[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4733-H4736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              EMPOWERING THE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION ACT

  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7077) to require the United States Fire Administration to 
conduct on-site investigations of major fires, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7077

       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 ``Empowering the U.S. Fire 
     Administration Act''.

     SEC. 2. FIRE INVESTIGATIONS.

       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. 38. INVESTIGATION AUTHORITIES.

       ``(a) In General.--In the case of any major fire, the 
     Administrator may send incident investigators, which may 
     include safety specialists, fire protection engineers, codes 
     and standards experts, researchers, and fire training 
     specialists, to the site of the fire to conduct an 
     investigation as described in subsection (b).
       ``(b) Investigation Required.--A fire investigation 
     conducted under this section--
       ``(1) shall be conducted in coordination and cooperation 
     with appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities, 
     including Federal agencies that are authorized to investigate 
     a major fire or an incident of which the major fire is a 
     part; and
       ``(2) shall examine the determined cause and origin of the 
     fire and assess broader systematic matters to include use of 
     codes and standards, demographics, structural 
     characteristics, smoke and fire dynamics (movement) during 
     the event, and costs of associated injuries and deaths.
       ``(c) Report.--Upon concluding any fire investigation under 
     this section, the Administrator shall issue a public report 
     to local, State, and Federal authorities on the findings of 
     such investigation, or collaborate with another investigating 
     Federal agency on that agency's report, including 
     recommendations on--
       ``(1) any other buildings with similar characteristics that 
     may bear similar fire risks;
       ``(2) improving tactical response to similar fires;
       ``(3) improving civilian safety practices;
       ``(4) assessing the costs and benefits to the community of 
     adding fire safety features; and
       ``(5) how to mitigate the causes of such fire.
       ``(d) Discretionary Authority.--In addition to 
     investigations conducted pursuant to subsection (a), the 
     Administrator may send fire investigators to conduct 
     investigations at the site of any fire with unusual or 
     remarkable context that results in losses less severe than 
     those occurring as a result of a major fire, in coordination 
     with appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities, 
     including Federal agencies that are authorized to investigate 
     a major fire or an incident of which the major fire is a 
     part.
       ``(e) Major Fire Defined.--For purposes of this section, 
     the term `major fire' shall have the meaning given such term 
     under regulations to be issued by the Administrator.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens) and the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 7077, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H4734]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7077, the Empowering 
the U.S. Fire Administration Act.
  Although fire loss has improved significantly over the past 25 years, 
the fire problem in the United States of America remains serious and is 
deserving of our attention and our legislative action.
  The United States still has one of the highest fire death rates in 
the industrialized world. It is clear we have work to do to prevent 
these fires and, unfortunately, their deadly consequences.
  According to FEMA, between 2017 and 2019, residential building fires 
caused an estimated 2,770 deaths, 11,650 injuries, and $8.1 billion in 
property loss.
  In Michigan--and this is deeply personal to those of us in Oakland 
County--we have recently experienced a significant rise in fire-related 
deaths during 2022, just this year alone. According to the Bureau of 
Fire Services, fire-related deaths across Michigan increased by 144 
percent. Fires themselves are on the rise in the first month of 2022 
alone compared to 2021.
  Unfortunately, it was reported that these increased fires in Michigan 
were all preventable, Madam Speaker, and that is why I am proud to be 
joining my incredible colleague from New York, Congressman Torres, 
today in supporting his legislation.
  The Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act is part of a Federal 
legislative package aimed at solving the underlying issues that cause 
deadly fires.
  H.R. 7077 is led by my friend and colleague, Congressman Ritchie 
Torres. On January 9 of this year, a major fire occurred at the Twin 
Parks North West apartment building in Representative Torres' district 
in which 17 people, including 8 children, tragically lost their lives.
  Following that, we experienced a less deadly fire, although 
monumental, at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, in which 
the second-largest wood frame structure caught on fire and nearly all 
collapsed.
  A key objective of the U.S. Fire Administration is to significantly 
reduce the Nation's loss of life from fire while also achieving a 
reduction in property loss and nonfatal injury due to fire.
  This bill authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration to conduct onsite 
investigations of major fires by authorizing the USFA to send incident 
investigators to the site of a major fire.
  This bill will more fully leverage the unique expertise of the USFA 
to contribute to what we can learn from these fires to continue to 
strengthen prevention going forward.

                              {time}  1500

  These catastrophes deserve Federal support. They hamper our local 
fire departments. Our local residents deserve answers.
  I mentioned the tragedy in my own region in February that the Oakland 
Hills Country Club, a fixture that has been in our community for 
generations, experienced. The 99-year-old clubhouse is one of the 
oldest, all-wooden structures in Michigan and it was where I worked as 
a hostess following my graduation from high school at Birmingham 
Seaholm. I was saving up money for college. Thankfully, no one was 
injured, but the Oakland County Sheriff recently forecasted that the 
total fire investigation could take up to a full year to complete.
  We must learn from these fires to inform efforts to prevent major 
fires from occurring in the future, and the USFA is an important 
component of these efforts. The agency is limited in its ability to 
learn from these fires, as it currently lacks the authority to conduct 
on-site investigations. This is what this bill will achieve.
  It will unlock the expertise of Federal fire safety specialists and 
engineers to coordinate and cooperate with local firefighter 
investigators after a major fire incident in their community.
  It authorizes the USFA to send their own experts to the site of a 
major fire to conduct an on-site investigation in coordination and 
cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities. In 
doing so, this bill more fully utilizes the agency's extensive 
expertise to help learn from major fires and to help inform prevention 
efforts in the future.
  Additionally, this bill requires USFA to issue a public report on the 
findings of the investigation to local, State, and Federal authorities. 
This report would include recommendations on how to mitigate the causes 
of the investigated fire, as well as buildings with similar 
characteristics that may bear similar fire risks.
  The sharing of national best practices is how we succeed as the 
United States of America. If other Federal agencies, for example, NIST, 
are also investigating the fire, the bill would encourage the agency to 
collaborate on a comprehensive report and interagency effort. In fact, 
collaboration with local, State, and other Federal authorities is a 
central theme of this entire bill. We are just ensuring that USFA also 
has the specific authorities it needs to carry out its mission.
  I thank my colleague, Congressman Ritchie Torres, a freshman in this 
body, for his fantastic leadership on this bill. I also recognize my 
Science Committee colleagues, Congressman Peter Meijer from west 
Michigan and Congressman Anthony Gonzalez from the State of Ohio.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join us in passing this 
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7077, the Empowering the 
U.S. Fire Administration Act. This bipartisan legislation would help us 
better investigate and prevent deadly fires by giving the U.S. Fire 
Administration the authority to collaborate with local fire 
departments. With this authority, they can send safety specialists, 
fire protection engineers, codes and standards experts, researchers, 
and fire training specialists to assist with on-site investigations of 
major fires.
  The U.S. Fire Administration is housed within FEMA, and it helps 
enhance our ability to prevent and respond to fires through research 
and education.
  It has valuable and lifesaving resources in preventing, responding 
to, and investigating fires. This bill would ensure that State and 
local governments can access their expertise and, hopefully, prevent 
major fires in the future.
  The bill directs U.S. Fire Administration incident investigators to 
examine the causes and origins of fires. Their expertise will help 
local officials assess factors that contributed to the loss of property 
and life, including the use of codes and standards, demographics, 
structural characteristics, smoke and fire dynamics, and related costs.
  Additionally, the bill requires the U.S. Fire Administration to issue 
a report in coordination with Federal, State, and local authorities on 
their findings and to provide recommendations on how to prevent similar 
fires from occurring in the future.
  I thank Representative Torres for introducing this bill after New 
York's deadliest fire in over three decades claimed the lives of 17 
residents, including 8 children.
  Representative Torres recognizes that it is critical that we empower 
the U.S. Fire Administration to partner with local fire departments to 
help determine the root cause of these tragic and horrific fires to 
make sure they never happen again.
  The bill incorporates stakeholder and agency feedback and is endorsed 
by the Fire Department of New York, the International Association of 
Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, the National 
Association of State Fire Marshals, and the National Fire Protection 
Association.
  It is smart and practical policy to make the best possible use of our 
resources to protect American lives. In addition to Representative 
Torres, I thank the original cosponsors from our committee: 
Representatives Stevens, Meijer, and Gonzalez.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Torres).
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Madam Speaker, I am here to speak about H.R. 
7077, which stems from the tragedy of Twin Parks North West, the scene 
of New York's deadliest fire in more than three decades, one that left 
the South Bronx with a death count of 17, including 8 children, one as 
young as 2 years of age.

[[Page H4735]]

  The legislation would empower the United States Fire Administration 
to investigate the deadliest fires, in partnership with State and local 
governments. Not all local jurisdictions have the capacity to 
investigate the causes of complex fires on their own. The Federal 
Government, tapping into the technical expertise of the USFA, can and 
should aid fire investigations in the aim of ascertaining the truth 
about what exactly happened and why.

  We must investigate the deadliest fires so that every lesson is 
learned and so that no life is ever lost in vain.
  The objective here is to enable the USFA to share lessons learned 
with governments at all levels in the hopes of transforming those 
lessons into policies and practices that prevent fires and save lives.
  Every time a fire breaks out and a life is lost, we should be 
reminded of a simple injunction: Those who fail to learn from history 
are doomed to repeat it. Let us enable the USFA to learn from the 
deadliest fires so that we as a Nation never repeat them.
  I am enormously grateful for the partnership of Congress Member Haley 
Stevens; without whose support the bill would never have been brought 
to the floor. I am also enormously grateful for the bipartisan 
cooperation of Congress Members Bice, Meijer, and Gonzalez.
  Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters supporting my 
legislation from the FDNY, International Association of Fire Chiefs, 
National Association of State Fire Marshals, and the International 
Association of Fire Fighters.

                                                         FDNY,

                                        Brooklyn, NY, May 9, 2022.
     Hon. Ritchie Torres,
     Congressman,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Torres: I am pleased to write in support 
     of H.R. 7077. This bill authorizes the U.S. Fire 
     Administration to conduct on-site investigations of major 
     fires and other fires under other specified circumstances.
       This bill would help to prevent future fires and deadly 
     tragedies by empowering the U.S. Fire Administration to 
     launch investigations, which assess a range of broad 
     systematic matters that contribute to fire incidents. The 
     most recent fire at Twin Parks was a tragic reminder that a 
     serious fire can happen at any time, particularly in 
     vulnerable communities. Through investigations and education, 
     we can prevent future tragedies, and this bill will assist in 
     doing just that.
       I look forward to partnering with your office on this bill 
     and other critical legislation that furthers New York City.
           Sincerely,

                                               Laura Kavanagh,

                                         Acting Fire Commissioner,
     Fire Department of the City of New York.
                                  ____

                                         International Association


                                               of Fire Chiefs,

                                     Chantilly, VA, March 4, 2022.
     Hon. Ritchie Torres,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Torres: On behalf of the nearly 12,000 
     members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs 
     (IAFC), I endorse the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration 
     Act. This legislation will allow the U.S. Fire Administration 
     (USFA) to examine the cause of major fires and share lessons 
     learned with local governments to prevent future tragedies. 
     The IAFC asks Congress to pass this legislation.
       Deaths and property loss from fire remain a national 
     tragedy. The National Fire Protection Association reports 
     that, in 2020, local fire departments responded to more than 
     1.3 million fires. These resulted in 3,500 civilian fire 
     deaths, 15,200 injuries and more almost $22 billion in 
     property loss. Despite efforts to reduce the threat of fire, 
     the United States still has one of the worst fire problems in 
     the industrialized world.
       The USFA can play a significant role in reducing fire 
     deaths and property loss. It has programs to promote fire 
     prevention and to train local fire departments to develop 
     effective fire prevention programs. The Empowering the U.S. 
     Fire Administration Act can add a valuable tool to USFA's 
     programs by allowing USFA to examine the cause and origin of 
     major fires and report on them. Specifically, the bill would 
     allow USFA to coordinate with the appropriate federal, state, 
     and local authorities, which are authorized to investigate 
     major fires. The USFA investigators would examine the 
     determined cause and origin of the fire and assess broader 
     systematic matters, including the use of codes and standards, 
     demographics, structural characteristics, smoke and fire 
     dynamics during the fire, and the costs of associated 
     injuries and deaths. Then the USFA would release a report on 
     this fire with recommendations about fire prevention in 
     similar buildings; how to improve the tactical response to 
     similar fires; and how to protect civilian life and property. 
     In addition, USFA could include this information in its 
     educational curricula at the National Fire Academy to ensure 
     that important lessons learned from major fires are 
     distributed throughout the national fire and emergency 
     service.
       I thank you again for introducing this important 
     legislation. The nation must work harder to reduce the loss 
     of life and property through tragic fires. Your bill will 
     empower the USFA to examine the causes of major fires and 
     educate the nation on how to prevent future tragedies. We 
     look forward to collaborating with you to pass this bill.
           Sincerely,

                               Fire Chief Kenneth W. Stuebing,

                                                     BHSc, CCP(f),
     President and Board Chair.
                                  ____

                                              National Association


                                       of State Fire Marshals,

                                                   March 31, 2022.
     Hon. Ritchie Torres,
     Hon. Haley Stevens,
     Hon. Peter Meijer,
     Hon. Anthony Gonzalez,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representatives Torres, Stevens, Meijer, & Gonzalez: 
     The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) 
     thanks you for your leadership introducing legislation to 
     authorize the United States Fire Administration (USFA) to 
     conduct on-site investigations of major fires and fires with 
     unusual or remarkable context. NASFM strongly endorses H.R. 
     7077, the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act.
       NASFM membership comprises the most senior state fire 
     officials in the United States. Our primary mission is to 
     protect human life, property and the environment from fire 
     and related hazards. As such, we are extremely supportive of 
     your legislation to empower the USFA to help establish a 
     broader analysis of major fires and provide recommendations 
     for enhanced risk reduction and fire prevention efforts.
       This bipartisan legislation will increase fire 
     investigation collaboration at the federal, state, and local 
     levels by allowing the USFA to send safety specialists, fire 
     protection engineers, codes and standards experts, 
     researchers, and fire training specialists to the sites of 
     major fires throughout the country. The bill also requires 
     the USFA to issue a report in coordination with appropriate 
     federal, state, and local authorities to determine the cause 
     and origin of the fire with recommendations to implement, and 
     enforcement of national safety codes and standards, to 
     prevent similar fires in the future.
       ``The National Association of State Fire Marshals 
     enthusiastically supports H.R. 7077, the Empowering the U.S. 
     Fire Administration Act.'' said NASFM Executive Director Jim 
     Narva, ``By ensuring the inclusion of a more diverse risk 
     reduction focus, the investigations authorized under this Act 
     will help identify underlying issues and recommend actions to 
     help prevent future tragedies, saving countless lives.''
       Thank you again for your leadership, we look forward to 
     working with you to enact this important fire risk reduction 
     and prevention legislation into law.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Jim Narva,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                      International Association of


                                                 Fire Fighters

                                    Washington, DC, April 1, 2022.
     Hon. Ritchie Torres,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Torres: On behalf of the more than 
     327,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical 
     services (EMS) personnel of the International Association of 
     Fire Fighters (IAFF), thank you for introducing the 
     Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act (H.R. 7077). The 
     IAFF appreciates your work to enable the U.S. Fire 
     Administrator to investigate fires and identify essential 
     lessons learned that can save lives in the future.
       Fires continue to be a significant threat across the 
     nation. This past January alone, three fires led to the 
     deaths of 3 fire fighters and 29 members of the public. When 
     these major fires occur, there are always lessons that can 
     prevent future deaths. Sadly, the U.S. Fire Administration 
     (USFA) lacks the formal authority to investigate fires and 
     translate lessons learned into ways to enhance fire fighters' 
     training and public education efforts. The IAFF is pleased to 
     support your legislation as it empowers the USFA to identify 
     important findings from each fire.
       The IAFF also appreciates that H.R. 7077 places a high 
     value on communicating the findings of fire investigations to 
     the public. Far too often, findings from fire investigations 
     are only partially released or done so in a manner that does 
     not allow findings to be used for future educational 
     purposes. The USFA has a strong track record of educating the 
     fire service and developing valuable training. Authorizing 
     the USFA to conduct these investigations is a meaningful way 
     to ensure that these findings will be shared with the broader 
     fire service and fully incorporated into future training and 
     educational opportunities.
       Thank you again for your leadership and work to support 
     fire fighters across the nation. Congress must make every 
     effort to support our fire fighters' safety and enable them 
     to succeed in serving their communities. H.R. 7077 provides 
     an important new

[[Page H4736]]

     tool by empowering the USFA to serve the American fire 
     service in a new capacity. The IAFF looks forward to working 
     with you to secure the passage of H.R. 7077 as quickly as 
     possible.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Edward A. Kelly,
                                                General President.

  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer), my freshman colleague.
  Mr. MEIJER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7077, the 
Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act, which is an important 
piece of bipartisan legislation to support the U.S. Fire 
Administration.
  I was honored to join my colleague we just heard from, Mr. Ritchie 
Torres, in introducing this bill, spurred from a terrible and 
heartbreaking tragedy in his district in New York.
  That fire in the Bronx apartment building left us with many 
questions. Upon further examination, it became clear that there is 
currently a lack of coordination between the Federal U.S. Fire 
Administration and other State and local authorities. In fact, the U.S. 
Fire Administration does not have the authority to conduct on-site 
investigations of major fires. As a result, our State and local 
authorities are limited in their capabilities to investigate major 
fires.
  The U.S. Fire Administration's expertise can and should be used to 
the fullest extent, in coordination with all existing authorities 
responsible for fire investigations.
  That is why H.R. 7077 is so important. It simply addresses the 
existing coordination gap between Federal, State, and local 
authorities. It allows the U.S. Fire Administration to send 
investigators, including safety specialists, fire protection engineers, 
codes and standards experts, and fire training specialists to the site 
of a major fire so that these experts can then work on the ground with 
their State and local authorities to determine causes, examine building 
failures, provide answers to those affected by the fires, and establish 
lessons learned so similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
  The tragedy we saw in the Bronx was heartbreaking and should never 
have happened. We need answers, and we also need to ensure that 
something like this does not happen again. It is past time to allow the 
experts at all levels, Federal, State, and local, to coordinate and 
help us achieve this goal. This bill has received support from fire 
departments across the country, including my hometown of Grand Rapids, 
with our Grand Rapids Fire Department offering its support.
  I thank my colleague, Mr. Torres, without whom this wouldn't have 
happened, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Gonzalez for their work on this bill, as 
well as my dear colleague, Mrs. Bice, for her work.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of 
legislation.
  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise again in support of H.R. 7077, the Empowering the U.S. Fire 
Administration Act.
  As I previously mentioned, the USFA has valuable and lifesaving 
resources in preventing, responding to, and investigating fires. This 
bill would ensure that State and local governments have access to these 
resources and that the U.S. Fire Administration has the authority 
needed to conduct on-site investigations of major fires.
  We cannot afford to let any more tragic and preventable fires like 
the one in Representative Torres' district happen in the future.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
critical bill, H.R. 7077, a bill to empower the U.S. Fire 
Administration to act in regard to the event of fires for investigative 
purposes.
  I also note that the Members who are supporting this bill not only 
share a time zone but also share a generation and share a vision for 
the future, a vision for the future of this country that utilizes the 
best of government and interagency effort, government acting cohesively 
together when needed, having the Federal Government come in and support 
local fire departments in the wake of catastrophic fires.
  This is quite palpable, Madam Speaker. The urgency to pass the bill, 
H.R. 7077, could not be more palpable.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7077, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________