[Senate Report 110-411]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





110th Congress 2d Session        SENATE                 Report
                                                       110-411
_______________________________________________________________________

                                                       Calendar No. 868
 
     UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

                               ----------                              

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND
                          GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                              to accompany

                                S. 2606


  TO REAUTHORIZE THE UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION, AND FOR OTHER 
                                PURPOSES






    July 10 (legislative day, July 9), 2008.--Ordered to be printed
        COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

               JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut, Chairman
CARL LEVIN, Michigan                 SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine
DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii              TED STEVENS, Alaska
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware           GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio
MARK L. PRYOR, Arkansas              NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota
MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana          TOM COBURN, Oklahoma
BARACK OBAMA, Illinois               PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico
CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri           JOHN WARNER, Virginia
JON TESTER, Montana                  JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire

                  Michael L. Alexander, Staff Director
                     Kevin J. Landy, Chief Counsel
              Eric P. Andersen, Professional Staff Member
     Brandon L. Milhorn, Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel
                Andrew E. Weis, Minority General Counsel
                  Trina Driessnack Tyrer, Chief Clerk
                                                       Calendar No. 868
110th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     110-411

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

     UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

                                _______
                                

    July 10 (legislative day, July 9), 2008.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Lieberman, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
                    Affairs, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 2606]

    The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs, to which was referred the bill (S. 2606) to 
reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill, as 
amended, do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
  I. Purpose and Summary..............................................1
 II. Background and Need for the Legislation..........................2
III. Legislative History..............................................3
 IV. Section-by-Section Analysis......................................4
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................7
 VI. Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................7
VII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............9

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of S. 2606 is to authorize appropriations for 
the United States Fire Administration (USFA) for fiscal years 
2009 through 2012, and authorize USFA's activities related to 
training, public education, data collection, research, and 
national voluntary consensus standards. With regard to USFA's 
activities, the legislation would update the curriculum of the 
National Fire Academy, expand on-site training programs for 
fire service personnel, upgrade the National Fire Incident 
Reporting System, encourage more research related to wildland 
fires and the publication of such research, and promote the 
adoption of national voluntary consensus standards for 
firefighter health and safety. It would also establish a fire 
service position at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's 
National Operations Center and require appropriate coordination 
at all levels of government with regard to fire prevention and 
control and emergency medical services.

              II. Background and Need for the Legislation

    USFA is the primary Federal agency for serving the needs of 
our nation's firefighters and for reducing life and economic 
losses due to fire and related emergencies. It was established 
in 1974 in response to the dramatic findings of a White House 
report entitled ``America Burning.'' USFA, among its many 
activities, trains mid- and senior-level fire and emergency 
medical services officers at the National Fire Academy, offers 
fire awareness and education programs, operates the National 
Fire Incident Reporting System, which collects, analyzes, and 
disseminates data and information on fire and other emergency 
incidents, and helps FEMA administer both the Assistance to 
Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate 
Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program.
    Through these activities, USFA plays a critical role in 
preparing our nation's roughly 1.1 million career and volunteer 
firefighters--serving in more than 30,000 fire departments 
across the United States--for all hazards. This task is not 
easy. The fire and emergency services are tremendously diverse, 
ranging from small, rural volunteer fire departments to large, 
metropolitan, career fire departments and everything in 
between. And the challenges that they face are equally diverse, 
ranging from fires, hazardous materials incidents, and rescues, 
to floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes, to acts of 
terrorism and other man-made disasters and emergencies. USFA 
provides leadership, advocacy, coordination and support for the 
fire and emergency services in meeting these wide-ranging 
challenges.
    Specifically, USFA supports the fire and emergency services 
by:
     supporting FEMA in the awarding of AFG and SAFER 
grants, which provide essential assistance to local 
firefighting and emergency services efforts, by providing 
professional guidance and subject matter expertise and 
administering a peer review process for grant applications;
     promoting education and awareness for the general 
public in fire safety through government agencies, national 
associations, nongovernmental organizations, and the private 
sector;
     training our nation's fire service through a 
variety of programs, including residential training at the 
National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and distance 
learning in cooperation with State and local fire training 
organizations and colleges and universities;
     researching and developing fire prevention and 
safety technology and practices, in conjunction with other 
Federal departments and agencies, as well as national 
associations of fire service personnel; and
     collecting and analyzing data, through the 
National Fire Data Center, on the prevention, occurrence, 
control, and results of fires.
    USFA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS or the Department) in March 2003 when FEMA, the 
agency in which USFA was housed, was transferred into DHS by 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296). Given its 
prominent role in support of our nation's fire service, USFA's 
missions fit well within both FEMA and the larger 
Department.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ For 18 months, beginning on October 1, 2005, as a result of a 
DHS-directed reorganization, USFA was placed administratively in the 
DHS Preparedness Directorate, rather than in FEMA. This situation was 
reversed, and USFA's position within a newly strengthened and expanded 
FEMA restored, by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 
2006 (P.L. 109-295, Title VI).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Since its last reauthorization in 2003, the challenges that 
USFA confronts continue to multiply. The increasing incidence 
of wildfires in undeveloped areas adjacent to populated areas--
referred to as the wildland-urban interface--is just one 
example. In the Autumn of 2007, for example, Southern 
California suffered an unprecedented series of wildfires, which 
together burned over 500,000 acres, destroyed over 2000 homes, 
forced the evacuation of more than half a million people, and 
required the Federal government to assist overwhelmed State and 
local officials. As our communities continue to expand into 
previously undeveloped wildland areas, USFA's activities must 
be updated to reflect this reality.
    Training, especially in specialized subjects, such as 
hazardous materials response and technical rescue, also remains 
a challenge. Indeed, USFA's report Four Years Later--A Second 
Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service, a cooperative study 
published in October 2006 as required by U.S. Public Law (108-
797), identified numerous training shortfalls in career and 
volunteer fire departments nationwide. In many cases, fire 
departments simply cannot afford to lose key personnel for 
weeks or months by sending them to the National Fire Academy or 
to State and local fire academies for critical training. Given 
these constraints, USFA must do more to encourage on-site 
training at local fire departments, thus allowing personnel to 
remain on the job and allowing substantially more personnel to 
be trained.

                        III. Legislative History

    USFA was first established as the National Fire Prevention 
and Control Administration in the Fire Prevention and Control 
Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-498) \2\ (FPCA or Act). The most recent 
reauthorization was the United States Fire Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-169). Senator Dodd 
introduced S. 2606 on February 7, 2008, with Senators Collins, 
Biden, and McCain as original co-sponsors, and the bill was 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs on the same date. Senators Carper, Clinton, Coleman, 
Lieberman, McCaskill, Mikulski, and Sanders also co-sponsored 
S. 2606.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. Sec. 2201 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On April 10, 2008, the Committee held a business meeting 
and, by voice vote, ordered S. 2606 to be reported with a 
substitute amendment offered by Senators Collins and Lieberman. 
The members present were Lieberman, Levin, Akaka, Carper, 
Landrieu, McCaskill, Tester, Collins, and Sununu. The 
substitute amendment, which was also adopted by voice vote and 
with the same members present, primarily made technical and 
clarifying changes, but also increased the maximum percentage 
of authorized appropriations available for on-site training.

                    IV. Section-by-Section Analysis


Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 establishes the short title of S. 2606 as the 
``United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 
2008.''

Section 2. Findings

    This section finds that, even though the number of fire-
related deaths has steeply declined over the last 25 years, the 
United States still has one of the highest fire death rates in 
the industrialized world. It also finds that USFA continues to 
perform an essential role, from its position within FEMA and 
DHS, in ensuring that the fire service is able to prepare for 
and respond to all hazards. Finally, it finds that research and 
development, data collection, training, and national voluntary 
consensus standards are vital to enhancing the ability of 
firefighters and others to fulfill their numerous public safety 
missions.

Section 3. Authorization of appropriations for United States Fire 
        Administration

    This section amends section 17(g)(1) of the FPCA (15 U.S.C. 
2216) to authorize appropriations of $70,000,000 for FY 2009, 
$72,100,000 for FY 2010, $74,263,000 for FY 2011, and 
$76,490,890 for FY 2012. Each fiscal year, a certain percentage 
of authorized funds must be used to carry out section 8(f) of 
the FPCA (15 U.S.C. 2207), related to evaluation of technology 
and development of standards.

Section 4. National Fire Academy training program modifications and 
        reports

    This section amends section 7(d)(1) of the FPCA (15 U.S.C. 
2006) to expand the curriculum of the National Fire Academy. 
Specifically, it permits the Superintendent of the Academy to 
train fire and emergency services personnel on strategies and 
techniques to fight fires that cross jurisdictional boundaries, 
in wildland-urban interface areas, and resulting from hazardous 
materials, as well as to strengthen advanced emergency medical 
services. It also amends the language of paragraph (H) of 
Section 7(d)(1) for consistency with terminology in the 
Homeland Security Act and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 
Reform Act regarding ``natural disasters, acts of terrorism, 
and other man-made disasters.''
    Moreover, this section authorizes the USFA Administrator 
(Administrator) to enter into contracts with nationally 
recognized organizations to provide on-site training to fire 
service personnel across the country, with the restrictions 
that such organizations must either be accredited by an 
appropriate organization or be determined to provide training 
of equivalent quality. It also increases the amount of 
authorized funding from 4 to 7.5 percent that the Administrator 
may use for such training under section 17 of the Act.
    Finally, this section requires the Administrator to submit 
triennial reports to Congress and the President on changes to 
the Academy's curriculum.

Section 5. National Fire Incident Reporting System upgrades

    This section amends section 9 of the FPCA (15 U.S.C. 2208) 
to require the Administrator to upgrade the National Fire 
Incident Reporting System to enable real-time availability of 
fire-related data and information through the Internet; the 
Administrator must do so by using no more than $5 million total 
from the appropriated funding from FY 2009 through FY 2011. It 
also amends section 9(b)(2) of the Act to clarify that the 
Administrator, in carrying out the program of the National Fire 
Data Center, may assist Federal, as well as State and local, 
agencies, in developing and reporting information related to 
fire prevention, occurrence, control, and results.

Section 6. Fire technology assistance and research dissemination

    This section amends section 8(d) of the FPCA (15 U.S.C. 
2207) to permit the Administrator, in coordination with the 
Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior and the Wildland Fire 
Leadership Council, to assist the nation's fire service, 
directly or through contracts, grants, and other forms of 
assistance, by sponsoring and encouraging research to improve 
fire prevention and control in wildland-urban interface areas. 
While the existing language of section 8(d) authorizes the 
Administrator to provide assistance related to fire prevention 
and control in rural and remote areas, the addition of this 
language emphasizes the unique challenges of the wildland-urban 
interface. The wildland urban interface, defined in section 101 
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
Sec. 6511), are those communities and surrounding areas at risk 
of wildfires due to unique characteristics of geography and 
development, and posing challenges of evacuation in the event 
of wildfires.
    This section also directs USFA to make fire-related 
research available to the public through its Internet website, 
including information concerning the scope, methodology, and 
goals of such research, the individuals or institutions that 
conducted the research, how much it cost, and the research 
findings or results.

Section 7. Encouraging adoption of standards for firefighter health and 
        safety

    This section amends the FPCA to add a new section that 
requires the Administrator to promote the adoption by the fire 
service of national voluntary consensus standards for 
firefighter health and safety. The Administrator may accomplish 
this requirement by educating the fire service, encouraging all 
levels of government to adopt such standards, and recommending 
other methods by which the Federal Government can promote the 
adoption of such standards.
    The Committee is particularly concerned about the dangers 
to firefighters and others of smoke inhalation and chemical 
hydrogen cyanide exposure during fires. While the fire service 
has made substantial progress in implementing respiratory 
protection programs, too many firefighters still require 
treatment for smoke inhalation related injuries. We encourage 
the Administrator, in developing voluntary consensus standards 
under this provision, to include the establishment of 
respiratory protection programs, training and enforcement of 
such programs, reporting standards for inhalation injuries, and 
standards for the use and administration of cyanide antidotes.

Section 8. State and local fire service representation at National 
        Operations Center

    This section amends the FPCA to add a new section requiring 
the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a fire service 
position at the Department's National Operations Center (NOC). 
The NOC serves as the principal operations center for DHS and 
provides situational awareness and a common operating picture 
for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made 
disasters across all levels of governments.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ See Section 515 of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. 
Sec. 321d.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
select, on a rotating basis, a State or local fire service 
official for the position. It also instructs the Secretary to 
manage the position consistent with the rules, regulations, and 
practices which govern other rotating positions at the NOC. 
Specifically, the Committee intends for the Secretary to manage 
this position similarly to those filled by State and local law 
enforcement officials. It is also the Committee's intent that 
the State or local fire service agency filling the fire service 
position, not DHS, should pay the costs associated with 
staffing it.
    Including a State or local fire service representative at 
NOC will enhance situational awareness and ensure the effective 
sharing of information between the Federal government and State 
and local fire services. Among other things, a fire service 
representative will be able to interpret information related to 
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade 
disasters, including threat information, from a unique 
perspective, advise the Department on how such information 
could be useful to State and local fire services, and serve as 
a source of critical information during major disasters and 
emergencies.

Section 9. Coordination regarding fire prevention and control and 
        emergency medical services

    This section amends section 21(e) of the FPCA (15 U.S.C. 
2218) to require the Administrator to facilitate the 
coordination of USFA activities with government and non-
government entities related to fire prevention and control 
programs and emergency medical services (EMS). While USFA has 
focused its efforts on fire service based EMS, it is also 
responsible for supporting non-fire based EMS. Non-fire based 
EMS providers, whether hospitals, stand-alone agencies, or 
private companies, serve tens of millions of Americans, 
especially in rural areas, and play a vital role in our 
national preparedness and response system. The Committee 
believes that USFA may be able to encourage dialogue and better 
coordination between these various EMS providers. Such 
coordination by USFA should not interfere with the respective 
roles of other Federal departments and agencies with EMS-
related responsibilities, including the U.S. Departments of 
Transportation and Health and Human Services.

Section 10. Definitions

    This section amends the definitions in section 4 of the 
FPCA (15 U.S.C. 2203) to acknowledge the position of USFA 
within FEMA, and to assign the ``wildland-urban interface'' the 
meaning given in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration 
Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 6511).

                   V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact

    Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule 
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has 
considered the regulatory impact of this bill. The 
Congressional Budget Office states that the bill contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandate Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, 
local, or tribal governments, or private entities. The 
enactment of this legislation will not have significant 
regulatory impact.

             VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                                    April 15, 2008.
Hon. Joseph I. Lieberman,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 2606, the United 
States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Daniel 
Hoople.
            Sincerely,
                                                   Peter R. Orszag.
    Enclosure.

S. 2606--United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008

    Summary: S. 2606 would reauthorize the United States Fire 
Administration (USFA) through 2012. The USFA conducts research 
and development on fire-related technology, collects and 
disseminates information about fire and other emergency 
incidents, and provides training to firefighters and emergency 
responders. Based on historical expenditure data and assuming 
appropriation of the specified amounts, CBO estimates that 
implementing S. 2606 would cost $291 million over the 2009-2013 
period. Enacting this legislation would not affect direct 
spending or revenues.
    S. 2606 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 S. 2606 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 450 
(community and regional development).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                   2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending Under Current Law for the U.S. Fire Administration:
    Budget Authority............................................      43       0       0       0       0       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................      42      13       0       0       0       0
Proposed Changes:
    Authorization Level.........................................       0      70      72      74      76       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      49      71      73      75      23
Spending Under S. 2606 for the U.S. Fire Administration:
    Authorization Level.........................................      43      70      72      74      76       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................      42      62      71      73      75      23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: S. 2606 would authorize the 
appropriation of $292 million over the 2009-2013 period for the 
USFA to carry out research and development activities related 
to fire technology, collect and disseminate information through 
the National Fire Data Center, and provide training to 
firefighters and emergency responders. Such funding would 
include up to $5 million over three years to upgrade the 
National Fire Incident Reporting System to accommodate real-
time, Web-based incident reporting. In 2008, the Congress 
appropriated about $43 million to the USFA (see Public Law 110-
161).
    S. 2606 also would expand several functions of the USFA. 
The bill would direct the National Fire Academy (NFA) to 
provide training to firefighters and emergency responders on: 
incidents occurring in the wildland-urban interface (areas 
where structures and other human development intersect with 
undeveloped land), multi-jurisdictional fires, hazardous 
materials incidents, and advanced emergency medical services. 
The bill would increase the amount of appropriated funds that 
could be used for training programs from 4 percent to 7.5 
percent and would authorize the USFA to enter into contracts 
with certain organizations to provide on-site training. The 
bill also would direct USFA to issue several reports on the NFA 
curriculum and ongoing agency research.
    Based on historical expenditure patterns, CBO estimates 
that implementing S. 2606 would cost $291 million over the 
2009-2013 period. This estimate assumes that the bill will be 
enacted by the end of fiscal year 2008 and that the amounts 
authorized by the bill will be appropriated for each fiscal 
year.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 2606 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments. Those governments would benefit from the 
authorization of appropriations in this bill for grants, 
training, and technical assistance.
    Previous CBO estimate: On March 3, 2008, CBO transmitted a 
cost estimate for H.R. 4847, the United States Fire 
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008, as ordered reported 
by the House Committee on Science and Technology. The two bills 
are similar, and their estimated costs are identical.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Daniel Hoople; Impact 
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell; 
Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
    Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

       VII. Changes to Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by 
S. 2606 as reported are shown as follows (existing law proposed 
to be omitted is enclosed in brackets, new matter is printed in 
italic, and existing law in which no change is proposed is 
shown in roman):
    Title: To reauthorize the United States Fire 
Administration, and for other purposes.

                      TITLE 15. COMMERCE AND TRADE

                CHAPTER 49. FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL


Sec. 2203. Definitions

    As used in this Act, the term--
          (1) * * *
          (2) * * *
          (3) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the 
        United States Fire [Administration] Administration, 
        within the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
          (4) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (7) ``place of public accommodation affecting 
        commerce'' means any inn, hotel, or other establishment 
        not owned by the Federal Government that provides 
        lodging to transient guests, except that such term does 
        not include an establishment treated as an apartment 
        building for purposes of any State or local law or 
        regulation or an establishment located within a 
        building that contains not more than 5 rooms for rent 
        or hire and that is actually occupied as a residence by 
        the proprietor of such establishment; [and]
          (8) ``State'' means any State, the District of 
        Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
        Islands, the Canal Zone, Guam, American Samoa, the 
        Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and any other 
        territory or possession of the United States[.]; and
          (9) ``wildland-urban interface'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests 
        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 2204. * * *

Sec. 2205. * * *

Sec. 2206. National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control

    (a) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) Powers of Superintendent.--The Superintendent is 
authorized to--
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (6) conduct short courses, seminars, workshops, 
        conferences, and similar education and training 
        activities in all parts and localities of the United 
        States, including on-site training;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (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) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (H) [response,] tactics, and strategies for 
                dealing with [terrorist-caused national 
                catastrophes;] natural disasters, acts of 
                terrorism, and other man-made disasters;
                  (I) tactics and strategies for fighting 
                large-scale fires or multiple fires in a 
                general area that cross jurisdictional 
                boundaries;
                  (J) tactics and strategies for fighting fires 
                occurring at the wildland-urban interface;
                  (K) tactics and strategies for fighting fires 
                involving hazardous materials;
                  (L) advanced emergency medical services 
                training;
                  [(I)] (M) use of and familiarity with the 
                Federal Response Plan;
                  [(J)] (N) leadership and strategic skills, 
                including integrated management systems 
                operations and integrated response;
                  [(K)] (O) applying new technology and 
                developing strategies and tactics for fighting 
                [forest] wildland fires;
                  [(L)] (P) integrating the activities of 
                terrorism response agencies into national 
                terrorism incident response systems;
                  [(M)] (Q) [response] tactics and strategies 
                for fighting fires at United States ports, 
                including fires on the water and aboard 
                vessels; and
                  [(N)] (R) the training of present and future 
                instructors in the aforementioned subjects;
    (e) * * *
    (f) Assistance to State and Local Fire Service Training 
Programs.--The Administrator is authorized to provide 
assistance to State and local fire service training programs 
through grants, contracts, or otherwise. Such assistance shall 
not exceed [4 per centum] 7.5 percent of the amount authorized 
to be appropriated in each fiscal year pursuant to section 17 
of this Act [15 USCS Sec. 2216].
    (g) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (m) On-Site Training.--
          (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        the Administrator may enter into a contract with 
        nationally recognized organizations that have 
        established on-site training programs that comply with 
        national voluntary consensus standards for fire service 
        personnel to facilitate the delivery of the education 
        and training programs outlined in subsection (d)(1) 
        directly to fire service personnel.
          (2) Limitation.--
                  (A) In general.--The Administrator may not 
                enter into a contract with an organization 
                described in paragraph (1) unless such 
                organization operates a fire service training 
                program that--
                          (i) is accredited by a nationally 
                        recognized accreditation organization 
                        experienced with accrediting such 
                        training; or
                          (ii) the Administrator determines is 
                        of equivalent quality to a fire service 
                        training program described by clause 
                        (i).
                  (B) Approval of unaccredited fire service 
                training programs.--The Administrator may 
                consider the fact that an organization has 
                provided a satisfactory fire service training 
                program pursuant to a cooperative agreement 
                with a Federal agency as evidence that such 
                program is of equivalent quality to a fire 
                service training program described by 
                subparagraph (A)(i).
          (3) Restriction on use of funds.--The amounts 
        expended by the Administrator to carry out this 
        subsection in any fiscal year shall not exceed 7.5 per 
        centum of the amount authorized to be appropriated in 
        such fiscal year pursuant to section 17.
    (n) Triennial Report.--In the first annual report filed 
pursuant to section 16 for which the deadline for filing is 
after the expiration of the 18-month period that begins on the 
date of the enactment of the United States Fire Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2008, and in every third annual report 
thereafter, the Administrator shall include information about 
changes made to the National Fire Academy curriculum, 
including--
          (1) the basis for such changes, including a review of 
        the incorporation of lessons learned by emergency 
        response personnel after significant emergency events 
        and emergency preparedness exercises performed under 
        the National Exercise Program; and
          (2) the desired training outcome of all such changes.

Sec. 2207. Fire technology

    (a)

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (d) [Rural Assistance.--The Administrator Director of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency is authorized to assist the 
Nation's fire services, directly or through contracts, grants, 
or other forms of assistance, to sponsor and encourage research 
into approaches, techniques, systems, and equipment to improve 
fire prevention and control in the rural and remote areas of 
the Nation.] Rural and Wildland-Urban Interface Assistance.--
The Administrator may, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Wildland 
Fire Leadership Council, assist the fire services of the United 
States, directly or through contracts, grants, or other forms 
of assistance, in sponsoring and encouraging research into 
approaches, techniques, systems, equipment, and land-use 
policies to improve fire prevention and control in--
          (1) the rural and remote areas of the United States; 
        and
          (2) the wildland-urban interface.
    (e) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (h) Publication of Research Results.--
          (1) In general.--For each fire-related research 
        program funded by the Administration, the Administrator 
        shall make available to the public on the Internet 
        website of the Administration the following:
                  (A) A description of such research program, 
                including the scope, methodology, and goals 
                thereof.
                  (B) Information that identifies the 
                individuals or institutions conducting the 
                research program.
                  (C) The amount of funding provided by the 
                Administration for such program.
                  (D) The results or findings of the research 
                program.
          (2) Deadlines.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the information required by 
                paragraph (1) shall be published with respect 
                to a research program as follows:
                          (i) The information described in 
                        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
                        paragraph (1) with respect to such 
                        research program shall be made 
                        available under paragraph (1) not later 
                        than 30 days after the Administrator 
                        has awarded the funding for such 
                        research program.
                          (ii) The information described in 
                        subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) with 
                        respect to a research program shall be 
                        made available under paragraph (1) not 
                        later than 60 days after the date such 
                        research program has been completed.
                  (B) Exception.--No information shall be 
                required to be published under this subsection 
                before the date that is 1 year after the date 
                of the enactment of the United States Fire 
                Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008.

Sec. 2208. National Fire Data Center

    (a) * * *
    (b) Methods.--In carrying out the program of the Data 
Center, the Administrator [Director of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency] is authorized to--
          (1) * * *
          (2) encourage and assist Federal, State, local, and 
        other agencies, public and private, in developing and 
        reporting information; and
          (3) * * *
    (c) * * *
    (d) National Fire Incident Reporting System Update.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator shall update the 
        National Fire Incident Reporting System to ensure that 
        the information in the system is available, and can be 
        updated, through the Internet and in real time.
          (2) Limitation.--Of the amounts made available 
        pursuant to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of section 
        17(g)(1), the Administrator shall use not more than an 
        aggregate amount of $5,000,000 during the 3-year period 
        consisting of fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011 to 
        carry out the activities required by paragraph (1).

Sec. 2209. * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 2216. Authorization of appropriations

    (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (g)(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided with 
respect to the payment of claims under section 11 of this Act 
[15 USCS Sec. Sec. 2210], there are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act [15 USCS 
Sec. Sec. 2201 et seq.]--
          (A) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which 
        $2,266,000 shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
          (B) $64,850,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which 
        $2,334,000 shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
          (C) $66,796,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which 
        $2,404,000 shall be used to carry out section 8(f); 
        [and]
          (D) $68,800,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which 
        $2,476,000 shall be used to carry out section 8(f)[.];
          (E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which 
        $2,520,000 shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
          (F) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which 
        $2,595,600 shall be used to carry out section 8(f);
          (G) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which 
        $2,673,468 shall be used to carry out section 8(f); and
          (H) $76,490,890 for fiscal year 2012, of which 
        $2,753,672 shall be used to carry out section 8(f).

Sec. 2217. * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 2218. Administrative provisions

    (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (e) [Coordination.--To the extent practicable, the 
Administrator shall utilize existing programs, data, 
information, and facilities already available in other Federal 
Government departments and agencies and, where appropriate, 
existing research organizations, centers, and universities. The 
Administrator shall provide liaison at an appropriate 
organizational level to assure coordination of his activities 
with State and local government agencies, departments, bureaus, 
or offices concerned with any matter related to programs of 
fire prevention and control and with private and other Federal 
organizations and offices so concerned.] Coordination._
          (1) In general.--To the extent practicable, the 
        Administrator shall use existing programs, data, 
        information, and facilities already available in other 
        Federal Government departments and agencies and, where 
        appropriate, existing research organizations, centers, 
        and universities.
          (2) Coordination of fire prevention and control 
        programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at 
        an appropriate organizational level to assure 
        coordination of the activities of the Administrator 
        with Federal, State, and local government agencies and 
        departments and nongovernmental organizations concerned 
        with any matter related to programs of fire prevention 
        and control.
          (3) Coordination of emergency medical services 
        programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at 
        an appropriate organizational level to assure 
        coordination of the activities of the Administrator 
        related to emergency medical services provided by fire 
        service-based systems with Federal, State, and local 
        government agencies and departments and nongovernmental 
        organizations so concerned, as well as those entities 
        concerned with emergency medical services generally.

Sec. 2219. * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 2222.

    (a) Establishment of Position.--The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall, in consultation with the Administrator, 
establish a fire service position at the National Operations 
Center established under section 515 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321d) (also known as the ``Homeland 
Security Operations Center'') to ensure the effective sharing 
of information between the Federal Government and State and 
local fire services.
    (b) Designation of Position.--The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall designate, on a rotating basis, a State or local 
fire service official for the position described in subsection 
(a).
    (c) Management.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
manage the position established pursuant to subsection (a) in 
accordance with such rules, regulations, and practices as 
govern other similar rotating positions at the National 
Operations Center.

Sec. 2223a. * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 2234. Encouraging adoption of standards for firefighter health and 
                    safety

    The Administrator shall promote adoption by fire services 
of national voluntary consensus standards for firefighter 
health and safety, including such standards for firefighter 
operations, training, staffing, and fitness, by--
          (1) educating fire services about such standards;
          (2) encouraging the adoption at all levels of 
        government of such standards; and
          (3) making recommendations on other ways in which the 
        Federal Government can promote the adoption of such 
        standards by fire services.

                                  
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