-infested fuel.
``(f) Technology Evaluation and Standards Development.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to, or as part of, the
program conducted under subsection (a), the Administrator, in
consultation with the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, the Inter-Agency Board for Equipment
Standardization and Inter-Operability, the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health, the Directorate of
Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland
Security, national voluntary consensus standards development
organizations, interested Federal, State, and local agencies,
and other interested parties, shall--
``(A) develop new, and utilize existing, measurement
techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating new
firefighting technologies, including--
``(i) personal protection equipment;
``(ii) devices for advance warning of extreme hazard;
``(iii) equipment for enhanced vision;
``(iv) devices to locate victims, firefighters, and other
rescue personnel in above-ground and below-ground structures;
``(v) equipment and methods to provide information for
incident command, including the monitoring and reporting of
individual personnel welfare;
``(vi) equipment and methods for training, especially for
virtual reality training; and
``(vii) robotics and other remote-controlled devices;
``(B) evaluate the compatibility of new equipment and
technology with existing firefighting technology; and
``(C) support the development of new voluntary consensus
standards through national voluntary consensus standards
organizations for new firefighting technologies based on
techniques and methodologies described in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Standards for new equipment.--
(A) The Administrator shall, by regulation, require that
new equipment or systems purchased through the assistance
program established by the first section 33 meet or exceed
applicable voluntary consensus standards for such equipment
or systems for which applicable voluntary consensus standards
have been established. The Administrator may waive the
requirement under this subparagraph with respect to specific
standards.
``(B) If an applicant for a grant under the first section
33 proposes to purchase, with assistance provided under the
grant, new equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed
applicable voluntary consensus standards, the applicant shall
include in the application an explanation of why such
equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant
better than equipment or systems that do meet or exceed such
standards.
``(C) In making a determination whether or not to waive the
requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to a specific
standard, the Administrator shall, to the greatest extent
practicable--
``(i) consult with grant applicants and other members of
the fire services regarding the impact on fire departments of
the requirement to meet or exceed the specific standard;
``(ii) take into consideration the explanation provided by
the applicant under subparagraph (B); and
``(iii) seek to minimize the impact of the requirement to
meet or exceed the specific standard on the applicant,
particularly if meeting the standard would impose additional
costs.
``(D) Applicants that apply for a grant under the terms of
subparagraph (B) may include a second grant request in the
application to be considered by the Administrator in the
event that the Administrator does not approve the primary
grant request on the grounds of the equipment not meeting
applicable voluntary consensus standards.''.
SEC. 203. COORDINATION OF RESPONSE TO NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
(a) In General.--Section 10 of the Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2209) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Mutual Aid Systems.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall provide
technical assistance and training to State and local fire
service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual
aid systems for dealing with national emergencies that--
``(A) include threat assessment and equipment deployment
strategies;
``(B) include means of collecting asset and resource
information to provide accurate and timely data for regional
deployment; and
``(C) are consistent with the Federal Response Plan.
``(2) Model mutual aid plans.--The Administrator shall
develop and make available to State and local fire service
officials model mutual aid plans for both intrastate and
interstate assistance.''.
(b) Report on Strategic Needs.--Within 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
United States Fire Administration shall report to the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
House of Representatives Committee on Science on the need for
a strategy concerning deployment of volunteers and emergency
response personnel (as defined in section 6 of the
Firefighters' Safety Study Act (15 U.S.C. 2223e)), including
a national credentialing system, in the event of a national
emergency.
(c) Report on Federal Response Plan.--Within 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Department of Homeland
Security shall transmit a report to the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee
on Governmental Affairs, and the House of Representatives
Committee on Science describing plans for revisions to the
Federal Response Plan and its integration into the National
Response Plan, including how the revised plan will address
response to terrorist attacks, particularly in urban areas,
including fire detection and suppression and related
emergency services.
SEC. 204. TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Section 7(d)(1) of the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in subparagraph
(E);
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (N);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
[[Page H12130]]
``(F) strategies for building collapse rescue;
``(G) the use of technology in response to fires, including
terrorist incidents and other national emergencies;
``(H) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with
terrorist-caused national catastrophes;
``(I) use of and familiarity with the Federal Response
Plan;
``(J) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated
management systems operations and integrated response;
``(K) applying new technology and developing strategies and
tactics for fighting forest fires;
``(L) integrating the activities of terrorism response
agencies into national terrorism incident response systems;
``(M) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at
United States ports, including fires on the water and aboard
vessels; and''.
(b) Consultation on Fire Academy Classes.--The
Superintendent of the National Fire Academy may consult with
other Federal, State, and local agency officials in
developing curricula for classes offered by the Academy.
(c) Coordination With Other Programs To Avoid
Duplication.--The Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration shall coordinate training provided under
section 7(d)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) with the Attorney General,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the heads of
other Federal agencies--
(1) to ensure that such training does not duplicate
existing courses available to fire service personnel; and
(2) to establish a mechanism for eliminating duplicative
training programs.
(d) Courses and Training Assistance.--Section 7(l) of the
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C.
2206(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The
Superintendent shall offer, at the Academy and at other
sites, courses and training assistance as necessary to
accommodate all geographic regions and needs of career and
volunteer firefighters.''.
SEC. 205. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) Administration.--The first section 33 of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b)(2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Administrative assistance.--The Director shall
establish specific criteria for the selection of recipients
of assistance under this section and shall provide grant-
writing assistance to applicants.''; and
(2) by striking ``operate the office established under
subsection (b)(2) and'' in subsection (e)(2).
(b) Maritime Firefighting.--Subsection (b)(3)(B) of the
first section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(3)(B)) is amended by inserting
``maritime firefighting,'' after ``arson prevention and
detection,''.
(c) Firefighting in Remote Areas.--The first section 33 of
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15
U.S.C. 2229) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``equipment for fighting fires with foam
in remote areas without access to water, and'' after
``including'' in subsection (b)(3)(H); and
(2) by inserting ``Of the amounts authorized in this
paragraph, $3,000,000 shall be made available each year
through fiscal year 2008 for foam firefighting equipment.''
at the end of subsection (e)(1).
SEC. 206. NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION.
(a) Members.--Section 151303(b) of title 36, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``9'' in paragraph (2) and inserting
``12'';
(2) by striking ``six'' in subparagraph (D) of paragraph
(2) and inserting ``nine''; and
(3) by striking ``3 members'' in paragraph (3) and
inserting ``4 members''.
(b) Compensation.--Section 151304(b)(3) of title 36, United
States Code, is amended by inserting ``15 percent above''
after ``more than''.
(c) Period of Authorized Assistance.--Section 151307 of
title 36, United States Code, is amended in subsection
(a)(1), by striking ``During the 10-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of the Fire Administration
Authorization Act of 2000, the'' and inserting ``The''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert).
General Leave
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on S. 1152, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization
Act, which began life in the House as H.R. 2692, introduced by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), subcommittee chairman. Most
Americans have never heard of the U.S. Fire Administration, but it has
enhanced the protection of all of our communities, our neighborhoods;
and firefighters know the agency well.
The funds we are authorizing in this bill will continue to train our
local firefighters both at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg and
in State and local training centers. These funds will also help promote
residential fire sprinklers, fire prevention activities, and other
activities that save lives. The U.S. Fire Administration has also
administered the FIRE program, which helps our local fire departments
purchase desperately needed fire equipment. It is one of the most
successful Federal assistance programs devised by this Congress or any
previous Congress.
One of the great things about this program is that the politicians,
and I have fondness for politicians, but the politicians are sort of
taking a back seat. It is the people involved, the firefighters
themselves in every day protecting our homes and our neighborhoods and
communities that established the criteria for this massive grant
program and do the actual evaluating. It is a program with unquestioned
integrity. I say that because I have watched it in operation, and all
of our congressional districts across the country are taking advantage
of it, not for selfish reasons but to protect our people in their
homes, in their neighborhoods, in their communities, where they live.
I will tell my colleagues a personal experience in my own
congressional district. Utica, New York, had an arson rate three times
the national average. It was a serious problem in New York. I sat down
with the previous administrator of FEMA and said, let's work with this
community because this is a serious problem and it has to be addressed
and it is far beyond the ability of the individual community to come to
grips with it in any meaningful way without some added guidance and
inspiration and, quite frankly, some financial support from beyond our
borders. FEMA did it. We did it. Collectively, Utica has enjoyed its
best day in the last couple of years. The arson rate is down
dramatically. People feel more comfortable and safer in their homes. It
is all because of some work that came out of the U.S. Fire
Administration.
I would say for a whole lot of the right reasons, I urge approval of
this bill which will help our localities in very tangible ways,
meaningful ways that touch the lives of individual families. We owe it
to our firefighters both paid and volunteer. Incidentally, let me just
stress, paid and volunteer. I have heard some people suggest on
occasion that we have professional firefighters and we have volunteer
firefighters. There is no such differential. We have paid and unpaid
but those volunteers from coast to coast are some of the most
dedicated, professional, able, committed people we will find anyplace.
Thank God for the volunteer firefighters of America. That is not to
indicate I do not appreciate what the paid firefighters do day in and
day out or making a professional career of it, but those volunteers in
communities all across this land do outstanding work, give of their
time and their talent and their energy to protect us and our
communities. I want to salute them, and I want to dedicate passage of
this bill to them.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of S. 1152, the United States Fire Administration
Reauthorization Act. I want to thank all the Members who had a part,
including the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert). The gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) is on her way. I know she has
worked on this very diligently.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I want to add something here. There was some confusion about section
204(c) of this bill regarding coordination of firefighting training
activities.
[[Page H12131]]
I want to clarify that the reference to ``other Federal agencies'' in
this section includes the Office of Domestic Preparedness and does not
conflict with the counterterrorism training provisions in the Homeland
Security Act of 2002.
I also would like to place in the Record at this juncture an exchange
of letters between me as chairman of the Committee on Science and
Chairman Young of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I
also serve on that committee, too, so in some respects I am writing to
myself. This is an exchange of letters that further clarifies it.
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, November 21, 2003.
Hon. Sherwood, L. Boehlert,
Chairman, Committee on Science,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the
jurisdictional interest of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee in matters contained in S. 1152, the
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of
2003.
Our Committee recognizes the importance of S. 1152 and the
need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Therefore,
while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over certain
provisions of the bill, I agree not to request a referral and
allow the bill to be considered in the House under suspension
of the rules. This, of course, is conditional on our mutual
understanding my decision to forego a sequential referral
waives, reduces or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and that a copy
of this letter and of your response acknowledging our
jurisdictional interest will be included as part of the
Congressional Record during consideration of this bill by the
House.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Don Young,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Science,
Washington, DC, November 21, 2003.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter concerning the
jurisdictional interest of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee over matters contained in S. 1152,
the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of
2003.
I appreciate your not requesting a referral of this bill
and allowing it to be considered by the House under
suspension of the rules. Specifically, I acknowledge that
your Committee has a valid claim to jurisdiction over certain
provisions of the bill as drafted. I agree that by forgoing a
sequential referral you do not waive, reduce, or otherwise
affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure.
I also agree that a copy of this letter and of your letter
will be included as part of the Congressional Record during
consideration of this bill by the House.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Sherwood L. Boehlert,
Chairman.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I want to take this opportunity to commend the gentlewoman from Texas
(Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) on this specific legislation. I know that
she has been working on this diligently. We recognize that there are a
great number of deaths as a result of fire. We need to continue to work
in this area. We know we have had natural disasters also in this area.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Members that have played a
role.
Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and ask unanimous consent that she be
permitted to control that time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, let me apologize for being late. I was told to be here
by 12, and I was in a briefing, so I came running.
Let me thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Research of the
Committee on Science, the staff and the other leadership of the
committee for working on this bill. I rise in support of Senate bill
1152, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of
2003.
This legislation is closely related to H.R. 2692, which I joined
Research Subcommittee Chairman Smith in introducing and which was
ordered reported by the Committee on Science on July 22. I would like
to thank Chairman Smith for working with me in a collegial way in the
development of the fire authorization bill. The version of the
authorization bill before the House preserves the key features of H.R.
2692.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, which created
the U.S. Fire Administration, was intended to address a serious problem
affecting the safety of all Americans. Much progress has been made as a
result of this legislation to advance public education about fire
safety, to improve the effectiveness of the fire services throughout
the Nation, and to foster the wider use of home fire safety devices.
Nevertheless, the United States still has one of the highest fire
death rates among advanced nations, and fire deaths exceed the loss of
life from all natural disasters combined. Clearly, much work remains to
be done in order to make needed improvements in the Nation's fire
safety record. I believe that S. 1152 will ensure that the U.S. Fire
Administration has the resources and policies in place to help achieve
this goal.
{time} 1145
One matter of concern is that the effectiveness of the U.S. fire
administration could suffer due to its submersion in the new Department
of Homeland Security, which understandably must concentrate its efforts
on combating threats from terrorism. The legislation seeks to preserve
the status and visibility of the fire administration and its vital
programs to advance fire safety within the Department of Homeland
Security.
To achieve this result, the bill reestablishes the position of fire
administrator as a Presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed post.
This is appropriate given the role of the Fire Administrator as the
lead advocate for fire services within the Federal Government.
Another important function of the U.S. Fire Administration is to
support research and development and testing of new firefighting
technologies. This bill reemphasizes this role and authorizes new
funding to help carry it out, including support for the process for
developing consensus standards for the performance of new fire
protection and control technologies.
Consistent with supporting the development of appropriate voluntary
consensus standards for new firefighting equipment, the bill requires
that equipment provided under the fire grants program conform to such
standards where they exist. Fire grants provide fire departments across
the Nation with the equipment and training they need to meet their
important responsibilities in protecting the public from fire hazards.
The Fire Administrator is given flexibility in applying the standards
requirement for these grants so that the fire departments may propose
solutions that make the most sense for their particular circumstances.
Provision for this flexibility in the bill is in accordance with the
recommendations received during the Committee on Science hearing on the
legislation. The bill makes an additional modification to the statute
creating the Fire Grants Program by specifying that awards to support
training may include training firefighting personnel and maritime
firefighting. The need for such training was ably advocated by the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu), championed this provision.
Madam Speaker, this bill is a bipartisan piece of legislation that
authorizes the activities of a small, but extremely valuable, Federal
agency that contributes to the safety of all Americans. I am pleased to
commend the measure to my colleagues and ask for their support in the
passage of this bill in the House.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Research
Subcommittee and a real friend of the firefighters.
Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for being
one of the original congressional
[[Page H12132]]
leaders for first responders and firefighters. And to the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), who is the vice chairman or
ranking member of our Research Subcommittee, I thank her for her help.
We have come a long way in this Congress helping first responders,
and I think it has struck all of us after 9/11, the tremendous
contribution that first responders add to the security of this country.
So we are now asking even more of our firefighters and medical
personnel. I would like to also commend Administrator Paulison, who has
done an excellent job in terms of increasing the productivity and the
efficiency of the United States Fire Administration.
This legislation is consistent with the President's request of a 3
percent increase in funding for the U.S. Fire Administration, but still
at the same time with the help of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr.
Hoyer) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) on that side,
certainly the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and the chairman
of this committee and myself and many others on the Republican side of
the aisle, we worked together to make sure that we try to give
firefighters the kind of training and support that they need to more
effectively and efficiently conduct their business.
I would also like to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp)
for initiating the standards requirement that allows different fire
departments to know the quality of some of the equipment and the
machinery and the items that they might buy in that fire department to
make sure that they do not, for lack of a better expression, get ripped
off with equipment that is not as good as it seems.
Let me conclude by saying this is the bill I introduced and we passed
in the House. It is a good bill. This Congress and America have
increased our understanding that first responders and firefighters are
very important to this country. Eighty percent of our firefighters in
the United States are volunteers, but the full-time firefighter
represents 80 percent of the people. So we have got to continue to
support both the full-time firefighters and the volunteers, and that is
what this bill does.
Madam Speaker, the legislation before us today would reauthorize the
United States Fire Administration, which is charged with helping to
prevent and control fire-related losses through leadership, advocacy,
education, and support. This bill has been endorsed by a number of
leading fire organizations including the Congressional Fire Services
Institute, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fire
Protection Association, and National Volunteer Fire Council.
S. 1152, which is companion legislation to a bill that the
distinguished Ranking Member of the Research Subcommittee and I
introduced earlier this year, adheres to the Administration's budget
request and provides 3 percent increases each year from 2005-2008. It
would also restore the position of U.S. Fire Administrator as a
Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position, after it was
inadvertently eliminated by the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
USFA coordinates federal fire service training, public education,
research, and data collection and analysis activities. In addition,
USFA has administered the fire grant program, which supports fire
departments by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to
protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel.
USFA Administrator David Paulison has done an excellent job since being
appointed in 2001, and I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly
recognize his outstanding service.
This legislation also directs USFA to develop standards for
firefighting equipment and technology. The new standards will help to
ensure that firefighters have access to the highest quality equipment
available. Equipment purchased through the fire grant program must meet
the new standards, although under unique circumstances, the
Administrator is given flexibility to waive this requirement.
There was an effort to attach language similar to Representative Bob
Etheridge's bill H.R. 919, the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefit Act, to
the bill before us today. I am one of 281 cosponsors of H.R. 919, which
would ensure that the family of a public safety officer who suffers a
fatal heart attack or stroke in the line of duty receives survivor
benefits. These families are often forced to wrangle with the Justice
Department to obtain compensation. In the interest of passing the USFA
reauthorization expeditiously the language was eventually dropped.
However, I would like to express my commitment to continuing to work
for passage of H.R. 919.
In closing, I am pleased that we were able to work closely with
members of the minority as well as members of the fire services
community in drafting this bipartisan legislation. I urge every Member
to support S. 1152 so that we can insure the long-term viability of
this important program.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes
to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United
States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act. And I want to commend
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Hall) not only for bringing this important legislation to the
floor, but for their exemplary leadership they have displayed on behalf
of the fire community over these many years.
Providing firefighters with the training and equipment they need to
protect our communities is about as important a job as the Congress is
charged with. This Congress and the previous Congress have risen to the
occasion. And I am heartened by the advancement of this goal in recent
years. So to the Chair and ranking members, they have done a
spectacular job.
We started with the passage of the FIRE Act in 2000, to provide
Federal grants directly to local fire departments to help address
equipment and training and other firefighter-related needs. Since then
communities have received close to 13,000 awards nationwide. There are
32,000 fire departments. Figure out the math. This has been an amazing
achievement.
Two weeks ago we were able to pass the ``Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response,'' the SAFER program. That authorizes $7.6
billion through 2010 to combat the dangerous crisis of inadequate
staffing in our Nation's career fire departments and volunteer
departments at a time when it is more crucial than ever. We have come a
long way. We have come a long way, indeed.
America's fire death rate is still one of the highest per capita in
the industrial world. Fire kills 3,700 people per year, injures 20,000,
and approximately 100 firefighters die annually while doing their work.
The USFA's National Fire Academy offers educational opportunities for
firefighters in fire prevention and life safety activities, and, of
course, we want it also to deal with the terrorist threat that is at
hand. As a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, I find
nothing to be more important than the defense of our families and our
streets.
Through research, testing, and evaluation, USFA works with the public
and private entities to promote and improve fire and life safety.
Additionally, the data collection of the National Fire Safety Data
Center is absolutely critical to identify problem areas for which
prevention and mitigation strategies are needed. Firefighters, whose
bravery and valor protect our Nation every day, deserve all that we can
give them, and a strong, flourishing Fire Administration will assist in
this regard.
And again, in conclusion, Madam Speaker, I think this is a great day
for the fire services throughout the United States and a great day for
our firefighters. They have earned it, and we are glad to participate
in getting this legislation through today.
Mr. CAMP. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1152, the
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act. This bill
appropriately recognizes the value of the United States Fire
Administration (USFA) for its national leadership in reducing the
threat of fires and educating Americans about fire prevention methods.
I want to thank Research Subcommittee Chairman Nick Smith and Science
Chairman Boehlert for their leadership on this issue and their support
for the inclusion of a bill I introduced, H.R. 545, the Firefighting
Research and Coordination Act. I appreciate Senator McCain's leadership
on this bill and for his hard work getting it passed last night in the
Senate.
The Firefighting Research and Coordination Act helps address current
policy questions on how the federal government can most effectively
provide firefighters with the training and equipment necessary to
protect lives. The bill gives appropriate weight to top fire service
needs: the development of voluntary consensus standards for
firefighting equipment and technology; establishing nationwide and
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State mutual aid systems for dealing with national emergencies; and
authorizing the National Fire Academy to train firefighters to respond
to acts of terrorism and other national emergencies.
This legislation enjoys wide bipartisan support and the endorsement
of many national fire groups including the Congressional Fire Services
Institute, National Fire Protection Association, and the International
Association of Firefighters and Fire Chiefs, among others. With the
tools this bill provides, I am confident the USFA will continue to be
recognized as the preeminent authority in fire education and fire
prevention. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support S. 1152, bipartisan
legislation to reauthorize the important work done by U.S. Fire
Administration R. David Paulison and his dedicated staff in
Emmittsburg, MD and Washington, DC.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 established the
United States Fire Administration and its National Fire Academy to
reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies,
through leadership, advocacy, coordination and support.
Since that time, through data collection, public education, research
ad training efforts, USFA has helped reduce fire deaths by at least
half--making our communities and our citizens safer. For the past three
years, the Fire Administrator has been tasked with administering the
Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, created by Congress to
adequately train and equip our career and volunteer firefighters across
the country.
This $750 million program is vital to our firefighters, too many of
whom risk their lives on a daily basis to protect our homes and our
families without the modern equipment and advanced training they
deserve. The Fire Grant program has succeeded at getting much-needed
dollars to fire departments in fair, efficient manner, and USFA has
been widely praised for its work in administering the program.
Authority for the Fire Grant program has now been moved to the
Department of Homeland Security, and Members of the Fire Caucus, and
all supporters of the fire community, will closely monitor the
administration of the Grant program to guarantee that it continues to
meet the needs of our fire departments.
Madam Speaker, this legislation also contains provisions important to
the National Fallen Firefighters Foundations, which was established
more than a decade ago through the leadership of Senator Paul Sarbanes
to create an organization that would properly honor all of America's
fallen fire heroes--and take care of the surviving families and loved
ones as they cope with their grief and attempt to move on after their
loss.
The Foundation carries out this mission with great compassion and
dedication, and they have achieved a tremendous record of assisting the
families of our fallen firefighters through the many programs, projects
and activities they promote throughout the year. The provisions
included in this legislation will allow the Foundation to continue, and
to improve upon, the important work we have charged them to do.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this legislation, and urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have no further
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1152.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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