[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1921-E1922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation to 
reauthorize the United States Fire Administration (USFA). I want to 
congratulate Mr. Mitchell from Arizona for his work on this issue and 
for being instrumental in the passage of the House version of this bill 
earlier this year. I also want to commend Chairman Gordon for his 
leadership of the Committee on Science and Technology throughout the 
110th Congress.
  USFA was formed by Congress in 1974 in response to a report that 
found there were over 12,000 deaths annually due to fire in this 
country and over 300,000 fire injuries each year. Through the hard work 
of USFA and others, we have been fortunate to see that number drop 
dramatically.
  We are now a much safer nation, thanks to improved awareness of fire 
safety practices, increased use of smoke detectors and sprinklers, and 
other fire safety measures. Still, approximately 3,000 people die each 
year in fires and 10,000 more are injured. We also

[[Page E1922]]

still see too many firefighters die in the line of duty, protecting our 
families and homes. We have a lot more work to do.
  USFA supports local fire departments in a variety of manners. It 
offers training and career development to thousands of mid-level 
firefighters, fire chiefs, and other emergency management officials. 
USFA is a great way for the federal government to help coordinate the 
efforts for firefighters at the local level.
  USFA also develops fire education and awareness curriculum material 
to be used in training citizens across the country, aiming its messages 
at groups who suffer the highest fire casualties, such as the young and 
the elderly.
  While Congress is working to reauthorize and build on this important 
program, the president is cutting the budget for this agency. The 
President's FY09 budget cuts funding to USFA by more than 5 percent.
  As firefighters learn to respond to new issues such as fires in the 
wildland-urban interface, terrorist events, and harmful materials 
incidents, we need to provide sufficient funds to train and prepare 
them for these situations.
  Firefighters risk their lives everyday, so they can protect ours. 
Passing this legislation is one way we can express our great 
appreciation. I recommend my colleagues support this legislation so it 
can be signed into law before the end of the 110th Congress.

                          ____________________