[House Report 108-245]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-245
======================================================================



 
      UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2003

                                _______
                                

 August 4, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Boehlert, from the Committee on Science, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2692]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 2692) to authorize appropriations for activities under 
the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 for fiscal 
years 2004 through 2006, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment 
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Amendment.......................................................2
  II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................5
 III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................5
  IV. Summary of Hearings.............................................7
   V. Committee Actions...............................................7
  VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................8
 VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section)..............9
VIII. Committee Views................................................11
  IX. Cost Estimate..................................................14
   X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................15
  XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)...........16
 XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations...............16
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives..........16
 XIV. Constitutional Authority Statement.............................16
  XV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................16
 XVI. Congressional Accountability Act...............................16
XVII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law.........17
XVIII.Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported..........17

 XIX. Committee Recommendations......................................24
  XX. Proceedings of Subcommittee Markup.............................24
 XXI. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup...........................45

                              I. Amendment

    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``United States Fire Administration 
Authorization Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATOR.

    Notwithstanding section 1513 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 553), the Administrator of the United States Fire 
Administration shall continue to be appointed and compensated as 
provided under section 5(b) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2204(b)).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER STRATEGY.

    Section 30 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2226) is amended--
          (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The Director, 
        acting''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) National Residential Fire Sprinkler Strategy.--The 
Administrator shall develop and implement a strategy for promoting the 
installation and use of residential fire sprinklers. The strategy shall 
include--
          ``(1) advocacy and informational support to relevant 
        stakeholders, including builders, insurers, and State and local 
        decisionmakers;
          ``(2) promotion of residential sprinklers in residences 
        supported by the Federal Government;
          ``(3) a particular focus on residences--
                  ``(A) at high risk to fire hazards; and
                  ``(B) with occupants at high risk to fire hazards, 
                such as senior citizens and persons with disabilities; 
                and
          ``(4) a particular focus on localized fire suppression in 
        high-risk areas of residences.''.

SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR TRAINING TO FIGHT MARITIME FIRES.

  Subsection (b)(3)(B) of the first section 33 of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(3)(B)) is amended 
by inserting ``maritime firefighting,'' after ``arson prevention and 
detection,''.

SEC. 5. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM.

  The first section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``Director'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Administrator'';
          (2) by amending subsection (b)(2) to read as follows:
          ``(2) Administrative assistance.--The Administrator shall 
        establish specific criteria for the selection of recipients of 
        assistance under this section and shall provide grant-writing 
        assistance to applicants.''; and
          (3) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``operate the office 
        established under subsection (b)(2) and''.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``to carry out the 
purposes'' and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (K) and 
inserting ``to the Administrator to carry out the purposes of this Act, 
other than the firefighter assistance program under section 33--
          ``(A) $58,928,000 for fiscal year 2004;
          ``(B) $60,700,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
          ``(C) $62,520,000 for fiscal year 2006.''.

SEC. 7. COURSES AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE.

  Section 7(l) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2206(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
``The Superintendent shall offer, at the Academy and at other sites, 
courses and training assistance as necessary to accommodate all 
geographic regions and needs of career and volunteer firefighters.''.

SEC. 8. NEW FIREFIGHTING TECHNOLOGY.

  (a) In General.--Section 8 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
          (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
  ``(e) Development of New Technology.--
          ``(1) In general.--In addition to, or as part of, the program 
        conducted under subsection (a), the Administrator, in 
        consultation with the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, the Inter-Agency Board for Equipment 
        Standardization and Inter-Operability, national voluntary 
        consensus standards development organizations, interested 
        Federal, State, and local agencies, and other interested 
        parties, shall--
                  ``(A) develop new, and utilize existing, measurement 
                techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating new 
                firefighting technologies, including--
                          ``(i) personal protection equipment;
                          ``(ii) devices for advance warning of extreme 
                        hazard;
                          ``(iii) equipment for enhanced vision;
                          ``(iv) devices to locate victims, 
                        firefighters, and other rescue personnel in 
                        above-ground and below-ground structures;
                          ``(v) equipment and methods to provide 
                        information for incident command, including the 
                        monitoring and reporting of individual 
                        personnel welfare;
                          ``(vi) equipment and methods for training, 
                        especially for virtual reality training; and
                          ``(vii) robotics and other remote-controlled 
                        devices;
                  ``(B) evaluate the compatibility of new equipment and 
                technology with existing firefighting technology; and
                  ``(C) support the development of new voluntary 
                consensus standards through national voluntary 
                consensus standards organizations for new firefighting 
                technologies based on techniques and methodologies 
                described in subparagraph (A).
          ``(2) Standards for new equipment.--(A) The Administrator 
        shall, by regulation, require that new equipment or systems 
        purchased through the assistance program established by section 
        33 meet or exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards for 
        such equipment or systems for which applicable voluntary 
        consensus standards have been established. The Administrator 
        may waive the requirement under this subparagraph with respect 
        to specific standards.
          ``(B) If an applicant for a grant under section 33 proposes 
        to purchase, with assistance provided under the grant, new 
        equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed applicable 
        voluntary consensus standards, the applicant shall include in 
        the application an explanation of why such equipment or systems 
        will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or 
        systems that do meet or exceed such standards.
          ``(C) In making a determination whether or not to waive the 
        requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to a specific 
        standard, the Administrator shall, to the greatest extent 
        practicable--
                  ``(i) consult with grant applicants and other members 
                of the fire services regarding the impact on fire 
                departments of the requirement to meet or exceed the 
                specific standard;
                  ``(ii) take into consideration the explanation 
                provided by the applicant under subparagraph (B); and
                  ``(iii) seek to minimize the impact of the 
                requirement to meet or exceed the specific standard on 
                the applicant, particularly if meeting the standard 
                would impose additional costs.
          ``(D) Applicants that apply for a grant under the terms of 
        subparagraph (B) may include a second grant request in the 
        application to be considered by the Administrator in the event 
        that the Administrator does not approve the primary grant 
        request on the grounds of the equipment not meeting applicable 
        voluntary consensus standards.''.
  (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 17 of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
  ``(i) Development of New Technology.--In addition to sums otherwise 
authorized under this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Administrator to carry out section 8(e)--
          ``(1) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2004;
          ``(2) $2,250,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
          ``(3) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2006.''.

SEC. 9. COORDINATION OF RESPONSE TO NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

  (a) In General.--Section 10 of the Federal Fire Prevention and 
Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2209) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
          (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
  ``(b) Mutual Aid Systems.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, after consultation with 
        the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall 
        provide technical assistance and training to State and local 
        fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual 
        aid systems for dealing with national emergencies that--
                  ``(A) include threat assessment and equipment 
                deployment strategies;
                  ``(B) include means of collecting asset and resource 
                information to provide accurate and timely data for 
                regional deployment; and
                  ``(C) are consistent with the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency's Federal Response Plan.
          ``(2) Model mutual aid plans.--The Administrator, in 
        consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency, shall develop and make available to State 
        and local fire service officials model mutual aid plans for 
        both intrastate and interstate assistance.''.
  (b) Report on Strategic Needs.--Within 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Fire 
Administration shall report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Science on the need for a strategy concerning deployment of 
volunteers and emergency response personnel (as defined in section 6 of 
the Firefighters' Safety Study Act (15 U.S.C. 2223e), including a 
national credentialing system, in the event of a national emergency.
  (c) Update of Federal Response Plan.--Within 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency shall--
          (1) revise that Agency's Federal Response Plan to incorporate 
        plans for responding to terrorist attacks, particularly in 
        urban areas, including fire detection and suppression and 
        related emergency services; and
          (2) transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives 
        Committee on Science describing the action taken to comply with 
        paragraph (1).

SEC. 10. TRAINING.

  (a) In General.--Section 7(d)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and 
Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in subparagraph 
        (E);
          (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (N); 
        and
          (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
                  ``(F) strategies for building collapse rescue;
                  ``(G) the use of technology in response to fires, 
                including terrorist incidents and other national 
                emergencies;
                  ``(H) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing 
                with terrorist-caused national catastrophes;
                  ``(I) use of and familiarity with the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency's Federal Response Plan;
                  ``(J) leadership and strategic skills, including 
                integrated management systems operations and integrated 
                response;
                  ``(K) applying new technology and developing 
                strategies and tactics for fighting forest fires;
                  ``(L) integrating terrorism response agencies into 
                the national terrorism incident response system;
                  ``(M) response tactics and strategies for fighting 
                fires at United States ports, including fires on the 
                water and aboard vessels; and''.
  (b) Consultation on Fire Academy Classes.--The Superintendent of the 
National Fire Academy may consult with other Federal, State, and local 
agency officials in developing curricula for classes offered by the 
Academy.
  (c) Coordination With Other Programs To Avoid Duplication.--The 
Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall, where 
appropriate, coordinate training provided under section 7(d)(1) of the 
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) 
with the heads of other Federal agencies--
          (1) to ensure that such training does not duplicate existing 
        courses available to fire service personnel; and
          (2) to establish a mechanism for eliminating duplicative 
        training programs.

                        II. Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of the bill is to reauthorize the programs of 
the United States Fire Administration (USFA).

              III. Background and Need for the Legislation


                                GENERAL

    In the early 1970s, a report by the President's National 
Commission on Fire Prevention and Control entitled America 
Burning presented a dismal assessment of fire safety in the 
United States. The report found that nearly 12,000 citizens and 
250 firefighters were lost to fire annually, in addition to 
approximately 300,000 injuries.
    In response to the report, Congress created the USFA and 
the National Fire Academy. The USFA, housed within the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and located in Emmitsburg, 
Maryland, is charged with helping to prevent and limit fire-
related losses. Its activities revolve around four primary 
areas: training, public education, research, and data 
collection and analysis. On March 1, 2003, USFA and FEMA 
officially became part of the Emergency Preparedness and 
Response Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security 
(DHS).
    When the USFA was established in 1974, its goal was to 
reduce by half the number of fire-related fatalities in the 
nation--bringing the number to approximately 6,000 or less per 
year within a generation. The agency met this goal, and by 1998 
civilian fire deaths were at their lowest level. Additionally, 
using nearly any measure--number of fires, deaths, injuries, or 
property losses--the statistics also reflect a declining trend.
    Despite this significant progress, the United States still 
has one of the worst fire safety records in the industrialized 
world. The per capita death rate remains two to three times 
that of several European nations and at least 20 percent higher 
than most developed countries. Fire remains the cause of 
approximately 3,700 deaths and $11 billion in economic damages 
each year, and every 18 seconds a fire department responds to a 
call somewhere in the United States.

                     USFA ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMS

    USFA's mission is to provide leadership, coordination, and 
support for the nation's fire prevention and control, fire 
training and education, and emergency medical services 
activities, particularly for America's 26,350 fire departments. 
USFA's five-year operational objectives, established in 2000, 
aim to reduce the loss of life from fire in the United States 
by 15 percent, through targeted reductions of 25 percent for 
high-risk populations: children 14 years and below, adults 65 
years and above, and firefighters.
    USFA programs include the following:
    Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.--The Assistance 
to Firefighters Grant Program (Also known as the FIRE Act Grant 
Program) at USFA was established by Congress in 2000 (P.L. 106-
398) to provide, through competitively awarded matching grants, 
direct financial assistance to local fire departments for basic 
equipment and training needs. The following year, the fiscal 
year (FY) 2002 Defense Authorization bill (P.L. 107-107) 
reauthorized the program through FY 2004 at a level of $900 
million. The FY 2004 budget request for the program is $500 
million.
    Data Collection.--USFA's National Fire Data Center (NFDC) 
administers a national system for collecting, analyzing and 
disseminating data and information on fire and other emergency 
incidents to State and local governments and the fire 
community. The NFDC provides a national analysis of the fire 
problem, identifying problem areas for which prevention and 
mitigation strategies are needed.
    Public Education and Awareness.--Through partnerships and 
special initiatives, USFA involves the fire service, the media, 
other federal agencies and safety interest groups in the 
development and delivery of fire safety awareness and education 
programs. These programs are targeted at those groups most 
vulnerable to the hazards of fire, including the young, 
elderly, and disabled. For example, USFA recently announced the 
development of an aggressive plan to advocate increased use of 
residential fire sprinklers, which have become significantly 
more effective and less costly due to new technology, but which 
are utilized in only a very small percentage of homes.
    Training.--USFA's National Fire Academy offers educational 
opportunities for the advanced professional development of mid-
level and senior fire and emergency medical service officers 
and allied professionals involved in fire prevention and life 
safety activities. The Academy develops and delivers 
educational and training programs with a national focus that is 
aimed at supplementing and supporting State and local fire 
service training. In 2002, the Academy trained almost 8,000 
firefighters in various courses at Academy headquarters in 
Emmitsburg, 86,000 firefighters through off-campus training 
programs (primarily administered through support of state 
training programs), and 195,000 through its distance-learning 
program. It is estimated that NFA has trained over 1.4 million 
students through on-campus and off-campus training programs 
since its establishment in 1975.
    In 2003, an organizational change within FEMA as part of 
the agency's transfer into the Department of Homeland Security 
resulted in the transfer of FEMA's Emergency Management 
Institute (EMI) into USFA. Through a combination of on-campus, 
off-campus, and distance learning courses similar to those at 
NFA, EMI serves as the focal point for the development and 
delivery of emergency incident management training. Together, 
EMI and NFA now comprise USFA's National Emergency Training 
Center (NETC), also headquartered in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
    Research.--Through research, testing and evaluation, USFA 
works with public and private entities to promote and improve 
fire and life safety. For FY 2003, USFA research activities 
were authorized at $3.5 million. These activities are 
administered in cooperation with the Building and Fire Research 
Laboratory (BFRL) at the National Institutes of Standards and 
Technology (NIST). For example, USFA-NIST cooperative research 
focusing on residential fire protection technologies 
successfully resulted in the development and enhancement of 
national consensus standards for sprinkler applications for 
residential occupancies--where most fire deaths occur.
    The current USFA authorization legislation (P.L. 106-503) 
directs USFA to work with NIST, private organizations, and 
State and local government to develop a prioritized research 
agenda for the agency. The agenda, completed in 2001, 
identified as top priorities research projects that focus on 
improving the safety of high-risk populations such as children, 
senior citizens, and firefighters, reflecting USFA's agency-
wide fire safety goals.
    Budget.--The President's FY 2004 budget request for USFA 
``base'' activities (those except for the Assistance to 
Firefighters Grant Program), is $58.9 million, a 47 percent 
increase above the FY 2003 request. The current authorization 
for USFA base activities is the U.S. Fire Administration 
Authorization Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-503), which was signed into 
law on November 13, 2000. It authorizes $44.75, $47.80, and 
$50.0 million for USFA activities in fiscal years 2001 through 
2003, respectively.

                        IV. Summary of Hearings

    On Thursday, July 17, 2003, the Research Subcommittee of 
the House Science Committee held a hearing to examine United 
States Fire Administration (USFA) programs and activities. 
Witnesses provided comments on, and recommendations for 
additions to, H.R. 2692, the U.S. Fire Administration 
Authorization Act of 2003, introduced by Chairman Smith of 
Michigan and Representative Johnson of Texas on July 10, 2003.
    The Committee heard testimony from Representative Camp of 
Michigan on the need for performance measures for firefighting 
equipment and his legislation, H.R. 545, the Firefighting 
Research and Coordination Act. The Committee also heard 
testimony from the U.S. Fire Administrator, Mr. David Paulison, 
who is also Director of the Preparedness Division of the 
Emergency Preparedness & Response Directorate in the Department 
of Homeland Security; Dr. Arden Bement, the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology; Mr. Dennis 
Compton, the immediate past Chair of the Board for the 
International Fire Service Training Association; and Dr. John 
Hall, the Assistant Vice-President for Fire Analysis and 
Research at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). 
Witnesses described the status of traditional USFA activities, 
such as public education and outreach, fire research and data 
analysis, and emergency responder training programs; the status 
of the USFA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and any 
suggestions for modifications to this program; the need for 
development of testing methodologies and standards for new 
firefighting technologies; and the status of USFA-supported 
fire research programs.

                          V. Committee Actions

    On July 10, 2003, Science Committee Research Subcommittee 
Chairman Nick Smith and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson 
introduced H.R. 2692, the U.S. Fire Administration 
Authorization Act of 2003, a bill to reauthorize the programs 
of the U.S. Fire Administration.
    The Research Subcommittee of the Committee on Science met 
on Thursday, July 17, 2003, to consider the bill.
     An Amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
offered by Chairman Smith, which made technical changes to the 
bill and added provisions from H.R. 545 to (1) provide support 
for development of voluntary consensus standards for 
firefighting equipment and technology; (2) establish nationwide 
and State mutual aid systems for dealing with national 
emergencies, and (3) authorize the National Fire Academy to 
train firefighters to respond to acts of terrorism and other 
national emergencies. The amendment was adopted by a voice 
vote.
    Ms. Johnson moved that the Subcommittee favorably report 
the bill, H.R. 2692, as amended, to the Full Committee on 
Science with the recommendation that it be in order for the 
amendment, in the nature of a substitute adopted by the 
Subcommittee, to be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment under the five minute rule at Full 
Committee, and that staff be instructed to make technical and 
conforming changes to the bill as amended. With a quorum 
present, the motion was agreed to by a voice vote.
    The Full Committee on Science met on Tuesday, July 22, 
2003, to consider the bill.
     An Amendment was offered by Research Subcommittee 
Chairman Smith, which made technical changes to the bill and 
revised the provisions related to the need for equipment 
purchased through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program 
to meet or exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards. The 
revision provides the U.S. Fire Administrator with the 
authority to waive the requirement if he deems grant applicants 
may benefit more from the purchase of equipment that does not 
meet or exceed the standards. The amendment was adopted by a 
voice vote.
    Mr. Hall moved that the Committee favorably report the 
bill, H.R. 2692, as amended, to the House with the 
recommendation that the bill as amended do pass, and that the 
staff be instructed to make technical and conforming changes to 
the bill as amended and prepare the legislative report and that 
the Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before 
the House for consideration. With a quorum present, the motion 
was agreed to by a voice vote.

              VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

     Authorizes appropriations for base activities at 
the U.S. Fire Administration of $58.928, $60.7, and $62.52 
million annually for fiscal years 2004 through 2006, 
respectively. The base activities revolve around four primary 
areas: training, public education, research, and data 
collection and analysis. When the Assistance to Firefighters 
Grant Program was established in 2001, it was authorized 
through 2004, and thus this program is not included in these 
reauthorized appropriations amounts.
     Reinstates the position of U.S. Fire Administrator 
as a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position, which 
was eliminated by a provision in last year's legislation 
establishing the Department of Homeland Security (P.L 107-296).
     Transfers ultimate responsibility for 
administration of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program 
from the Director of FEMA to the U.S. Fire Administrator.
     Directs the U.S. Fire Administrator, in 
consultation with other agencies and groups, to use existing, 
and develop new standards for and ways to evaluate the 
performance of firefighting technologies. Requires the U.S. 
Fire Administrator to support the development of new voluntary 
consensus standards for such technologies. Requires that new 
equipment or systems purchased through the Assistance to 
Firefighters Grant Program meet or exceed applicable voluntary 
consensus standards. Provides the U.S. Fire Administrator with 
the authority to waive this requirement with respect to 
specific standards. Authorizes appropriations of $2,200,000, 
$2,250,000, and $2,300,000 for fiscal years 2004 through 2006 
to carry out these standards-related efforts. (These 
appropriations are in addition to those authorized for USFA 
base activities.)
     Requires the U.S. Fire Administrator to establish 
nationwide and State mutual aid systems for dealing with 
national emergencies, addressing problems associated with the 
self-dispatching of firefighters and fire departments.
     Authorizes the National Fire Academy to develop 
more training courses and curriculum for preparing firefighters 
to respond to terrorist attacks.

        VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section)


                         SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

    ``United States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 
2003''.

              SECTION 2. UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATOR

    Preserves the position of U.S. Fire Administrator as a 
Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position.

        SECTION 3. NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER STRATEGY

    Requires the Administrator to develop and implement a 
strategy for promoting the installation and use of residential 
fire sprinklers. Requires strategy to include advocacy and 
informational support to relevantstakeholders, with a 
particular focus on residences at high risk to fire hazards and 
occupants at high risk to fire hazards (such as senior citizens and 
persons with disabilities).

        SECTION 4. SUPPORT FOR TRAINING TO FIGHT MARITIME FIRES

    Amends the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to 
allow support for training to fight maritime fires as an 
eligible grant activity.

           SECTION 5. FIREFIGHTERS ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM

    Transfers responsibility for administration of the program 
from the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) to the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration 
(USFA).

               SECTION 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

    Authorizes appropriations for USFA of $58,928,000, 
$60,700,000, and $62,520,000 annually for fiscal years 2004 
through 2006, respectively.

               SECTION 7. COURSES AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE

    Clarifies that National Fire Academy Superintendent, in 
offering training courses, work to accommodate as many 
geographic areas and needs of firefighters as possible.

                 SECTION 8. NEW FIREFIGHTING TECHNOLOGY

    Directs the U.S. Fire Administrator, in consultation with 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-
Agency Board for Equipment Standardization and Inter-
Operability, national voluntary consensus standards development 
organizations, and other interested parties, to develop new, 
and utilize existing, measurement techniques and testing 
methodologies for evaluating the performance of new 
firefighting technology.
    Requires the U.S. Fire Administrator to evaluate the 
compatibility of new equipment and technology with existing 
firefighter technology, and support the development of new 
voluntary consensus standards through national voluntary 
consensus standards organizations for new firefighting 
technologies.
    Requires that new equipment or systems purchased through 
the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program meet or exceed 
applicable voluntary consensus standards. For fire departments 
applying for grants to purchase equipment that does not meet 
applicable voluntary consensus standards, requires applicants 
to include in their applications an explanation of why the 
equipment will serve their needs better than equipment that 
does meet the standards. Provides the U.S. Fire Administrator 
with the authority to waive this requirement with respect to 
specific standards.
    Authorizes appropriations of $2,200,000, $2,250,000, and 
$2,300,000 for fiscal years 2004 through 2006 to carry out this 
section. These appropriations are in addition to those 
authorized under section 6.

       SECTION 9. COORDINATION OF RESPONSE TO NATIONAL EMERGENCY

    Directs the U.S. Fire Administrator to provide technical 
assistance and training to State and local fire service 
officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems 
for dealing with national emergencies.
    Directs the U.S. Fire Administrator to provide a report to 
Congress on the need for a strategy concerning deployment of 
volunteers and emergency response personnel, including a 
national credentialing system, in the event of a national 
emergency. Directs the Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to revise that Agency's Federal Response Plan 
to incorporate plans for responding to terrorist attacks, 
including fire detection and suppression and related emergency 
services.

                          SECTION 10. TRAINING

    Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy 
conduct training in a variety of additional areas related to 
responding to terrorist events, fighting forest fires, and 
fighting fires at ports, including fires on the water and 
aboard vessels.
    Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy 
to consult with other Federal, State, and local government 
officials in developing curricula for classes at the Academy. 
Requires the U.S. Fire Administrator to coordinate fire-fighter 
training with the heads of other Federal agencies, to ensure 
that such training does not duplicate existing courses 
available to fire service personnel and to establish a 
mechanism for eliminating duplicative training programs.

                         VIII. Committee Views


                             GENERAL VIEWS

    USFA's mission is to reduce the loss of life and property 
because of fire and related emergencies. Each year, fire 
injures and kills more Americans than all natural disasters 
combined. Death rates by fire in the United States are among 
the highest in the industrialized world.
    USFA, as the lead federal agency tasked with working with 
the fire services community, has supported public education, 
training, and technology initiatives to this end for almost 30 
years. The Committee on Science believes that, in the post-9/11 
environment and with the creation of the Department of Homeland 
Security, it is more important than ever that we commit the 
necessary resources to USFA for helping America's fire 
departments be prepared to respond to all types of emergencies.
    The Committee wants to emphasize the importance of 
continuing programs at the National Fire Academy. In April of 
this year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced 
that 36 of the Academy's resident courses were being eliminated 
as a result of budget cuts. While those courses were restored 
shortly thereafter, the Committee recognizes the valuable and 
exclusive training services provided by the Academy, and 
advises USFA to make every effort to avoid any reduction of 
courses in the case of further budget cuts in the future.
    The Committee has become increasingly frustrated with 
USFA's lack of responsiveness to Congressional requests. The 
Committee notes that it did not receive FY 2004 budget request 
numbers from USFA until the middle of July, and that those 
numbers were missing important details the Committee was 
interested in obtaining. While the Committee understands some 
of this is due to the complications associated with the agency 
becoming part of the new Department, it expects the problem to 
be remedied in the near future. Further, the Committee believes 
the Administration should include in its annual budget request 
a line for the total USFA request within the DHS Emergency 
Preparedness and Response Directorate's Preparedness Division.

                    UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATOR

    Section 2 of this legislation reinstates the position of 
U.S. Fire Administrator as a Presidentially appointed, Senate-
confirmed position. The law creating DHS eliminated this 
position (apparently inadvertently). The U.S. Fire 
Administrator plays an important role in the Nation's fire 
control policy by serving as the federal point of contact for 
the fire services, and also by contributing to broader homeland 
security initiatives within DHS. For these reasons, the 
Committee believes that it is vitally important that this 
position not be eliminated and that USFA retain its identity as 
FEMA transitions into DHS.

              NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER STRATEGY

    Section 3 of this legislation authorizes the Fire 
Administrator to begin an aggressive strategy to advocate the 
use of residential fire sprinklers. Residential fires cause 
roughly 80 percent of all fire deaths and all fire-related 
injuries each year. National Fire Protection Association 
statistics show that, equipped with automatic residential fire 
sprinklers and smoke detectors, survivability of a fire is 
elevated to 95 percent. There is not a single documented case 
of multiple person deaths from a residence with working fire 
sprinklers. Further, while the cost of installing sprinklers 
has dramatically declined in recent years to approximately just 
$0.50 per square foot for new construction, few residential 
owners, builders, or occupants are choosing to employ fire 
sprinklers. The Committee believes that an aggressive, targeted 
education and advocacy strategy could significantly increase 
the installation rates of fire sprinklers and consequently help 
reduce the loss of life and property due to fires.
    The Committee is aware that high-pressure water mist 
systems can often provide equivalent levels of fire safety 
relative to a residential sprinkler system, however, typically 
at significantly higher costs. The Committee recognizes that, 
as these water mist systems become more economically 
competitive with more traditional sprinkler systems, the 
Administrator may incorporate advocacy of these systems into 
the broader overall strategy.

              SUPPORT FOR TRAINING TO FIGHT MARITIME FIRES

    Currently, training for maritime firefighting is not listed 
among the eligible activities for which fire departments may 
apply under the Assistance to Firefighters grant program. At 
the hearing before the Full Science Committee on October 2, 
2002, witnesses testified to the need for this type of 
training, noting that the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine 
firefighting teams are not always responsible for fires on 
America's Coastal Waterways. With commerce and other traffic 
highly dependent on our waterways, it is important that local 
first responders are adequately trained to respond to maritime 
fires. The Committee believes that a need exists for this type 
of training, and that departments should be eligible for it 
through the section 33 grant program.

               ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS PROGRAM

    The Committee is concerned with the ongoing attempts to 
transfer the Assistance to Firefighters grant program out of 
USFA. The Committee understands and supports the notion that 
there is merit to consolidating duplicative programs for 
increased efficiency of our federal support for emergency 
responders. However, the Committee believes that the goals and 
objectives of the firefighters grant program--helping fire 
departments meet equipment and training needs for basic day-to-
day firefighting--are quite different from other homeland 
security grant programs designed to better prepare first 
responders to defend against terrorism. The Committee strongly 
believes that the Assistance to Firefighters grant program 
should continue to be administered by those who best understand 
the needs of the fire services. To that end, the legislation 
transfers responsibility for administration of the program from 
the Director of FEMA to the U.S. Fire Administrator. This will 
not result in any functional changes to the grant program but 
instead clarifies the existing structure, and sends an 
important message that the Committee believes that the grant 
program's proper home is within USFA.

                    AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

    The authorized funding levels set in the legislation are 
intended to reflect the administration's fiscal year 2004 
request for USFA ``base'' activities (those excluding the 
firefighters grants program) of $58.9 million, with 
approximately 3 percent increases in fiscal years 2005 and 
2006. This request level includes authorized funding for USFA's 
Emergency Management Institute (EMI), which was transferred 
into USFA in early 2003 as part of a FEMA organizational 
change.

                    COURSES AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE

    Section 7 of the legislation requires the Superintendent of 
the National Fire Academy (NFA) to, in developing and offering 
courses, work to accommodate as many geographic regions and 
needs of firefighters as possible. The Committee believes that 
it is important that NFA, as the premiere training academy for 
the fire services, ensure that firefighters from all the major 
geographic regions of the country have an opportunity to 
participate in NFA courses.

                      NEW FIREFIGHTING TECHNOLOGY

    The fire services have identified the lack of available 
standards for an increasing amount of new equipment and systems 
as a growing problem for fire departments. Concerns have arisen 
that too many fire departments may be purchasing equipment that 
will not adequately satisfy their needs, or may even be faulty. 
Section 8 of the legislation directs USFA, in consultation with 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-
Agency Board for Equipment Standardization and Inter-
Operability, national voluntary consensus standards development 
organizations, and other interested parties, to develop new, 
and utilize existing measurement techniques and testing 
methodologies for evaluating the performance of new 
firefighting technology.
    Section 8 also requires that equipment purchased through 
the USFA Assistance to Firefighters grant program meet or 
exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards. While the 
Committee is in agreement on the benefits of standardizing new 
technologies and the importance of ensuring that federal funds 
do not go toward the purchase of faulty or defective equipment 
and systems, the Committee also agreed that situations might 
arise where fire departments needs could be met by equipment 
that does not meet the standards. To that end, the legislation 
allows fire departments applying for grants to purchase 
equipment that does not meet applicable voluntary consensus 
standards to provide an explanation of why the equipment will 
serve their needs better than equipment that does meet the 
standards. In situations where this does occur, the Committee 
expects the peer review panel assembled by the Administrator to 
review the grants to comment on the applicant's explanation. 
The Committee also expects the Administrator, to the extent 
practicable, to consult with grant applicants and other 
relevant experts to determine the impactof the standard on the 
applicant, and the legislation provides the U.S. Fire Administrator 
with the authority to waive this requirement with respect to specific 
standards and in specific cases. Lastly, because of concerns that some 
departments may be hesitant to apply for equipment that does not meet 
standards even though they feel it meets their needs, the legislation 
provides that applicants may submit a second application in concert 
with their first application, to be considered by the Administrator 
only if the first application is rejected on the grounds of the 
equipment not meeting standards.

             COORDINATION OF RESPONSE TO NATIONAL EMERGENCY

    Another major obstacle facing the fire service concerns 
coordination. Many issues regarding coordination surfaced on 
September 11, 2001. On July 23, 2002, Titan Systems Corporation 
issued an after-action report, on behalf of the fire department 
of Arlington County, Virginia, which highlighted problems 
between the coordination of Washington, D.C., and Arlington 
County fire departments in responding to the attack on the 
Pentagon. The report also cited the confusion caused by a large 
influx of self-dispatched volunteers, and increased risks faced 
by the ``bona fide responders.'' These conclusions are 
consistent with an article by the current U.S. Fire 
Administrator, R. David Paulison, in the June 1993 issue of 
Fire Chief magazine, where he described being overwhelmed by 
the number of uncoordinated volunteer efforts that poured into 
Florida after Hurricane Andrew. Additionally, many fire 
officials and the General Accounting Office have highlighted 
the duplicative nature of many Federal programs and the need 
for better coordination between Federal, State, and local 
officials.
    To help address this issue, section 9 of the legislation 
directs the U.S. Fire Administrator to provide technical 
assistance and training to State and local fire service 
officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems 
for dealing with national emergencies. It also directs the 
Administrator to provide a report to Congress on the need for a 
strategy concerning deployment of volunteers and emergency 
response personnel, including a national credentialing system, 
in the event of a national emergency. Lastly, it directs the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to revise 
that Agency's Federal Response Plan to incorporate plans for 
responding to terrorist attacks, including fire detection and 
suppression and related emergency services.

                                TRAINING

    The events of September 11, 2001, also demonstrated a need 
for improved training, especially in the areas of building 
collapse rescue and tactics to respond to terrorist-caused 
catastrophes. While NFA currently offers a variety of courses 
in counter-terrorism training, including incident management 
training, the Committee believes it is important that this type 
of training is explicitly recognized in law as part of the 
Academy's functions and responsibilities. Section 10 achieves 
this.

                           IX. Cost Estimate

    A cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted to 
the Committee on Science prior to the filing of this report and 
is included in Section X of this report pursuant to House Rule 
XIII, clause 3(c)(3).
    H.R. 2692 does not contain new budget authority, credit 
authority, or changes in revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming 
that the sums authorized under the bill are appropriated, H.R. 
2692 does authorize additional discretionary spending, as 
described in the Congressional Budget Office report on the 
bill, which is contained in Section X of this report.

              X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, July 24, 2003.
Hon. Sherwood L. Boehlert,
Chairman, Committee on Science,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2692, the United 
States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Julie 
Middleton.
            Sincerely,
                                       Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 2692--United States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003

    Summary: H.R. 2692 would reauthorize the activities of the 
United States Fire Administration (USFA) for three years and 
would authorize the appropriation of $189 million over the 
2004-2006 period. In addition, the bill would authorize the 
agency to undertake new research and development and training 
activities.
    Assuming appropriation of the amounts authorized in H.R. 
2692, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $180 
million over the 2004-2008 period and an additional $10 million 
after that period. Enacting H.R. 2692 would not affect direct 
spending or revenues.
    H.R. 2692 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 2692 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 450 
(community and regional development).
    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the amounts authorized 
by the bill will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Outlay 
estimates are based on historical spending patterns for this 
program.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   By fiscal year in millions of dollars--
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
                                                              2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

U.S. Fire Administration spending under current law:
    Budget authority \1\..................................       93        0        0        0        0        0
    Estimated outlays.....................................       54       31       19       12        5        0
Proposed changes:
    Authorization level...................................        0       61       68       65        0        0
    Estimated outlays.....................................        0       28       44       54       35       19
U.S. Fire Administration spending under H.R. 2692:
    Authorization level \1\...............................       93       61       68       65        0        0
    Estimated outlays.....................................       54       59       68       66       40       19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2003 level is the amount appropriated for that year.

    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 2692 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments.
    Previous estimate: On July 8, 2003, CBO transmitted a cost 
estimate for S. 1152, a similarly titled bill, as ordered 
reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation on June 19, 2003. S. 1152 would reauthorize the 
USFA for five years at an estimated cost of $262 million over 
the 2004-2008 period. This bill would reauthorize the USFA for 
three years at an estimated cost of $180 million over the same 
period.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Julie Middleton. 
Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Greg Waring. 
Impact on the Private Sector: Cecil McPherson.
    Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

        XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)

    H.R. 2692 contains no unfunded mandates.

         XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    The Committee on Science's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of House rule XIII, the goals of 
H.R. 2692 are to authorize appropriations for the base 
activities of the U.S. Fire Administration for fiscal years 
2004 through 2006; to establish a National Residential Fire 
Sprinkler Strategy; to support the development of standards for 
firefighting equipment and promote the use of those standards; 
and to increase the training of firefighters in areas related 
to terrorism response.

                XIV. Constitutional Authority Statement

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 2692.

                XV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    H.R. 2692 does not establish nor authorize the 
establishment of any advisory committee.

                 XVI. Congressional Accountability Act

    The Committee finds that H.R. 2692 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).

      XVII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

    This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or 
tribal law.

      XVIII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

FEDERAL FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACT OF 1974

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



            NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

  Sec. 7. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (d) Program of the Academy.--The Superintendent is authorized 
to--
          (1) train fire service personnel in such skills and 
        knowledge as may be useful to advance their ability to 
        prevent and control fires, including, but not limited 
        to--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (E) tactical training in the specialized 
                field of fire control and rescue aboard 
                waterborne vessels; [and]
                  (F) strategies for building collapse rescue;
                  (G) the use of technology in response to 
                fires, including terrorist incidents and other 
                national emergencies;
                  (H) response, tactics, and strategies for 
                dealing with terrorist-caused national 
                catastrophes;
                  (I) use of and familiarity with the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency's Federal Response 
                Plan;
                  (J) leadership and strategic skills, 
                including integrated management systems 
                operations and integrated response;
                  (K) applying new technology and developing 
                strategies and tactics for fighting forest 
                fires;
                  (L) integrating terrorism response agencies 
                into the national terrorism incident response 
                system;
                  (M) response tactics and strategies for 
                fighting fires at United States ports, 
                including fires on the water and aboard 
                vessels; and
                  [(F)] (N) the training of present and future 
                instructors in the aforementioned subjects;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (l) Admission.--The Superintendent is authorized to admit to 
the courses and programs of the Academy individuals who are 
members of the firefighting, rescue, and civil defense forces 
of the Nation and such other individuals, including candidates 
for membership in these forces, as he determines can benefit 
from attendance. Students shall be admitted from any State, 
with due regard to adequate representation in the student body 
of all geographic regions of the Nation. In selecting students, 
the Superintendent may seek nominations and advice from the 
fire services and other organizations which wish to send 
students to the Academy. The Superintendent shall offer, at the 
Academy and at other sites, courses and training assistance as 
necessary to accommodate all geographic regions and needs of 
career and volunteer firefighters.

                            FIRE TECHNOLOGY

  Sec. 8. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (e) Development of New Technology.--
          (1) In general.--In addition to, or as part of, the 
        program conducted under subsection (a), the 
        Administrator, in consultation with the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-Agency 
        Board for Equipment Standardization and Inter-
        Operability, national voluntary consensus standards 
        development organizations, interested Federal, State, 
        and local agencies, and other interested parties, 
        shall--
                  (A) develop new, and utilize existing, 
                measurement techniques and testing 
                methodologies for evaluating new firefighting 
                technologies, including--
                          (i) personal protection equipment;
                          (ii) devices for advance warning of 
                        extreme hazard;
                          (iii) equipment for enhanced vision;
                          (iv) devices to locate victims, 
                        firefighters, and other rescue 
                        personnel in above-ground and below-
                        ground structures;
                          (v) equipment and methods to provide 
                        information for incident command, 
                        including the monitoring and reporting 
                        of individual personnel welfare;
                          (vi) equipment and methods for 
                        training, especially for virtual 
                        reality training; and
                          (vii) robotics and other remote-
                        controlled devices;
                  (B) evaluate the compatibility of new 
                equipment and technology with existing 
                firefighting technology; and
                  (C) support the development of new voluntary 
                consensus standards through national voluntary 
                consensus standards organizations for new 
                firefighting technologies based on techniques 
                and methodologies described in subparagraph 
                (A).
          (2) Standards for new equipment.--(A) The 
        Administrator shall, by regulation, require that new 
        equipment or systems purchased through the assistance 
        program established by section 33 meet or exceed 
        applicable voluntary consensus standards for such 
        equipment or systems for which applicable voluntary 
        consensus standards have been established. The 
        Administrator may waive the requirement under this 
        subparagraph with respect to specific standards.
          (B) If an applicant for a grant under section 33 
        proposes to purchase, with assistance provided under 
        the grant, new equipment or systems that do not meet or 
        exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards, the 
        applicant shall include in the application an 
        explanation of why such equipment or systems will serve 
        the needs of the applicant better than equipment or 
        systems that do meet or exceed such standards.
          (C) In making a determination whether or not to waive 
        the requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to 
        a specific standard, the Administrator shall, to the 
        greatest extent practicable--
                  (i) consult with grant applicants and other 
                members of the fire services regarding the 
                impact on fire departments of the requirement 
                to meet or exceed the specific standard;
                  (ii) take into consideration the explanation 
                provided by the applicant under subparagraph 
                (B); and
                  (iii) seek to minimize the impact of the 
                requirement to meet or exceed the specific 
                standard on the applicant, particularly if 
                meeting the standard would impose additional 
                costs.
          (D) Applicants that apply for a grant under the terms 
        of subparagraph (B) may include a second grant request 
        in the application to be considered by the 
        Administrator in the event that the Administrator does 
        not approve the primary grant request on the grounds of 
        the equipment not meeting applicable voluntary 
        consensus standards.
  [(e)] (f) Coordination.--In establishing and conducting 
programs under this section, the Administrator shall take full 
advantage of applicable technological developments made by 
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, by 
State and local governments, and by business, industry, and 
nonprofit associations.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                              MASTER PLANS

  Sec. 10. (a) * * *
  (b) Mutual Aid Systems.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator, after 
        consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency, shall provide technical assistance 
        and training to State and local fire service officials 
        to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems 
        for dealing with national emergencies that--
                  (A) include threat assessment and equipment 
                deployment strategies;
                  (B) include means of collecting asset and 
                resource information to provide accurate and 
                timely data for regional deployment; and
                  (C) are consistent with the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency's Federal Response Plan.
          (2) Model mutual aid plans.--The Administrator, in 
        consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency, shall develop and make available to 
        State and local fire service officials model mutual aid 
        plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance.
  [(b)] (c) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, a 
``master plan'' is one which will result in the planning and 
implementation in the area involved of a general program of 
action for fire prevention and control. Such master plan is 
reasonably expected to include (1) a survey of the resources 
and personnel of existing fire services and an analysis of the 
effectiveness of the fire and building codes in such area; (2) 
an analysis of short and long term fire prevention and control 
needs in such area; (3) a plan to meet the fire prevention and 
control needs in such area; and (4) an estimate of cost and 
realistic plans for financing the implementation of the plan 
and operation on a continuing basis and a summary of problems 
that are anticipated in implementing such master plan.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                    AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

  Sec. 17. (a) * * *
  (g)(1) 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--
          [(A) $17,039,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1989;
          [(B) $17,737,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1990;
          [(C) $18,464,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1991;
          [(D) $25,550,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1992;
          [(E) $26,521,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1993;
          [(F) $27,529,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1994;
          [(G) $29,664,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1998;
          [(H) $30,554,000 for the fiscal year ending September 
        30, 1999;
          [(I) $44,753,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which 
        $3,000,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may 
        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 is for anti-terrorism training, including 
        associated curriculum development, for fire and 
        emergency services personnel;
          [(J) $47,800,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which 
        $3,250,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may 
        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 
        $7,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including 
        associated curriculum development, for fire and 
        emergency services personnel; and
          [(K) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which 
        $3,500,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may 
        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 is for anti-terrorism training, including 
        associated curriculum development, for fire and 
        emergency services personnel.] to the Administrator to 
        carry out the purposes of this Act, other than the 
        firefighter assistance program under section 33--
          (A) $58,928,000 for fiscal year 2004;
          (B) $60,700,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
          (C) $62,520,000 for fiscal year 2006.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (i) Development of New Technology.--In addition to sums 
otherwise authorized under this Act, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out section 8(e)--
          (1) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2004;
          (2) $2,250,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
          (3) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2006.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


        DISSEMINATION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL INFORMATION

  Sec. 30. (a) In General.--The Director, acting through the 
Administrator, is authorized to take steps to encourage the 
States to promote the use of automatic sprinkler systems and 
automatic smoke detection systems, and to disseminate to the 
maximum extent possible information on the life safety value 
and use of such systems. Such steps may include, but need not 
be limited to, providing copies of the guidelines described in 
section 29 and of the master list compiled under section 28(b) 
to Federal agencies, State and local governments, and fire 
services throughout the United States, and making copies of the 
master list compiled under section 28(b) available upon request 
to interested private organizations and individuals.
  (b) National Residential Fire Sprinkler Strategy.--The 
Administrator shall develop and implement a strategy for 
promoting the installation and use of residential fire 
sprinklers. The strategy shall include--
          (1) advocacy and informational support to relevant 
        stakeholders, including builders, insurers, and State 
        and local decisionmakers;
          (2) promotion of residential sprinklers in residences 
        supported by the Federal Government;
          (3) a particular focus on residences--
                  (A) at high risk to fire hazards; and
                  (B) with occupants at high risk to fire 
                hazards, such as senior citizens and persons 
                with disabilities; and
          (4) a particular focus on localized fire suppression 
        in high-risk areas of residences.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 33. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE.

  (a) * * *
  (b) Assistance Program.--
          (1) Authority.--In accordance with this section, the 
        [Director] Administrator may--
                  (A) make grants on a competitive basis 
                directly to fire departments of a State, in 
                consultation with the chief executive of the 
                State, for the purpose of protecting the health 
                and safety of the public and firefighting 
                personnel against fire and fire-related 
                hazards; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(2) Office for administration of assistance.--
                  [(A) Establishment.--Before providing 
                assistance under paragraph (1), the Director 
                shall establish an office in the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency to administer the 
                assistance under this section.
                  [(B) Included duties.--The duties of the 
                office shall include the following:
                          [(i) Recipient selection criteria.--
                        To establish specific criteria for the 
                        selection of recipients of the 
                        assistance under this section.
                          [(ii) Grant-writing assistance.--To 
                        provide grant-writing assistance to 
                        applicants.]
          (2) Administrative assistance.--The Administrator 
        shall establish specific criteria for the selection of 
        recipients of assistance under this section and shall 
        provide grant-writing assistance to applicants.
          (3) Use of fire department grant funds.--The 
        [Director] Administrator may make a grant under 
        paragraph (1)(A) only if the applicant for the grant 
        agrees to use the grant funds for one or more of the 
        following purposes:
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) To train firefighting personnel in 
                firefighting, emergency response (including 
                response to a terrorism incident or use of a 
                weapon of mass destruction), arson prevention 
                and detection, maritime firefighting, or the 
                handling of hazardous materials, or to train 
                firefighting personnel to provide any of the 
                training described in this subparagraph.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (4) Fire prevention programs.--
                  (A) In general.--For each fiscal year, the 
                [Director] Administrator shall use not less 
                than 5 percent of the funds made available 
                under subsection (e)--
                          (i) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (B) Priority.--In selecting organizations 
                described in subparagraph (A)(ii) to receive 
                assistance under this paragraph, the [Director] 
                Administrator shall give priority to 
                organizations that focus on prevention of 
                injuries to children from fire.
          (5) Application.--The [Director] Administrator may 
        provide assistance to a fire department or organization 
        under this subsection only if the fire department or 
        organization seeking the assistance submits to the 
        [Director] Administrator an application that meets the 
        following requirements:
                  (A) Form.--The application shall be in such 
                form as the [Director] Administrator may 
                require.
                  (B) Information.--The application shall 
                include the following information:
                          (i) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                          (iv) Other information.--Any other 
                        information that the [Director] 
                        Administrator may require.
          (6) Matching requirement.--
                  (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                the [Director] Administrator may provide 
                assistance under this subsection only if the 
                applicant for the assistance agrees to match 
                with an equal amount of non-Federal funds 30 
                percent of the assistance received under this 
                subsection for any fiscal year.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (7) Maintenance of expenditures.--The [Director] 
        Administrator may provide assistance under this 
        subsection only if the applicant for the assistance 
        agrees to maintain in the fiscal year for which the 
        assistance will be received the applicant's aggregate 
        expenditures for the uses described in paragraph (3) or 
        (4) at or above the average level of such expenditures 
        in the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year for 
        which the assistance will be received.
          (8) Report to the [director] administrator.--The 
        [Director] Administrator may provide assistance under 
        this subsection only if the applicant for the 
        assistance agrees to submit to the [Director] 
        Administrator a report, including a description of how 
        the assistance was used, with respect to each fiscal 
        year for which the assistance was received.
          (9) Variety of fire department grant recipients.--The 
        [Director] Administrator shall ensure that grants under 
        paragraph (1)(A) for a fiscal year are made to a 
        variety of fire departments, including, to the extent 
        that there are eligible applicants--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (11) Reservation of grant funds for volunteer 
        departments.--In making grants to firefighting 
        departments, the [Director] Administrator shall ensure 
        that those firefighting departments that have either 
        all-volunteer forces of firefighting personnel or 
        combined forces of volunteer and professional 
        firefighting personnel receive a proportion of the 
        total grant funding that is not less than the 
        proportion of the United States population that those 
        firefighting departments protect.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Administrative expenses.--Of the funds 
        appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal 
        year, the [Director] Administrator may use not more 
        than three percent of the funds to cover salaries and 
        expenses and other administrative costs incurred by the 
        [Director] Administrator to [operate the office 
        established under subsection (b)(2) and] make grants 
        and provide assistance under this section.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                     XIX. Committee Recommendations

    On July 22, 2003, a quorum being present, the Committee on 
Science favorably reported H.R. 2692, the U.S. Fire 
Administration Authorization Act of 2003, by a voice vote, and 
recommended its enactment.

 XX. PROCEEDINGS OF THE MARKUP BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH ON H.R. 
   2692, UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2003

                              ----------                              


                        THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003

                  House of Representatives,
                          Subcommittee on Research,
                                      Committee on Science,
                                                    Washington, DC.

    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to other business, at 11:30 
a.m., in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. 
Nick Smith [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
    Chairman Smith. The Subcommittee will be in order. Pursuant 
to notice, the Subcommittee on Research is meeting today to 
consider the following measures: H.R. 2692, the United States 
Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003.
    I ask unanimous consent for the authority to recess the 
Subcommittee at any point, and without objection, hearing none, 
it is so ordered.
    Of course, we have just discussed this legislation in the 
proceeding hearing, so members and staff should be familiar 
with the provisions of the legislation. However, I will take a 
moment to briefly summarize a couple of provisions that are in 
the base bill. The bill would authorize appropriations for base 
activities at the U.S. Fire Administration through fiscal year 
2006. That is, all traditional USFA activities, except the 
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program that was established 
in fiscal year 2001, is currently authorized through the end of 
fiscal year 2004. The legislation reinstates the position of 
the U.S. Fire Administration as a Presidentially-appointed 
Senate-confirmed position, and that reacts to our effort to 
make sure that it is separate and distinct. It reverses what we 
believe was an inadvertent elimination of the position by 
language that was part of last year's bill establishing the 
Department of Homeland Security.
    It also transfers ultimate responsibility for 
administration of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program 
from the Director of FEMA to the U.S. Fire Administrator. This 
will not result in any functional changes to the Grant Program, 
but instead clarifies the existing structure and sends somewhat 
of a symbolic message, at least I believe, as does the fire 
service community that the Grant Program's proper home is 
within USFA.
    This is a bipartisan legislation. I am pleased that we were 
able to put this together in this fashion. I believe we will 
have a smooth markup of the legislation today, and next--again 
next week at Full Committee so that the bill can make its way 
to the House floor. And we will pass it hopefully when we 
return to--from the August recess. The Chair now recognizes 
Mrs. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Ranking Minority Member of the 
Subcommittee, for an opening statement.
    Ms. Johnson.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As cosponsor of this 
legislation, I speak in support of its favorable consideration 
by the Research Subcommittee today. The Fire Administration has 
long enjoyed bipartisan support because of its vital mission to 
improve the safety of all of our citizens. I would like to 
commend you, Mr. Chairman, for working with me in a collegial 
way in developing H.R. 2692, and I also thank you for bringing 
the bill before the Subcommittee for its consideration today.
    H.R. 2692 will help maintain the visibility of the Fire 
Administration and its vital programs within the new Department 
of Homeland Security. It reestablishes the position of Fire 
Administrator as a Presidentially-appointed and Senate-
confirmed post, and it formally places the Fire Grants Program 
under the Fire Administration, which has had an excellent 
record to date in running the Grants Program. I believe the 
resources authorized for the Fire Administration will allow the 
Agency to meet its critical responsibilities for firefighter 
and first responder training, for gathering fire data and for 
fire research, and for public education programs.
    I'd like to do more, except that this may not be possible 
under the current Federal Budget climate. Mr. Chairman, I know 
that you will offer a substitute to the bill to incorporate 
provisions from H.R. 545, which are now included in the 
Senate's version of the Fire Administration Authorization Bill. 
I generally support this substitute, although I am not yet 
convinced that the weakening of the requirements in H.R. 545 
regarding standards for firefighting equipment obtained under 
the Fire Grants Program is a good idea. I would much prefer a 
requirement that new equipment meet existing consensus 
standards where they exist. I would not, however, object to 
providing some flexibility to this requirement.
    For example, the Fire Administrator could be given the 
authority to waive the requirements of a grantee, if a grantee 
could show a good reason to do so. I will defer to Full 
Committee any proposal for alternative language to this 
provision. I am pleased to recommend H.R. 2692 to my 
colleagues, and seek their approval to favorably report the 
legislation to Full Committee. Thank you.
    Chairman Smith. We will now consider H.R. 2622, and without 
objection, all members may place opening statements into the 
record.
    [The prepared statement of Ms. Johnson follows:]
       Prepared Statement of Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson
    Mr. Chairman, as the co-sponsor of this legislation, I speak in 
support of its favorable consideration by the Research Subcommittee 
today. The Fire Administration has long enjoyed bipartisan support 
because of its vital mission to improve the safety of all our citizens.
    I would like to commend you, Chairman Smith, for working with me in 
a collegial way in developing H.R. 2692, and I also thank you for 
bringing the bill before the Subcommittee for its consideration today.
    H.R. 2692 will help maintain the visibility of the Fire 
Administration and its vital programs within the new Department of 
Homeland Security. It reestablishes the position of Fire Administrator 
as a Presidentially appointed and Senate confirmed post, and it 
formally places the FIRE Grants program under the Fire Administration, 
which has had an excellent record to date in running the grants 
program.
    I believe the resources authorized for the Fire Administration will 
allow the agency to meet its critical responsibilities for firefighter 
and first responder training, for gathering fire data, for fire 
research, and for public education programs. I would like to do more, 
but accept that this may not be possible under the current federal 
budget climate.
    The Chairman will offer a substitute to the bill to incorporate 
provisions from H.R. 545, which are now included in the Senate's 
version of the Fire Administration authorization bill. I generally 
support this substitute, although I am not yet convinced that the 
weakening of the requirement in H.R. 545 regarding standards for 
firefighting equipment obtained under the FIRE Grants program is a good 
idea.
    I would much prefer a requirement that new equipment meet existing 
consensus standards where they exist. I would not, however, object to 
providing some flexibility to this requirement.
    For example, the Fire Administrator could be given the authority to 
waive the requirement if, a grantee could show a good reason to do so. 
I will defer to Full Committee any proposal for alternative language to 
this provision.
    Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to recommend H.R. 2692 to my colleagues 
and seek their approval to favorably report the legislation to Full 
Committee.

    Chairman Smith. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered as read and opening amendments at any point. I ask 
the Members to proceed with the amendments in the order on the 
roster, and without objection, so ordered. It is so ordered.
    I move--let us see. The--we will move to what is now the 
only amendment on the roster, which is an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the Chairman. I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered in block. Without 
objection, it is so ordered.
    The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered 
by Mr. Smith of Michigan.
    Chairman Smith. I ask unanimous consent that we dispense 
with the total reading of the amendment that essentially has 
the existing language of the bill, and includes Mr. Camp's bill 
at the end, essentially. Without objection, it is so ordered.
    [Note: The Amendment is located in the Appendix.]
    Chairman Smith. I recognize myself for a few minutes to 
explain what the amendment is. The amendment in the nature of a 
substitute being considered is essentially the language of H.R. 
545, added at the end of H.R. 2692. A few of the provisions 
include improving the support for the Fire Services through 
three primary provisions. One, providing support for the 
development of voluntary consensus standards for firefighting 
equipment and technology. Two, establishment of a nationwide 
and state mutual aid system for dealing with the national 
emergencies; and three, authorizing the National Fire Academy 
to train firefighters to respond to acts of terrorism and other 
national emergencies.
    In addition to making a couple of minor technical and 
conforming changes, the sub-suit amendment modifies the 
provisions we discussed during the hearing, requiring equipment 
purchased through Assistant Fire Grant Program to meet 
applicable voluntary consensus standards. The language in the 
substitute replaces this requirement with language requiring 
applicants applying for grants to purchase equipment, and Madam 
Vice-Chairman, Ranking Member will work on this and come to 
hopefully some agreement that still allows the flexibility that 
was called for by the Administrator and the Chief, and the 
sponsor of the bill, Mr. Camp, as we proceed to Full Committee.
    Is there further discussion on the amendment? If not, the 
vote occurs on the amendment. All in favor will say aye. Those 
opposed say no. The ayes have it, and the amendment in the 
nature of substitute is agreed to.
    After the motion to report the bill, does the Ranking 
Member or do I do this? Oh, are there any further amendments? 
Hearing none, the questions on the bill H.R. 2692, as amended, 
the United States Fire Administration Authorization Act, all 
those in favor will say aye. All those opposed say no. And in 
the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it.
    And the Ranking Member.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the 
Subcommittee favorably report the bill H.R. 2692, as amended, 
to the Full Committee, with the recommendation that it be an 
order for the bill as amended by the Subcommittee to be 
incorporated into an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
for consideration as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment under the 5-minute rule at Full Committee.
    Further, I ask unanimous consent that the staff be 
instructed to make all necessary technical and conforming 
changes to the bill, as amended, in accordance with the 
recommendations of the Subcommittee.
    Chairman Smith. The Subcommittee has heard the motion. Is 
there any further discussion? All those in favor will say aye. 
Those opposed will say no. The ayes have it, and the motion is 
agreed to, and without objection, the motion to consider is 
laid upon the table.
    This concludes our subcommittee markup. I thank the 
members, certainly again thank the witnesses and staff before 
us today. Dan, you did an excellent job, if you are still here. 
And with that, the Subcommittee is adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 11:40 a.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
                               Appendix:

                              ----------                              


       Roster, Amendment, H.R. 2692, Section-By-Section Analysis






108th CONGRESS
    1st Session

                                H. R. 2692

To authorize appropriations for activities under the Federal Fire 
    Prevention and Control Act of 1974 for fiscal years 2004 through 
    2006, and for other purposes.
                               __________
                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                             July 10, 2003
Mr. Smith of Michigan (for himself and Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
    Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
    Committee on Science
                               __________

                                 A BILL

To authorize appropriations for activities under the Federal Fire 
    Prevention and Control Act of 1974 for fiscal years 2004 through 
    2006, and for other purposes.

    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 ``United States Fire Administration 
Authorization Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATOR.

  Notwithstanding section 1513 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 553), the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration 
shall continue to be appointed and compensated as provided under 
section 5(b) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2204(b)).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER STRATEGY.

  Section 30 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 2226) is amended----
          (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The Director, 
        acting''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(b) National Residential Fire Sprinkler Strategy.--The 
Administrator shall develop and implement a strategy for promoting the 
installation and use of residential fire sprinklers. The strategy shall 
include----
          ``(1) advocacy and informational support to relevant 
        stakeholders, including builders, insurers, and State and local 
        decisionmakers;
          ``(2) promotion of residential sprinklers in residences 
        supported by the Federal Government;
          ``(3) a particular focus on residences----
                  ``(A) at high risk to fire hazards; and
                  ``(B) with occupants at high risk to fire hazards, 
                such as senior citizens; and
          ``(4) a particular focus on localized fire suppression in 
        high-risk areas of residences, such as kitchens.''.

SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR TRAINING TO FIGHT MARITIME FIRES.

  Subsection (b)(3)(B) of the first section 33 of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229(b)(3)(B)) is amended 
by inserting ``maritime firefighting,'' after ``arson prevention and 
detection,''.

SEC. 5. FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM.

  The first section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) is amended----
          (1) by striking ``Director'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Administrator'';
          (2) by amending subsection (b)(2) to read as follows:
          ``(2) Administrative assistance.--The Administrator shall 
        establish specific criteria for the selection of recipients of 
        assistance under this section and shall provide grant-writing 
        assistance to applicants.''; and
          (3) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``operate the office 
        established under subsection (b)(2) and''.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  Section 17(g) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2216(g)) is amended by striking ``to carry out the 
purposes'' and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (K) and 
inserting ``to the Administrator to carry out the purposes of this Act, 
other than the firefighter assistance program under section 33----
                  ``(A) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                  ``(B) $62,830,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
                  ``(C) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.''.

SEC. 7. COURSES AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE.

  Section 7(l) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2206(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
``The Superintendent shall offer, at the Academy and at other sites, 
courses and training assistance as necessary to accommodate all 
geographic regions and needs of career and volunteer firefighters.''.
                     Section-By-Section Analysis of
           H.R. 2692, as amended by the Research Subcommittee
      Introduced by Mr. Smith of Michigan and Ms. Johnson of Texas

Section 1. Short Title.

    ``United States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003''.

Section 2. United States Fire Administrator.

    Preserves the position of U.S. Fire Administrator as a 
Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position.

Section 3. National Residential Fire Sprinkler Strategy.

    Requires the Administrator to develop and implement a strategy for 
promoting the installation and use of residential fire sprinklers. 
Requires strategy to include advocacy and informational support to 
relevant stakeholders, with a particular focus on residences at high 
risk to fire hazards and occupants at high risk to fire hazards (such 
as senior citizens).

Section 4. Support for Training to Fight Maritime Fires.

    Amends the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to allow 
support for training to fight maritime fires as an eligible grant 
activity.

Section 5. Firefighters Assistance Grants Program.

    Transfers responsibility for administration of the program from the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the 
Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

Section 6. Authorization of Appropriations.

    Authorizes appropriations for USFA of $58.928, $60.7, and $62.52 
million annually for fiscal years FY 2004 through FY 2006, 
respectively.

Section 7. Courses and Training Assistance.

    Clarifies that National Fire Academy Superintendent, in offering 
training courses, work to accommodate as many geographic areas and 
needs of firefighters as possible.

Section 8. New firefighting technology.

    Subsection (a) would establish a new section 8(e) of the Federal 
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207). This new 
subsection would direct the Administrator, in consultation with the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-Agency Board 
for Equipment Standardization and Inter-Operability, national voluntary 
consensus standards development organizations, and other interested 
parties, to develop new, and utilize existing, measurement techniques 
and testing methodologies for evaluating the performance of new 
firefighting technology, including:

         Lpersonal protection equipment;

         Ldevices for advance warning of extreme hazard;

         Lequipment for enhanced vision;

         Ldevices to locate victims, firefighters, and other 
        rescue personnel in above-ground and below-ground structures;

         Lequipment and methods to provide information for 
        incident command, including the monitoring and reporting of 
        individual personnel welfare;

         Lequipment and methods for training, especially for 
        virtual reality training; and

         Lrobotics and other remote-controlled devices.

    The Administrator would also be required to evaluate the 
compatibility of new equipment and technology with existing firefighter 
technology, and support the development of new voluntary consensus 
standards through national voluntary consensus standards organizations 
for new firefighting technologies.
    For fire departments applying for equipment under the Assistance to 
Firefighters grant program that does not meet applicable voluntary 
consensus standards, applicants must include in their applications an 
explanation of why the equipment will serve their needs better than 
equipment that does meet the standards.
    Authorizes appropriations of $2.2, $2.25, and $2.3 million for 
fiscal years 2004 through 2006 to carry out this section.

Section 9. Coordination of response to national emergency.

    Subsection (a) would create a new section 10(b) of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2209). New subsection (b) 
would require the Administrator, after consultation with the Director 
of FEMA, to provide technical assistance and training to State and 
local fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual 
aid systems for dealing with national emergencies. These mutual aid 
systems would include threat assessment and equipment deployment 
strategies, and include means of collecting asset and resource 
information to provide accurate and timely data for regional 
deployment. These mutual aid systems also would have to be consistent 
with FEMA's Federal Response Plan. The Administrator, in consultation 
with the Director of FEMA, would be required to develop and make 
available to State and local fire service officials model mutual aid 
plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance.
    Subsection (b) would require the Administrator to report to the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House 
of Representatives Committee on Science, within 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, on the need for a strategy concerning the 
deployment of volunteers and emergency response personnel (as defined 
in section 6 of the Firefighters' Safety Study Act (15 U.S.C. 2223e)), 
including a national credentialing system, in the event of a national 
emergency.
    Subsection (c) would require the Director of FEMA to revise the 
Federal Response Plan within 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act to incorporate plans for responding to terrorist attacks, 
particularly in urban areas, including fire detection and suppression 
and related emergency services. The Director of FEMA would also be 
required to transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Science on these revisions.

Section 10. Training.

    Subsection (a) would amend section 8(d)(1) of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1) to authorize 
the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy to conduct training in 
the following areas:
    (i) strategies for building collapse rescue;
    (ii) the use of technology in response to fires, including 
terrorist incidents and other national emergencies;
    (iii) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with terrorist- 
caused national catastrophes;
    (iv) use of and familiarity with FEMA's Federal Response Plan;
    (v) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated 
management systems operations and integrated response;
    (vi) applying new technology and developing strategies and tactics 
for fighting forest fires;
    (vii) integrating terrorism response agencies into the national 
terrorism incident response system; and
    (viii) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at United 
States ports, including fires on the water and aboard vessels.
    Subsection (b) would authorize the Superintendent of the National 
Fire Academy to consult with other Federal, State, and local government 
officials in developing curricula for classes at the Academy.
    Subsection (c) would require the Administrator to coordinate the 
training provided under section 8(d)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention 
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) with the Attorney 
General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the heads of 
other Federal agencies, to ensure that such training does not duplicate 
existing courses available to fire service personnel and to establish a 
mechanism for eliminating duplicative training programs.

  XXI. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup on H.R. 2692, United 
  States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003, July 22, 2003

    The Committee met, pursuant to call, in Room 2318 of the 
Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Sherwood D. Boehlert 
[Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
    Chairman Boehlert. Now, your patience is rewarded. This is 
the last bill of the markup. We will now consider the Bill H.R. 
2692, the United States Fire Administration Authorization Act 
of 2003 as amended. I now recognize our Research Subcommittee 
Chairman, the distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Smith, 
for 5 minutes for any comments he may have on the bill.
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. Well, Mr. Chairman, on the general 
proceedings today, it would be my recommendation that the bills 
coming from Research Committee be the first two instead of the 
last two, and that possibly, the Chairman provide lunch for 
these kind of extended meetings, but other than that----
    Chairman Boehlert. Remember your Bible, the last shall be 
first.
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. Other than that, I would move that 
my full total comments be included in the record----
    Chairman Boehlert. Without objection, so ordered.
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. Description of the bill.
    What we tried to do in this legislation is to make sure 
that the U.S. Fire Administration be continued to be in control 
of what happens with our fire services and our first responders 
throughout the country. So we did change the language that was 
in the Homeland Security Bill that says the Director of FEMA 
would be responsible. We changed that to having the Director of 
the U.S. Fire Administration, a Presidential appointee 
confirmed by the Senate and reinstate his power to control the 
U.S. Fire Administration as well as the Section 33 FIRE Grant 
program. It was also our goal to make sure that the FIRE Grant 
program remain with the Director of the U.S. Fire 
Administration, rather than the Director of FEMA. So with that, 
Mr. Chairman, I ask for my colleagues to vote this bill out.
    [Statement of Nick Smith follows:]

                Statement of Hon. Nick Smith of Michigan

    The bill would authorize appropriations for ``base activities'' at 
the U.S. Fire Administration through fiscal year 2006--that is, all 
traditional USFA activities, except the Assistance to Firefighters 
grant program that was established in fiscal year 2001 and is currently 
authorized through the end of fiscal year 2004. The authorization level 
is set at the Administration request level of $58.9 million for fiscal 
year 2004, with 3 percent increases in the out-years.
    The legislation reinstates the position of U.S. Fire Administrator 
as a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position, reversing 
what we believe was an inadvertent elimination of the position by 
language that was part of last year's bill establishing the Department 
of Homeland Security.
    It also transfers ultimate responsibility for administration of the 
Assistance to Firefighters grant program from the Director of FEMA to 
the U.S. Fire Administrator. This will not result in any functional 
changes to the grant program but instead clarifies the existing 
structure, and sends a symbolic but important message that we believe--
as does the fire services community--that the grant program's proper 
home is within USFA.
    Another important objective of the bill is to provide support for 
the development of voluntary consensus standards for new firefighting 
equipment and technology. The fire services have identified the 
prevalence of un-standardized equipment and systems as a growing 
problem for fire departments needing guidance when making new 
purchases, and this bill will attempt to address that.
    The bill also requires the U.S. Fire Administrator to establish 
nationwide and State mutual aid systems for dealing with national 
emergencies, addressing problems associated with the self-dispatching 
of firefighters and fire departments such as that which presented some 
problems on 9/11.
    Lastly, the bill authorizes the National Fire Academy--with its 
excellent reputation of delivering top-notch training to over 90,000 
mid and senior level senior firefighters each year--to develop more 
training courses and curriculum for preparing firefighters to respond 
to terrorist attacks.
    USFA, as the lead federal agency tasked with working with the fire 
services community, has supported public education, training, and 
technology initiatives to this end for almost 30 years. Now, in the 
post-9/11 environment and with the creation of the Department of 
Homeland Security, it is more important than ever that we commit the 
necessary resources to USFA for helping America's fire departments be 
prepared to respond to all types of emergencies.
    This bill will help ensure that. I'm pleased that this is 
bipartisan legislation and I want to commend Representative Johnson for 
working with us to put this together in this fashion.

    Chairman Boehlert. Thank you so very much, and thank you 
for your hard work and leadership in this very important area. 
The Chair now recognizes the distinguished gentleman from 
Texas, Mr. Hall.
    Mr. Hall. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support and 
approve H.R. 2692. Yield--and ask that my very valuable and 
informative statement----
    Chairman Boehlert. And I might add eloquent.
    Mr. Hall. Eloquent, be put in the record, and then I may 
get a chance to read it in full some time.
    Chairman Boehlert. Without objection, so ordered.
    [Statement of Ralph M. Hall follows:]

                      Statement of Hon. Ralph Hall

    Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues for their support in approving 
H.R. 2692, which reauthorizes the activities at the U.S. Fire 
Administration. This is a small agency with a big mission to train 
firefighters, to help provide needed equipment for the fire services, 
and to help inform the public of ways to improve fire safety.
    This is a bipartisan bill developed by Research Subcommittee 
Chairman Nick Smith and Ranking Democratic Member Eddie Bernice 
Johnson. I want to congratulate them on their good work.
    The bill seeks to reinforce the role and function of the Fire 
Administration in its new position within the Department of Homeland 
Security. It is important that the vital mission of the Fire 
Administration to reduce fire deaths and improve fire safety not be 
lost in the anti-terrorism focus of the new Department.
    I understand Mr. Smith will offer an amendment to make a few 
additional changes to the bill. The amendment was worked out with the 
minority, and I recommend its approval.
    Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

    Chairman Boehlert. All members may place opening statements 
in the record at this point. Without objection, so ordered. I 
ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered as read and 
opened to amendment at any point, and that the members proceed 
with the amendments in the order of the roster. Without 
objection, so ordered. The Chair recognizes amendment #1 
offered by Mr. Smith from Michigan. I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment be considered en bloc. Without objection, so 
ordered. Are you ready to proceed, Mr. Smith?
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. I am.
    Chairman Boehlert. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment to H.R. 2692 offered by Mr. Smith of 
Michigan.
    Chairman Boehlert. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with 
the reading. Without objection, so ordered.

                  Statement of Hon. Jerry F. Costello

    Good morning. Today, the House Science Committee is considering six 
bills for mark-up. Most are non-controversial and receive wide 
bipartisan support.
    However, I have strong reservations regarding H.R. 1085, the NASA 
Flexibility Act of 2003. I believe we must wait for recommendations and 
guidance from the Gehman Commission that will address management 
issues. If we are going to address the problems concerning NASA, we 
need to take into account the goals and vision of NASA and manned space 
flight. I understand that NASA needs to do more to attract and retain 
the best possible workforce; however, I believe we can assist NASA by 
waiting to hear what recommendations the Gehman Commission makes so we 
can address all the management problems affecting NASA and its 
workforce. I believe we must also continue to review NASA's existing 
workforce authority and why it is underutilized.
    Mr. Chairman, instead of rushing to complete this significant 
legislation, I believe we must take a step back and review all our 
options before moving forward on legislation that does not address the 
problem.
    Aside from H.R. 1085, I believe the other pieces of legislation 
have been considered in a bipartisan fashion and expand programs in 
numerous agencies. For example, H.R. 2692, the United States Fire 
Administration (USFA) Authorization Act of 2003, authorizes funding for 
USFA activities, such as training, fire research and public education 
over the next three years. Over the last three decades, America's fire 
safety record has significantly improved. However, there are still 
opportunities for further improvements in our fire safety record, such 
as encouraging the use of sprinkler systems in homes. H.R. 2692 will 
lead us in the right direction. As a member of the Congressional Fire 
Services Caucus, I am proud to support this legislation.
    Further, I am glad the House Science Committee is moving forward on 
the FAA Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2003. As a 
conferee to the FAA bill for the Science Committee, I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to enhance the research and development 
programs as laid out in the legislation before this committee.
    Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the committee for all their hard work 
on these important issues and look forward to today's proceedings.
                                 ______
                                 

                Statement of Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson 

    Mr. Chairman, as the cosponsor of this legislation, I speak in 
support of its favorable consideration by the Committee today.
    I would like to commend Research Subcommittee Chairman Smith for 
working with me in a collegial way in developing H.R. 2692, and 
Chairman Boehlert for expeditiously bringing the bill to markup.
    H.R. 2692 will help maintain the visibility of the Fire 
Administration and its vital programs within the new Department of 
Homeland Security. It reestablishes the position of Fire Administrator 
as a Presidentially appointed and Senate confirmed post, and it 
formally places the FIRE Grants program under the Fire Administration, 
which has had an excellent record to date in running the grants 
program.
    I support the amendment Mr. Smith will offer to make some minor 
changes to improve the bill and to require that equipment provided 
under the FIRE Grants program conform to consensus standards, where 
they exist. The Fire Administrator is given flexibility in applying the 
standards requirement, in accordance with recommendations received 
during the Research Subcommittee's hearing on the legislation.
    Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to recommend H.R. 2692 to my colleagues 
and seek their approval to favorably report the legislation to the 
House.

    Chairman Boehlert. Mr. Smith is recognized for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, again I would move 
that my full statement on the--my amendment be included in the 
record.
    Chairman Boehlert. Without objection, so ordered.
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. The Manager's amendment does two 
things, one it makes some very minor changes to the residential 
fire sprinkler strategy to try to maximize the use that fire 
sprinkler systems can have in residential dwellings, and also, 
we set up standards, which is the incorporation of my colleague 
David Camp's bill on establishing standards. Since the advent 
of 9/11, there are a lot of companies out there trying to sell 
their new so-called technology to fire departments. This is--
establishes standards that will give our fire departments 
around the country a chance to evaluate the kind of equipment 
that they are purchasing. Also, as the bill came out of 
committee, it said that the standards shall be considered by 
the applicants to the FIRE Grant program. There was a feeling 
that it needed to be stronger than that, and this substitute 
directs the Administrator to establish provisions where fire 
departments will be required to follow those standards, unless 
there are extenuating circumstances, then the Administrator 
would have the latitude to consider those circumstances in 
approving a grant for FIRE Grant program under the Section 33 
provisions. With that, I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
    [Statement of Nick Smith follows:]

                Statement of Hon. Nick Smith of Michigan

                    manager's amendment description
    Mr. Chairman, this manager's amendment does two things. One, it 
makes some very minor changes to the Residential Fire Sprinkler 
Strategy we have authorized in H.R. 2692, adding ``persons with 
disabilities'' to the list of high-risk occupants the strategy shall 
focus on, and the amendment deletes ``kitchens'' as a specified focus 
of the strategy for targeting sprinkler installation and use in high-
risk areas or residences.
    Second, this amendment addresses an issue we deferred at the 
Subcommittee markup regarding the requirement that equipment purchased 
through the Assistance to Firefighters grant program meet applicable 
voluntary consensus standards. While everyone has maintained that 
standards are useful, and even necessary, we originally had some 
disagreement regarding the potential impact of such a requirement on 
fire departments purchasing equipment through USFA's grant program. 
However, we were able to work out a reasonable compromise that we 
believe will require the standards to be followed when it is practical, 
while providing the Administrator the authority to waive the 
requirement if he deems grant applicants may benefit more from the 
purchase of equipment that does not meet or exceed the standards. This 
provides important flexibility to ensure the requirement is not too 
prescriptive.
    Mr. Chairman, this amendment strengthens our USFA reauthorization 
bill, and I urge all members to support.

    Chairman Boehlert. Thank you. Is there any further 
discussion? If not, the vote occurs on the amendment. All in 
favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Ayes have it, and the 
amendment is agreed to. Is there any further discussion? If 
not, the vote occurs on the final bill, H.R. 2692, the United 
States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003, as 
amended. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, no. In the 
opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. I now recognize Mr. 
Hall for a motion.
    Mr. Hall. Mr. Chairman, I am finally happy to move that the 
Committee favorably report H.R. 2692, as amended, to the House 
with the recommendation that the bill, as amended, do pass. 
Furthermore, I move that the staff be instructed to prepare the 
legislative report and make necessary technical and conforming 
changes, and that the Chairman take all necessary steps to 
bring the bill before the House for consideration. Amen.
    Chairman Boehlert.  The question is on the motion to report 
the bill favorably. Those in favor of the motion will signify 
by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it, 
and the bill is favorably reported. Without objection, the 
motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. I move that 
members have two subsequent calendar days in which to submit 
supplemental, minority, or additional views on the measure. I 
move pursuant to Clause 1 of Rule 22 of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives that the Committee authorize the Chairman to 
offer such motions as may be necessary in the House to go to 
conference with the Senate on the bill H.R. 2692 or a similar 
Senate bill. Without objection, so ordered. This concludes the 
markup. Thank you very much for your patience and your 
indulgence.
    [Whereupon, at 4:40 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
    
    
                     Section-by-Section Analysis of
           H.R. 2692, as amended by the Research Subcommittee
      Introduced by Mr. Smith of Michigan and Ms. Johnson of Texas
Section 1. Short Title.
    ``United States Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2003''.

Section 2. United States Fire Administrator.
    Preserves the position of U.S. Fire Administrator as a 
Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position.

Section 3. National Residential Fire Sprinkler Strategy.
    Requires the Administrator to develop and implement a strategy for 
promoting the installation and use of residential fire sprinklers. 
Requires strategy to include advocacy and informational support to 
relevant stakeholders, with a particular focus on residences at high 
risk to fire hazards and occupants at high risk to fire hazards (such 
as senior citizens).

Section 4. Support for Training to Fight Maritime Fires.
    Amends the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to allow 
support for training to fight maritime fires as an eligible grant 
activity.

Section 5. Firefighters Assistance Grants Program.
    Transfers responsibility for administration of the program from the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the 
Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

Section 6. Authorization of Appropriations.
    Authorizes appropriations for USFA of $58.928, $60.7, and $62.52 
million annually for fiscal years FY 2004 through FY 2006, 
respectively.

Section 7. Courses and Training Assistance.
    Clarifies that National Fire Academy Superintendent, in offering 
training courses, work to accommodate as many geographic areas and 
needs of firefighters as possible.

Section 8. New firefighting technology.
    Subsection (a) would establish a new section 8(e) of the Federal 
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207). This new 
subsection would direct the Administrator, in consultation with the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-Agency Board 
for Equipment Standardization and Inter-Operability, national voluntary 
consensus standards development organizations, and other interested 
parties, to develop new, and utilize existing, measurement techniques 
and testing methodologies for evaluating the performance of new 
firefighting technology, including:
         Lpersonal protection equipment;
         Ldevices for advance warning of extreme hazard;
         Lequipment for enhanced vision;
         Ldevices to locate victims, firefighters, and other 
        rescue personnel in above-ground and below-ground structures;
         Lequipment and methods to provide information for 
        incident command, including the monitoring and reporting of 
        individual personnel welfare;
         Lequipment and methods for training, especially for 
        virtual reality training; and
         Lrobotics and other remote-controlled devices.
    The Administrator would also be required to evaluate the 
compatibility of new equipment and technology with existing firefighter 
technology, and support the development of new voluntary consensus 
standards through national voluntary consensus standards organizations 
for new firefighting technologies.
    For fire departments applying for equipment under the Assistance to 
Firefighters grant program that does not meet applicable voluntary 
consensus standards, applicants must include in their applications an 
explanation of why the equipment will serve their needs better than 
equipment that does meet the standards.
    Authorizes appropriations of $2.2, $2.25, and $2.3 million for 
fiscal years 2004 through 2006 to carry out this section.

Sec. 9. Coordination of response to national emergency.
    Subsection (a) would create a new section 10(b) of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2209). New subsection (b) 
would require the Administrator, after consultation with the Director 
of FEMA, to provide technical assistance and training to State and 
local fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual 
aid systems for dealing with national emergencies. These mutual aid 
systems would include threat assessment and equipment deployment 
strategies, and include means of collecting asset and resource 
information to provide accurate and timely data for regional 
deployment. These mutual aid systems also would have to be consistent 
with FEMA's Federal Response Plan. The Administrator, in consultation 
with the Director of FEMA, would be required to develop and make 
available to State and local fire service officials model mutual aid 
plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance.
    Subsection (b) would require the Administrator to report to the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House 
of Representatives Committee on Science, within 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, on the need for a strategy concerning the 
deployment of volunteers and emergency response personnel (as defined 
in section 6 of the Firefighters' Safety Study Act (15 U.S.C. 2223e)), 
including a national credentialing system, in the event of a national 
emergency.
    Subsection (c) would require the Director of FEMA to revise the 
Federal Response Plan within 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act to incorporate plans for responding to terrorist attacks, 
particularly in urban areas, including fire detection and suppression 
and related emergency services. The Director of FEMA would also be 
required to transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Science on these revisions.

Sec. 10. Training.
    Subsection (a) would amend section 8(d)(1) of the Federal Fire 
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1) to authorize 
the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy to conduct training in 
the following areas:
    (i) strategies for building collapse rescue;
    (ii) the use of technology in response to fires, including 
terrorist incidents and other national emergencies;
    (iii) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with terrorist-
caused national catastrophes;
    (iv) use of and familiarity with FEMA's Federal Response Plan;
    (v) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated 
management systems operations and integrated response;
    (vi) applying new technology and developing strategies and tactics 
for fighting forest fires;
    (vii) integrating terrorism response agencies into the national 
terrorism incident response system; and
    (viii) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at United 
States ports, including fires on the water and aboard vessels.
    Subsection (b) would authorize the Superintendent of the National 
Fire Academy to consult with other Federal, State, and local government 
officials in developing curricula for classes at the Academy.
    Subsection (c) would require the Administrator to coordinate the 
training provided under section 8(d)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention 
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) with the Attorney 
General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the heads of 
other Federal agencies, to ensure that such training does not duplicate 
existing courses available to fire service personnel and to establish a 
mechanism for eliminating duplicative training programs.

                                
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