[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9157-9162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             FIRE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1550) to authorize appropriations for the United States 
Fire Administration for fiscal years 2000 and 2001, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1550

       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 ``Fire Administration 
     Authorization Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 17 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
     of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216) is amended to read as follows:


                   ``authorization of appropriations

       ``Sec. 17. Except as otherwise specifically provided with 
     respect to the payment of claims under section 11 of this 
     Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
     purposes of this Act--
       ``(1) $30,554,000 for fiscal year 1999;
       ``(2) $46,130,000 for fiscal year 2000, of which $2,200,000 
     shall be used for research activities, and $250,000 shall be 
     used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities for data 
     analysis, including general fire profiles and special fire 
     analyses and report projects, and of which $6,000,000 shall 
     be for anti-terrorism training, including associated 
     curriculum development, for fire and emergency services 
     personnel; and
       ``(3) $49,500,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which $3,000,000 
     shall be used for research activities, and $250,000 shall be 
     used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities for data 
     analysis, including general fire profiles and special fire 
     analyses and report projects, and of which $8,000,000 shall 
     be for anti-terrorism training, including associated 
     curriculum development, for fire and emergency services 
     personnel.

     None of the funds authorized by paragraph (3) may be 
     obligated unless the Administrator has certified to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate that the obligation of funds is consistent with the 
     strategic plan transmitted under section 3 of the Fire 
     Administration Authorization Act of 1999.''.

     SEC. 3. STRATEGIC PLAN.

       (a) Requirement.--Not later than April 30, 2000, the 
     Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall 
     prepare and transmit to the Committee on Science of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate a 5-year strategic plan of 
     program activities for the United States Fire Administration.
       (b) Contents of Plan.--The plan required by subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (1) a comprehensive mission statement covering the major 
     functions and operations of the United States Fire 
     Administration in the areas of training, research, data 
     collection and analysis, and public education;
       (2) general goals and objectives, including those related 
     to outcomes, for the major functions and operations of the 
     United States Fire Administration;
       (3) a description of how the goals and objectives 
     identified under paragraph (2) are to be achieved, including 
     operational processes, skills and technology, and the human, 
     capital, information, and other resources required to meet 
     those goals and objectives;

[[Page 9158]]

       (4) an identification of the fire-related activities of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
     Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies, and a 
     discussion of how those activities can be coordinated with 
     and contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives 
     identified under paragraph (2);
       (5) a description of objective, quantifiable performance 
     goals needed to define the level of performance achieved by 
     program activities in training, research, data collection and 
     analysis, and public education, and how these performance 
     goals relate to the general goals and objectives in the 
     strategic plan;
       (6) an identification of key factors external to the United 
     States Fire Administration and beyond its control that could 
     affect significantly the achievement of the general goals and 
     objectives;
       (7) a description of program evaluations used in 
     establishing or revising general goals and objectives, with a 
     schedule for future program evaluations;
       (8) a plan for the timely distribution of information and 
     educational materials to State and local firefighting 
     services, including volunteer, career, and combination 
     services throughout the United States;
       (9) a description of how the strategic plan prepared under 
     this section will be incorporated into the strategic plan and 
     the performance plans and reports of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency; and
       (10)(A) a description of the current and planned use of the 
     Internet for the delivery of training courses by the National 
     Fire Academy, including a listing of the types of courses and 
     whether they provide real time interaction between instructor 
     and students, and including the number of students enrolled, 
     and the geographic distribution of students, for the most 
     recent fiscal year;
       (B) an assessment of the availability and actual use by the 
     National Fire Academy of Federal facilities suitable for 
     distance education applications, including facilities with 
     teleconferencing capabilities; and
       (C) an assessment of the benefits and problems associated 
     with delivery of instructional courses using the Internet, 
     including limitations due to network bandwidth at training 
     sites, the availability of suitable course materials, and the 
     effectiveness of such courses in terms of student 
     performance.

     SEC. 4. RESEARCH AGENDA.

       (a) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United 
     States Fire Administration, in consultation with the Director 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Director of 
     the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
     representatives of trade associations, State and local 
     firefighting services, and other appropriate entities, shall 
     prepare and transmit to the Committee on Science of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate a report describing the 
     United States Fire Administration's research agenda and 
     including a plan for implementing that agenda.
       (b) Contents of Report.--The report required by subsection 
     (a) shall--
       (1) identify research priorities;
       (2) describe how the proposed research agenda will be 
     coordinated and integrated with the programs and capabilities 
     of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
     Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies;
       (3) identify potential roles of academic and other research 
     institutions in achieving the research agenda;
       (4) provide cost estimates, anticipated personnel needs, 
     and a schedule for completing the various elements of the 
     research agenda;
       (5) describe ways to leverage resources through 
     partnerships, cooperative agreements, and other means; and
       (6) discuss how the proposed research agenda will enhance 
     training, improve State and local firefighting services, 
     impact standards and codes, increase firefighter and public 
     safety, and advance firefighting techniques.
       (c) Use in Preparing Strategic Plan.--The research agenda 
     prepared under this section shall be used in the preparation 
     of the strategic plan required by section 3.

     SEC. 5. SURPLUS AND EXCESS FEDERAL EQUIPMENT.

       The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 33. SURPLUS AND EXCESS FEDERAL EQUIPMENT.

       ``The Administrator shall make publicly available, 
     including through the Internet, information on procedures for 
     acquiring surplus and excess Federal fire, emergency, 
     hazardous material, or other equipment or property that may 
     be useful to State and local fire and emergency services.''.

     SEC. 6. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL FACILITIES.

       The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 34. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL FACILITIES.

       ``The Administrator shall make publicly available, 
     including through the Internet, information on procedures for 
     establishing cooperative agreements between State and local 
     fire and emergency services and Federal facilities in their 
     region relating to the provision of fire and emergency 
     services.''.

     SEC. 7. MISCELLANEOUS REPEALS.

       The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is 
     amended--
       (1) by repealing section 10(b) and redesignating subsection 
     (c) of that section as subsection (b);
       (2) by repealing section 23;
       (3) in section 24--
       (A) by striking ``(a) The'' and inserting ``The''; and
       (B) by repealing subsection (b);
       (4) by repealing section 26; and
       (5) by repealing section 27.

     SEC. 8. NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN COUNTERTERRORISM.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States 
     Fire Administration shall conduct an assessment of the need 
     for additional capabilities for Federal counterterrorism 
     training of emergency response personnel.
       (b) Contents of Assessment.--The assessment conducted under 
     this section shall include--
       (1) a review of the counterterrorism training programs 
     offered by the United States Fire Administration and other 
     Federal agencies;
       (2) an estimate of the number and types of emergency 
     response personnel that have, during the period between 
     January 1, 1994, and June 1, 1999, sought training described 
     in paragraph (1), but have been unable to receive that 
     training as a result of the oversubscription of the training 
     capabilities; and
       (3) a recommendation on the need to provide additional 
     Federal counterterrorism training centers, including--
       (A) an analysis of existing Federal facilities that could 
     be used as counterterrorism training facilities; and
       (B) a cost-benefit analysis of the establishment of 
     counterterrorism training facilities in regions where many 
     applicants for such training reside.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare and 
     submit to the Congress a report on the results of the 
     assessment conducted under this section.

     SEC. 9. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States 
     Fire Administration, in consultation with the Board of 
     Visitors and representatives of trade and professional 
     associations, State and local firefighting services, and 
     other appropriate entities, shall conduct a review of the 
     courses of instruction available at the National Fire Academy 
     to ensure that they are up-to-date and complement, not 
     duplicate, courses of instruction offered elsewhere. Not 
     later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Administrator shall prepare and submit a report to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate.
       (b) Contents of Report.--The report required by subsection 
     (a) shall--
       (1) examine and assess the courses of instruction offered 
     by the National Fire Academy;
       (2) identify redundant and out-of-date courses of 
     instruction;
       (3) examine the current and future impact of information 
     technology on National Fire Academy curricula, methods of 
     instruction, and delivery of services; and
       (4) make recommendations for updating the curriculum, 
     methods of instruction, and delivery of services by the 
     National Fire Academy considering current and future needs, 
     State-based curricula, advances in information technologies, 
     and other relevant factors.

     SEC. 10. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.

       The Administrator of the United States Fire Administration 
     shall make available through the Internet home page of the 
     United States Fire Administration the abstracts relating to 
     all research grants and awards made with funds authorized by 
     the amendments made by this Act. Nothing in this section 
     shall be construed to require or permit the release of any 
     information prohibited by law or regulation from being 
     released to the public.

     SEC. 11. REPEAL OF EXCEPTION TO FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENT.

       (a) Repeal.--Section 4 of Public Law 103-195 (107 Stat. 
     2298) is hereby repealed.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect 1 
     year after the date of the enactment of this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie 
Bernice Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H.R. 1550.

[[Page 9159]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1550, the U.S. Fire Administration Authorization 
Act of 1999 reauthorizes training, research, data collection and 
analysis, and public education programs at the United States Fire 
Administration, which includes the National Fire Academy. It was passed 
out of the Committee on Science by a voice vote on April 29, 1999.
  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Fire Prevention and 
Control Act establishing the Fire Administration. Since its formation 
in 1974, the Fire Administration has played an important role in 
reducing the loss of life and property from fire. These declines can be 
traced in part to research sponsored by the USFA that led to affordable 
smoke detectors and its work in promoting sprinkler systems.
  Recently, many in the fire-fighting community have begun questioning 
the value of a Fire Administration that appears to have lost its way. 
These concerns were raised in the recent Blue Ribbon Panel report that 
identified a number of deficiencies that have undermined the agency's 
effectiveness.
  The Committee on Science shares these concerns and is dedicated to 
assuring that the report's recommendation, which reflect the consensus 
of the fire-services community, are implemented in H.R. 1550. This is 
the first step to getting the Fire Administration back on track, 
especially in research.
  The bill provides a significant increase in funding, authorizing a 
total of $95.6 million over fiscal years 2000 and 2001. Of this amount, 
$5.2 million has been set aside for research, $500,000 for outsourcing 
of data analysis, and $14 million for antiterrorism training.
  The bill also requires the Fire Administration to certify that funds 
obligated in fiscal year 2001 are consistent with the strategic plan 
required in section 3 of the bill.
  The strategic plan provision of the bill matches closely the 
language's strategic plans in the Government Performance and Results 
Act. Additional elements of the plan include coordination with other 
Federal agencies, especially the Department of Defense; a plan for 
disseminating information and materials to State and local fire 
services; and an assessment of the use of the Internet in delivering 
training courses.
  In addition to the increased authorization for research funding, the 
bill also requires the Fire Administration to establish research 
priorities and to develop a plan for implementing a research agenda.
  The bill also directs the Fire Administration to make available the 
State and local fire and emergency services information on excess 
Federal equipment and on setting up cooperative agreements with Federal 
facilities, such as military bases; conduct an assessment on the need 
for additional counterterrorism training for emergency responders; 
review the content and delivery of the curriculum offered by the 
National Fire Academy; and to post abstracts of research grants it 
awards on its Internet homepage.
  In addition, H.R. 1550 repeals obsolete sections of the Fire 
Administration statute. It also repeals, as of 1 year after enactment, 
a provision in law that exempts Federally-funded housing built in New 
York City from sprinkler requirements.

                              {time}  1500

  Before closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Subcommittee on Basic Research of 
the Committee on Science, and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie 
Bernice Johnson), who is the ranking minority member of the 
subcommittee, for all their hard work in producing a balanced bill that 
will rejuvenate and strengthen the Fire Administration. It is a bill 
that deserves broad bipartisan support. I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fire Administration has long enjoyed the bipartisan 
support of the Congress because of its vital mission: to improve safety 
for all of our citizens.
  I would like to acknowledge the collegial approach taken by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on Basic Research, in developing H.R. 1550. It has been a pleasure 
working with him on the bill.
  I also want to thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), and the ranking Democrat member, 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Brown), for their efforts in moving 
the bill through the committee and in bringing it expeditiously before 
the House for its consideration.
  The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 was intended to 
address a serious problem affecting the safety of all Americans. Much 
progress has been made during the past 25 years in public education 
about fire safety, improvement in the effectiveness of fire services, 
and the wider use of home fire safety devices. Nevertheless, the United 
States still has one of the highest fire death rates among advanced 
nations. In 1997, 4,000 Americans died and 24,000 were injured in 
fires. Moreover, the approximately 2 million fires reported each year 
result in direct property losses estimated well over $8 billion, with 
total direct and indirect costs reaching $100 billion annually.
  The bill before the House seeks to reinvigorate the efforts of the 
Fire Administration. I am pleased that it endorses the President's 
fiscal year 2000 proposal for a 40 percent funding increase and 
provides an additional 7 percent increase in the second year. Although 
these increases will raise the fire budget nearly $50 million, it still 
pales compared to the scale of activity originally contemplated for the 
agency.
  The landmark report, ``America Burning'', which was the genesis for 
the 1974 act, recommended an initial budget for the Fire Administration 
of $124 million in 1974 dollars. H.R. 1550 is a good start for 
providing the level of resources the Fire Administration needs to carry 
out its important mission. In addition to resources, the bill provides 
for the agency to develop a management plan and establish the program 
priorities that will help to ensure the increased resources are used to 
maximize effect.
  H.R. 1550 will enable the Fire Administration to increase support for 
its critical responsibility of firefighter training through the 
National Fire Academy. Moreover, the budget growth will enable the 
agency to reverse the steep decline in support for fire research and 
for public education programs. Greater research is absolutely necessary 
so that we can help prevent firefighter injury and death nationally, 
including those that claimed the lives of three firefighters from the 
Dallas-Fort Worth area earlier this year.
  Regarding public education, the Fire Administration must enlarge and 
improve its efforts to reduce losses for the population groups most at 
risk from fire death and injury. We know that the elderly, the very 
young and the poor are most vulnerable. I included language in the 
report accompanying the bill tasking the Fire Administration to 
carefully assess whether research and additional data collection 
activities could improve understanding of the factors that lead to 
increased fire risk. Effective targeted fire prevention campaigns can 
be developed only from a sound base of knowledge.
  Also, I asked the Fire Administration to look into the current use of 
security bars, which are often called burglary bars. These devices 
offer protection from criminals but can become fire traps in the event 
of fire, as has recently been the case in Texas and other States. The 
Fire Administration could help prevent such tragedies by disseminating 
information about ways to install the security bars properly that also 
will allow for easy departure from a building in a fire emergency.
  In addition to funding authorizations, H.R. 1550 establishes the 
requirement for a 5-year program plan for the

[[Page 9160]]

agency. This plan will constitute the formal documentation of Fire 
Administration's response to the recommendations of the blue ribbon 
panel convened last year by FEMA Director Witt to review the agency's 
management and programs.
  I am particularly concerned about the recent decision the FEMA 
director made to create the position of chief operating officer for the 
Fire Administration. The incumbent for this position, a civil service 
employee, would report directly to the FEMA director but assist rather 
than report to the administrator.
  I understand the reasons that led to the creation of this new 
position and generally support the position. The problem lies in the 
tangling of lines of authority within the Fire Administration and 
confusing the roles of two officials. This arrangement, in my view, 
will create confusion in the line of authority within the Fire 
Administration that may be harmful to the functioning of the agency.
  I believe the fire administrator is committed to carrying out reforms 
at the agency consistent with the blue ribbon panel's recommendations. 
I will be following this situation closely to be sure the fire 
administrator plays an important role in developing and implementing 
the FEMA director's final response to the blue ribbon panel report.
  One part of the process required by H.R. 1550 for developing the 5-
year will include consultation with the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology and the fire service organizations to establish a 
prioritized set of research goals. I am particularly interested in 
seeing that this research prioritization places adequate emphasis on 
development of firefighter protection equipment. Firefighters put their 
lives on the line every day. It is only right they have the equipment 
that will allow them to do their jobs effectively and as safely as 
possible.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1550 is a useful bill that comes to the floor with 
bipartisan support and that authorizes programs that advance public 
safety. I am pleased to recommend the measure to my colleagues for 
their approval.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 8 minutes to the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, more than ever the American fire 
and emergency services are being called upon to respond to new 
challenges and incidents, most notably chemical, biological, nuclear, 
and conventional weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, they 
have small budgets, higher operating costs and fewer volunteers.
  To their credit, the fire and emergency services simply make do with 
what they have in every one of our communities, but the cost to them is 
high. Roughly 100 firefighters and first responders die every year on 
the job and nearly one-third of our firefighters are injured. This 
compares, incidentally, to about 180 law enforcement officers killed in 
the line of duty each year. However, both groups are vital to our 
communities. The difference is the budgets, with police getting about 
twentyfold of what we are giving to firefighters. For first responders, 
we can do better.
  Today, the House will vote on the reauthorization of the United 
States Fire Administration. In this Congress the vote will not seem 
significant, but within the American fire services this is a landmark 
occasion. The United States Fire Administration is the lead agency for 
our 1.2 million first responders, the brave men and women who stand 
ready at a moment's notice to place their own lives in danger in order 
to protect ours. In the three terms I have served in Congress, this 
legislation is one of my proudest achievements.
  The United States Fire Administration was established in 1975 under 
the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. Its mission was divided 
into four program areas: data collection, public education, training, 
and technology development. Much of the progress in reducing fire-
related deaths over the past 25 years can be attributed to the work of 
the USFA.
  In recent years, the United States Fire Administration has been 
subject to scrutiny and criticism from its own constituents. In fact, 
James Lee Witt, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
appointed a blue ribbon commission to conduct a thorough review of the 
administration and report back with recommendations to revitalize its 
mission. The commission represented virtually every facet of fire 
services, including career and volunteer firefighters, chiefs, ethnic 
and female firefighters and instructors. Having had the pleasure of 
meeting with the chair and co-chairperson of this distinguished 
commission, I can say that this group made certain that all views were 
represented in the report.
  They listed 34 recommendations to improve the United States Fire 
Administration. At the top of their list was additional funding.
  As many of my colleagues know, I am a fiscal conservative. So, quite 
frankly, I was somewhat skeptical of their motives. However, after 
careful review of the report, I saw in it a serious and earnest effort 
on the part of these stakeholders to bring about positive change, to 
increase funding for the United States Fire Administration while at the 
same time holding it accountable for its own performance.
  The measure we will consider today will increase USFA's authorization 
from $30 million to $46 million in fiscal year 2000, approximately a 
40% increase. It provides a fourfold increase in research that is so 
vital for firefighter safety and reducing the amount of damage in this 
country from fires.
  The legislation will require USFA to prepare a 5-year plan on how the 
funding will be spent, mandating the administration to coordinate 
activities with other Federal agencies, including the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology. It will channel new funding into 
the National Fire Academy for counterterrorism training for first 
responders and call for a review of National Fire Academy courses to 
ensure that they are up to date and complement, not duplicate, courses 
of instruction offered elsewhere.
  Mr. Speaker, 3 weeks ago, as a member of the Congressional Fire 
Caucus, I had the pleasure of attending the 11th Annual National Fire 
and Emergency Services dinner here in Washington, D.C. The event was 
sponsored by leadership of the caucus, and I must say I was somewhat 
embarrassed to be seated at the head table when that honor should have 
been accorded to the 2,000 fire service leaders seated in the audience.
  They came from every corner of the United States here to represent 
their segment of the firefighting industry. They were here in 
Washington to learn about the Federal process while also to enjoy 
themselves at the dinner. But as I stand here today delivering these 
remarks, many of them are properly responding to emergencies placing 
their own lives in harm's way.
  So when I say this legislation is one of my proudest achievements, my 
colleagues now know why. This will have the potential of saving 
countless numbers of lives, significantly reducing physical injuries 
and decreasing the dollar amount of damages caused by fire and other 
forms of disasters.
  I would personally like to thank everyone from the fire service who 
offered their support to me throughout this entire reauthorization 
process. But more importantly, I would like to thank all 1.2 million 
first responders for their dedication and commitment to duty, and offer 
my best wishes for their continued success and safety. I am concerned 
that Washington's commitment to firefighters is not as great as 
firefighter's commitment to us. Too often, we take their willingness to 
protect and assist us for granted. The next time you hear a siren or 
see a fire truck, you should give some thought to the firefighters and 
rescue workers, who are mostly volunteers, going out of their way and 
often risking their lives to protect their communities and neighbors. I 
hope H.R. 1550 can be the beginning of a national effort to increase 
our support for these public-spirited citizens.
  H.R. 1550 is an important piece of legislation that deserves broad 
bipartisan support. I ask my colleagues to support it.
  Allow me to note some recent heroes, firefighter Matt Mosely, 
suspended from a helicopter hovering over a flame-engulfed factory

[[Page 9161]]

plucked Ivers Sims from the top of a construction crane.
  March 16, 1999. The Bourbonnais Fire Department, a volunteer 
department with 44 men and only three pumpers, responded to the worst 
train wreck in America since 1993 and found 14 dead and 119 injured. 
And acted with valor.
  April 20, 1999, In Littleton, Colorado fire engineers placed their 
engines closer to the school to serve as cover for advancing officers 
and escaping students in Littleton.
  Capt. Richard Knowlton, of the Austin Fire Department, dove from a 
26-foot cliff into a Northwest Austin pond in June. After Knowlton 
pulled a swimmer from the pond, he attempted mouth-to-mouth 
resuscitation until emergency medical rescuers arrived.
  We cannot overlook their needs without continued loss of life. Sgt. 
John Carter, who died last year in Washington, D.C. was an unnecessary 
fatality. The reconstruction report said that he could have been saved 
if his portable radio worked properly. It was old, it was faulty, and 
he died from drowning in a basement when his air ran out. If fireground 
communication can save even one life, how much is it worst spending.
  Finally, it is very important to contrast spending on law enforcement 
vs. spending on the fire services. The federal government probably 
spends more than $96 million a month on everything from cars to vests 
for cops, while the fire services get nothing.
  And I would like to cite the lack of leadership in the Administration 
on this vote for H.R. 1550!
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall).
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
Texas for yielding me this time to speak in support of H.R. 1550, the 
Fire Administration Authorization Act of 1999.
  I would like to talk specifically about the merits of two provisions 
added by amendments I offered that are designed to strengthen our 
counterterrorism training efforts.
  As we experience more instances of domestic terrorism, it is vital 
our first responders are trained to address the possibilities of 
terrorist attack. We are now facing a situation in which a policeman, 
paramedic or firefighter can be called upon to deal with a terrorist 
scenario.
  Take Oklahoma City. In the bombing there, the incident commander was 
the fire chief. The law enforcement emergency professionals and others 
reported to him. In the future, given this example, training received 
at the National Fire Academy might mean life or death not just for our 
first responders but for uncountable numbers of people. It is essential 
that the Fire Administration have the resources necessary to help meet 
the anti-terrorism training needs of the fire services.
  I agree with the Committee on Science's 1997 report authorizing the 
Fire Administration that important training programs for major fires, 
natural disasters and hazardous materials accidents should not come at 
the expense of existing USFA programs.

                              {time}  1515

  I would also note that the Blue Ribbon Panel convened last year by 
FEMA Director Witt recommends that the Fire Administration budget for 
natural disaster and terrorism response activities be $15 million.
  Accordingly, my first amendment increased the authorization level for 
the Fire Administration's anti-terrorist training activities by $1 
million for fiscal year 2000 and by an additional $2 million for fiscal 
year 2001. These increases raised the total authorization level for 
this important activity to $6 million per year in the first year and to 
$8 million, or twice the current level, by the second year.
  Under my second amendment, the U.S. Fire Administration is required 
to assess the need for additional capabilities for Federal 
counterterrorism training of emergency response personnel.
  We need to know how adequate our current efforts are, what our 
current need is, and how best to satisfy that need in the event that 
demand for training exceeds our current capacity for training.
  My amendments were designed to ensure an important activity of the 
Fire Administration is placed on a reasonable growth track consistent 
with the Blue Ribbon Panel's recommendation. Terrorism is a problem 
that has reached endemic proportions; and I feel strongly that, 
whenever possible, we should do our part to protect Americans from this 
national threat.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to take this opportunity to thank 
our colleagues, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Science, and the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Smith) for bringing this piece of legislation to the 
floor today.
  This reauthorization addresses many of the concerns of today's 
firefighters and prepares them for the challenges ahead. I am pleased 
to cast my vote today in favor of the reauthorization of the Fire 
Administration. We trust America's firefighters with the lives of our 
families and the protection of our property, our homes, forests, and 
communities. In turn, they trust us with the protection of their lives 
by expecting us to provide them with the resources and training 
necessary to face the dangers ahead.
  This legislation protects and prepares our Nation's firefighters for 
the critical challenges they face in our world today. This is a vital 
piece of legislation, preventing fires and protecting families and is 
ensuring our firefighters with the necessary funding to provide 
training and to enable them to gather information. By increasing 
funding by almost 40 percent, this reauthorization will assist Federal, 
State, and local firefighters in their efforts to develop and complete 
fire profiling, data analysis and reporting projects. It will provide 
today's firefighters with anti-terrorism training and develop a 
curriculum for fire and emergency services personnel.
  Moreover, the bill requires the U.S. Fire Administration to develop a 
comprehensive mission statement which will cover the administration's 
major functions and operations in training, research, data collection 
and analysis, and public education and allows fire companies to 
identify the fire-related activities of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Department of Defense, and other Federal 
agencies, and open discussion of how those activities can be 
coordinated with and contribute to the achievement of these goals and 
objectives of the U.S. Fire Administration.
  This reauthorization prepares today's firefighters by providing them 
with the up-to-date information that they sorely need by allowing them 
to input their ideas into national fire prevention efforts and giving 
them the funding support that will protect them as they face the 
challenges ahead.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to fully support this measure.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding me the time and for her leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fire Administration Authorization Act contains an 
important provision which closes the loophole specific to New York 
City, the area that I represent.
  In 1993, a provision was slipped into a technical amendments bill 
which exempted New York City from the national requirement that all 
multi-family housing built using Federal funds must have fire 
sprinklers installed. This loophole allowed Federally funded multi-
family housing only in New York City to be exempted from this 
requirement if the structure had ``an equivalent level of safety.'' Yet 
it did not define what ``an equivalent level of safety'' was. And, as 
we have learned, there is absolutely no substitute to sprinklers when 
it comes to limiting fires and saving lives.
  After a terrible string of fires in New York City apartment 
buildings, the

[[Page 9162]]

City Council this year passed a very strict fire safety law which made 
sprinklers mandatory in multi-family housing. But with this loophole in 
place, if a developer receives any Federal funding, they can apply to 
be exempt from this fire safety requirement.
  I introduced a stand-alone bill, H.R. 1126, to close this loophole; 
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner), an original cosponsor, 
added it as an amendment to this legislation.
  I would like to publicly thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie 
Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. James 
Sensenbrenner) for supporting this provision and for making certain 
that apartment buildings in New York City are as safe from fire as they 
are in the rest of the country. I thank them for including the 
amendment.
  Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for 
yielding me this time, and I rise today in support of the Fire 
Administration Authorization Act.
  First, I wish to thank our Chairman, the gentleman from Wisconsin, 
Mr. Sensenbrenner, for his work on this bill and the ranking member of 
our committee, the gentleman from California Mr. George Brown, and my 
colleagues who have sponsored and introduced this legislation, the 
gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Smith, and the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. 
Johnson, for graciously accepting the amendment I offered during mark-
up.
  Fewer than two weeks ago we approved this bill in the Committee on 
Science. The bill, among other things, requires the United States Fire 
Administration to create a five-year plan laying out the agency's 
overall goals and program activities. My amendment added a provision to 
assess, within the strategic plan, the benefits of providing fire 
education to local fire departments through distance learning.
  Under my amendment, the Fire Administration's strategic plan must now 
include full consideration of how the Internet is currently used and 
could be used more effectively in the future to deliver National Fire 
Academy training courses at remote sites. It also asks the Fire 
Administration to review its current training activities over the 
Internet and assess the benefits and problems associated with Internet 
use for training. Finally, it requires an inquiry into the availability 
of federal facilities with advanced tele-communications capabilities 
which could be used as remote settings for Fire Academy courses.
  The question that prompted me to propose this amendment is whether 
the National Fire Academy has carefully considered how best to make use 
of the Internet. At an authorization hearing on the Fire Administration 
in the Science Committee earlier this year, I learned that on-campus 
courses at the Academy are heavily oversubscribed and that distance 
learning is one mechanism to provide needed training for the fire 
services community. I believe that by assessing the viability of 
instituting this mechanism, we take a first step toward facilitating 
this needed training for our valued fire services community, who will 
stand to benefit from this practical application of information 
technology.
  My amendment marks an important step in ensuring that the Government 
keeps pace with the uses and applications of the technological advances 
taking place in the world as we approach the next millennium. It also 
represents a continuation of my efforts in Congress to ensure that the 
Federal Government will be at the forefront of these technological 
changers.
  Again, I wish to thank my colleagues on the committee for supporting 
the amendment and encourage all my colleagues in the House to support 
this bill.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further questions for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1550, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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