[House Report 110-325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-325

======================================================================



 
            SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE UNITED STATES

                                _______
                                

 September 14, 2007.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 592]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 592) supporting first 
responders in the United States in their efforts to prepare for 
and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 
man-made disasters, and affirming the goals and ideals of 
National First Responder Appreciation Day, having considered 
the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and 
recommend that the resolution be agreed to.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 592 is a resolution to support first responders in 
the United States in their efforts to prepare for and respond 
to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man made 
disasters, and to affirm the goals and ideals of National First 
Responder Appreciation Day.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Millions of Americans have benefited from the brave and 
courageous service of first responders across the Nation. 
Approximately 670,000 police officers, 1,100,000 firefighters 
and 891,000 emergency medical technicians make up the nation's 
first responder teams and have responded to crises such as 
Hurricane Katrina in 2005; tornadoes in Florida and blizzards 
in Colorado in 2006; the Gunflint Trail fire in northeastern 
Minnesota in May 2007 and the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in 
August 2007.
    According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial 
Fund, a total of 1,649 law enforcement officers died in the 
line of duty during the past 10 years, while 145 law 
enforcement officers were killed in 2006. According to the 
United States Fire Administration, from 1996 through 2005 more 
than 1,500 firefighters were killed in the line of duty, and 
tens of thousands were injured.
    The resolution supports the goals and ideals of National 
First Responder Appreciation Day.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 592 supports the work of first responders, 
identifies incidences at which first responders served with 
distinction and bravery, and reaffirms the goals and ideals of 
a National First Responder Appreciation Day.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On July 31, 2007, Representative Reichert introduced House 
Resolution 592.
    On August 2, 2007, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session and ordered the resolution 
reported favorably to the House by voice vote.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H. 
Res. 592 reported. A motion to order H. Res. 592 reported 
favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a 
quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 592 
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore 
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost 
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2007, or for 
any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and 
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for 
any measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Res. 592 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    With respect to (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H. Res. 592 is a resolution of the 
House of Representatives and therefore does not have the force 
of law. As such, clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 592 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 592 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the resolution 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 (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 592 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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