[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 149 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9040-S9042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 5631. Mr. CASEY (for Mr. Lieberman (for himself and Ms. Collins)) 
proposed an amendment to the bill S. 2606, to reauthorize the United 
States Fire Administration, and for other purposes; as follows:

       In lieu of the matter to be inserted, insert the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``United States Fire 
     Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The number of lives lost each year because of fire has 
     dropped significantly over the last 25 years in the United 
     States. However, the United States still has one of the 
     highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. In 
     2006, the National Fire Protection Association reported 3,245 
     civilian fire deaths, 16,400 civilian fire injuries, and 
     $11,307,000,000 in direct losses due to fire.
       (2) Every year, more than 100 firefighters die in the line 
     of duty. The United States Fire Administration should 
     continue its leadership to help local fire agencies 
     dramatically reduce these fatalities.
       (3) The Federal Government should continue to work with 
     State and local governments and the fire service community to 
     further the promotion of national voluntary consensus 
     standards that increase firefighter safety.
       (4) The United States Fire Administration provides crucial 
     support to the 30,300 fire departments of the United States 
     through training, emergency incident data collection, fire 
     awareness and education, and support of research and 
     development activities for fire prevention, control, and 
     suppression technologies.
       (5) The collection of data on fire and other emergency 
     incidents is a vital tool both for policy makers and 
     emergency responders to identify and develop responses to 
     emerging hazards. Improving the data collection capabilities 
     of the United States Fire Administration is essential for 
     accurately tracking and responding to the magnitude and 
     nature of the fire problems of the United States.
       (6) The research and development performed by the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology, the United States Fire 
     Administration, other government agencies, and 
     nongovernmental organizations on fire technologies, 
     techniques, and tools advance the capabilities of the fire 
     service of the United States to suppress and prevent fires.
       (7) Because of the essential role of the United States Fire 
     Administration and the fire service community in preparing 
     for and responding to national and man-made disasters, the 
     United States Fire Administration should have a prominent 
     place within the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 
     Department of Homeland Security.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR UNITED STATES 
                   FIRE ADMINISTRATION.

       Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
     Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding after subparagraph (D) the following:
       ``(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which $2,520,000 
     shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
       ``(F) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $2,595,600 
     shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
       ``(G) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which $2,673,468 
     shall be used to carry out section 8(f); and
       ``(H) $76,490,890 for fiscal year 2012, of which $2,753,672 
     shall be used to carry out section 8(f).''.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY TRAINING PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS 
                   AND REPORTS.

       (a) Amendments to Fire Academy Training.--Section 7(d)(1) 
     of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
     U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) is amended--

[[Page S9041]]

       (1) by amending subparagraph (H) to read as follows:
       ``(H) tactics and strategies for dealing with natural 
     disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made 
     disasters;'';
       (2) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``forest'' and 
     inserting ``wildland'';
       (3) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``response'';
       (4) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (N) as 
     subparagraphs (M) through (R), respectively; and
       (5) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
       ``(I) tactics and strategies for fighting large-scale fires 
     or multiple fires in a general area that cross jurisdictional 
     boundaries;
       ``(J) tactics and strategies for fighting fires occurring 
     at the wildland-urban interface;
       ``(K) tactics and strategies for fighting fires involving 
     hazardous materials;
       ``(L) advanced emergency medical services training;''.
       (b) On-Site Training.--Section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
     2206) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(6), by inserting ``, including on-
     site training'' after ``United States'';
       (2) in subsection (f), by striking ``4 percent'' and 
     inserting ``7.5 percent''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) On-Site Training.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     Administrator may enter into a contract with nationally 
     recognized organizations that have established on-site 
     training programs that comply with national voluntary 
     consensus standards for fire service personnel to facilitate 
     the delivery of the education and training programs outlined 
     in subsection (d)(1) directly to fire service personnel.
       ``(2) Limitation.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator may not enter into a 
     contract with an organization described in paragraph (1) 
     unless such organization provides training that--
       ``(i) leads to certification by a program that is 
     accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation 
     organization; or
       ``(ii) the Administrator determines is of equivalent 
     quality to a fire service training program described by 
     clause (i).
       ``(B) Approval of unaccredited fire service training 
     programs.--The Administrator may consider the fact that an 
     organization has provided a satisfactory fire service 
     training program pursuant to a cooperative agreement with a 
     Federal agency as evidence that such program is of equivalent 
     quality to a fire service training program described by 
     subparagraph (A)(i).
       ``(3) Restriction on use of funds.--The amounts expended by 
     the Administrator to carry out this subsection in any fiscal 
     year shall not exceed 7.5 per centum of the amount authorized 
     to be appropriated in such fiscal year pursuant to section 
     17.''.
       (c) Triennial Reports.--Such section 7 (15 U.S.C. 2206) is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Triennial Report.--In the first annual report filed 
     pursuant to section 16 for which the deadline for filing is 
     after the expiration of the 18-month period that begins on 
     the date of the enactment of the United States Fire 
     Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008, and in every 
     third annual report thereafter, the Administrator shall 
     include information about changes made to the National Fire 
     Academy curriculum, including--
       ``(1) the basis for such changes, including a review of the 
     incorporation of lessons learned by emergency response 
     personnel after significant emergency events and emergency 
     preparedness exercises performed under the National Exercise 
     Program; and
       ``(2) the desired training outcome of all such changes.''.
       (d) Report on Feasibility of Providing Incident Command 
     Training for Fires at Ports and in Marine Environments.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United 
     States Fire Administration shall submit to Congress a report 
     on the feasibility of providing training in incident command 
     for appropriate fire service personnel for fires at United 
     States ports and in marine environments, including fires on 
     the water and aboard vessels.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A description of the necessary curriculum for training 
     described in paragraph (1).
       (B) A description of existing training programs related to 
     incident command in port and maritime environments, including 
     by other Federal agencies, and the feasibility and estimated 
     cost of making such training available to appropriate fire 
     service personnel.
       (C) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     the United States Fire Administration developing such a 
     training course in incident command for appropriate fire 
     service personnel for fires at United States ports and in 
     marine environments, including fires on the water and aboard 
     vessels.
       (D) A description of the delivery options for such a course 
     and the estimated cost to the United States Fire 
     Administration for developing such a course and providing 
     such training for appropriate fire service personnel.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM UPGRADES.

       (a) Incident Reporting System Database.--Section 9 of the 
     Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 
     2208) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) National Fire Incident Reporting System Update.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall update the 
     National Fire Incident Reporting System to ensure that the 
     information in the system is available, and can be updated, 
     through the Internet and in real time.
       ``(2) Limitation.--Of the amounts made available pursuant 
     to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of section 17(g)(1), the 
     Administrator shall use not more than an aggregate amount of 
     $5,000,000 during the 3-year period consisting of fiscal 
     years 2009, 2010, and 2011 to carry out the activities 
     required by paragraph (1).''.
       (b) Technical Correction.--Section 9(b)(2) of such Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2208(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``assist State,'' 
     and inserting ``assist Federal, State,''.

     SEC. 6. FIRE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH 
                   DISSEMINATION.

       (a) Assistance to Fire Services for Fire Prevention and 
     Control in Wildland-Urban Interface.--Section 8(d) of the 
     Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 
     2207(d)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Rural and Wildland-Urban Interface Assistance.--The 
     Administrator may, in coordination with the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Wildland 
     Fire Leadership Council, assist the fire services of the 
     United States, directly or through contracts, grants, or 
     other forms of assistance, in sponsoring and encouraging 
     research into approaches, techniques, systems, equipment, and 
     land-use policies to improve fire prevention and control in--
       ``(1) the rural and remote areas of the United States; and
       ``(2) the wildland-urban interface.''.
       (b) Technology Research Dissemination.--Section 8 of such 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 2207) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(h) Publication of Research Results.--
       ``(1) In general.--For each fire-related research program 
     funded by the Administration, the Administrator shall make 
     available to the public on the Internet website of the 
     Administration the following:
       ``(A) A description of such research program, including the 
     scope, methodology, and goals thereof.
       ``(B) Information that identifies the individuals or 
     institutions conducting the research program.
       ``(C) The amount of funding provided by the Administration 
     for such program.
       ``(D) The results or findings of the research program.
       ``(2) Deadlines.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the information required by paragraph (1) shall be published 
     with respect to a research program as follows:
       ``(i) The information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), 
     and (C) of paragraph (1) with respect to such research 
     program shall be made available under paragraph (1) not later 
     than 30 days after the Administrator has awarded the funding 
     for such research program.
       ``(ii) The information described in subparagraph (D) of 
     paragraph (1) with respect to a research program shall be 
     made available under paragraph (1) not later than 60 days 
     after the date such research program has been completed.
       ``(B) Exception.--No information shall be required to be 
     published under this subsection before the date that is 1 
     year after the date of the enactment of the United States 
     Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008.''.

     SEC. 7. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER 
                   HEALTH AND SAFETY.

       The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
     U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 37. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER 
                   HEALTH AND SAFETY.

       ``The Administrator shall promote adoption by fire services 
     of national voluntary consensus standards for firefighter 
     health and safety, including such standards for firefighter 
     operations, training, staffing, and fitness, by--
       ``(1) educating fire services about such standards;
       ``(2) encouraging the adoption at all levels of government 
     of such standards; and
       ``(3) making recommendations on other ways in which the 
     Federal Government can promote the adoption of such standards 
     by fire services.''.

     SEC. 8. STATE AND LOCAL FIRE SERVICE REPRESENTATION AT 
                   NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER.

       Section 515 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     321d) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) State and Local Fire Service Representation.--
       ``(1) Establishment of position.--The Secretary shall, in 
     consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire 
     Administration, establish a fire service position at the 
     National Operations Center established under subsection (b) 
     to ensure the effective sharing of information between the 
     Federal Government and State and local fire services.
       ``(2) Designation of position.--The Secretary shall 
     designate, on a rotating basis, a State or local fire service 
     official for the position described in paragraph (1).

[[Page S9042]]

       ``(3) Management.--The Secretary shall manage the position 
     established pursuant to paragraph (1) in accordance with such 
     rules, regulations, and practices as govern other similar 
     rotating positions at the National Operations Center.''.

     SEC. 9. COORDINATION REGARDING FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL 
                   AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--Section 21(e) of the Federal Fire 
     Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2218(e)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(e) Coordination.--
       ``(1) In general.--To the extent practicable, the 
     Administrator shall use existing programs, data, information, 
     and facilities already available in other Federal Government 
     departments and agencies and, where appropriate, existing 
     research organizations, centers, and universities.
       ``(2) Coordination of fire prevention and control 
     programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at an 
     appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of 
     the activities of the Administrator with Federal, State, and 
     local government agencies and departments and nongovernmental 
     organizations concerned with any matter related to programs 
     of fire prevention and control.
       ``(3) Coordination of emergency medical services 
     programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at an 
     appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of 
     the activities of the Administrator related to emergency 
     medical services provided by fire service-based systems with 
     Federal, State, and local government agencies and departments 
     and nongovernmental organizations so concerned, as well as 
     those entities concerned with emergency medical services 
     generally.''.
       (b) Fire Service-Based Emergency Medical Services Best 
     Practices.--Section 8(c) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2207(c)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as 
     paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(2) The Administrator is authorized to conduct, directly 
     or through contracts or grants, studies of the operations and 
     management aspects of fire service-based emergency medical 
     services and coordination between emergency medical services 
     and fire services. Such studies may include the optimum 
     protocols for on-scene care, the allocation of resources, and 
     the training requirements for fire service-based emergency 
     medical services.''.

     SEC. 10. AMENDMENTS TO DEFINITIONS.

       Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
     1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Administration'' and 
     inserting ``Administration, within the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency'';
       (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) `wildland-urban interface' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
     2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).''.

     SEC. 11. SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF FIRE SPRINKLERS.

       Congress supports the recommendations of the United States 
     Fire Administration regarding the adoption of fire sprinklers 
     in commercial buildings and educational programs to raise 
     awareness of the important of installing fire sprinklers in 
     residential buildings.

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