[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 4847 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. R. 4847
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 4, 2008
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, 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
Reauthorization Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The loss of life due to fire has dropped significantly
over the last 25 years in the United States. However, the
United States still has one of the highest fire death rates in
the industrialized world. For 2006, the National Fire
Protection Association reported 3,245 civilian fire deaths,
17,925 civilian fire injuries, and $11,307,000,000 in direct
losses due to fire.
(2) Every year, over 100 firefighters die in the line of
duty. The United States Fire Administration should continue its
leadership to help local fire agencies dramatically reduce
these fatalities.
(3) Members of the fire service community should continue
to work together to further the promotion of national voluntary
consensus standards that increase firefighter safety.
(4) The United States Fire Administration provides crucial
support to the Nation's 30,300 fire departments through
training, data collection, fire awareness and education, and
other activities for improving fire prevention, control, and
suppression technologies.
(5) The collection of data on fire and other emergency
incidents is a vital tool both for policy makers and emergency
responders to identify and develop responses to emerging
hazards. Improving the United States Fire Administration's data
collection capabilities is essential for accurately tracking
and responding to the magnitude and nature of the Nation's fire
problem.
(6) The research and development performed by the Federal
Government and non-government organizations on fire
technologies, techniques, and tools advance the capabilities of
the Nation's fire service to prevent and suppress fires.
(7) The United States Fire Administration is one of the
strongest voices representing the Nation's fire service within
the Federal Government, and, as such, it should have a
prominent place within the Federal Government.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR UNITED STATES FIRE
ADMINISTRATION.
Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(F) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(G) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
``(H) $76,490,890 for fiscal year 2012.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY TRAINING PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS AND
REPORTS.
(a) Amendments to Fire Academy Training.--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 amending subparagraph (H) to read as follows:
``(H) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing
with national catastrophes, including terrorist-caused
national catastrophes and incidents that involve
weapons of mass destruction;'';
(2) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``forest'' and
inserting ``wildland'';
(3) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``response tactics
and'' and inserting ``response, tactics, and'';
(4) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (N) as
subparagraphs (M) through (R), respectively; and
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(I) response, tactics, and strategies for
fighting large-scale fires or multiple fires in a
general area that cross jurisdictional boundaries;
``(J) response, tactics, and strategies for
fighting fires occurring at the wildland-urban
interface;
``(K) response, tactics, and strategies for
fighting fires involving hazardous materials;
``(L) advanced emergency medical services
training;''.
(b) Triennial Reports.--Section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2206) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(m) 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 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.''.
(c) Authorizing the Administrator to Enter Into Contracts to
Provide On-Site Training Through Certain Accredited Organizations.--
Section 7(f) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2206(f)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(f) Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator is authorized to
provide assistance to State and local fire service training
programs through grants, contracts, or otherwise.
``(2) Authorization to enter into contracts to provide on-
site training through certain accredited organizations.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator is authorized
to enter into a contract with one or more nationally
recognized organizations that have established on-site
training programs that prepare fire service personnel
to meet national voluntary consensus standards for fire
service personnel and that facilitate the delivery of
the education and training programs outlined in
subsection (d)(1) directly to fire service personnel.
``(B) Restrictions.--The Administrator shall not
enter into a contract with such organization unless
such organization--
``(i) provides training that leads to
certification by a program accredited by a
nationally recognized accreditation
organization; or
``(ii) at the time the Administrator enters
into the contract, provides training under such
a program under a cooperative agreement with a
Federal agency.
``(3) Restriction on use of funds.--The amounts expended by
the Administrator to carry out this subsection in any fiscal
year shall not exceed 4 percent of the amount authorized to be
appropriated in such fiscal year pursuant to section 17 of this
Act.''.
(d) Incident Command Training Course for Fires at Ports Required.--
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, in consultation
with the Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and
Control, shall consolidate and integrate into the current Academy
curriculum a course on incident command training for fire service
personnel for fighting fires at United States ports and in marine
environments, including fires on the water and aboard vessels. Such
course shall not relate to border and port security.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM UPGRADES.
(a) Incident Reporting System Database.--Section 9 of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2208) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) National Fire Incident Reporting System Update.--Of the
amounts made available pursuant to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of
section 17(g)(1), the Administrator shall use no 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 activities necessary to update
the National Fire Incident Reporting system to an Internet-based, real-
time incident reporting database, including capital investment,
contractor engagement, and user education.''.
(b) Technical Correction.--Section 9(b)(2) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
2208(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``assist State,'' and inserting
``assist Federal, State,''.
SEC. 6. FIRE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION.
(a) Assistance to Fire Services for Fire Prevention and Control in
Wildland-Urban Interface.--Section 8(d) of the Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Rural Assistance'' in the heading and
inserting ``Rural and Wildland-Urban Interface Assistance'';
(2) by striking ``The Administrator'' and inserting ``(1)
The Administrator''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The Administrator is authorized to assist the Nation's fire
services, directly or through contracts, grants, or other forms of
assistance, for activities and equipment to improve fire prevention and
control in the wildland-urban interface.''.
(b) Dissemination.--Section 8 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2207) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(h) Dissemination.--Beginning 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act
of 2008, the Administrator, in collaboration with the relevant
departments and agencies of the Federal Government, shall make
available to the public information regarding United States Fire
Administration funded activities to advance new knowledge and best
practices in firefighting, through a regularly updated Internet
database.''.
SEC. 7. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new sections:
``SEC. 37. 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 educating fire services about such standards,
encouraging the adoption at all levels of government of such standards,
and making recommendations on other ways in which the Federal
Government can promote the adoption of such standards by fire services.
``SEC. 38. TRAINING AGENCIES ON IMPORTANCE OF CLEARING BIOMASS IN
WILDLAND AREAS TO PROMOTE FIREFIGHTER SAFETY.
``In collaboration with the relevant departments and agencies of
the Federal Government, the Administrator shall develop and provide
information and training to relevant departments and agencies of the
Federal Government on the importance of clearing biomass in wildland
areas of Federal lands to promote the safety of firefighters.''.
SEC. 8. COORDINATION REGARDING FIRE SERVICE-BASED EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Section 21(e) of the Federal Fire Prevention and
Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2218(e)) is amended to read as follows:
``(e) Coordination.--
``(1) In general.--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.
``(2) Coordination of fire prevention and control
programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at an
appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of the
Administrator's activities with State and local government
agencies, departments, bureaus, or offices concerned with any
matter related to programs of fire prevention and control with
private and other Federal organizations and offices so
concerned.
``(3) Coordination of fire service-based emergency medical
services programs.--The Administrator shall provide liaison at
an appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of
the Administrator's activities with State and local government
agencies, departments, bureaus, or offices concerned with
programs related to emergency medical services provided by fire
service-based systems with private and other Federal
organizations and offices so concerned.''.
(b) Fire Service-Based Emergency Medical Services Best Practices.--
Section 8(c) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2207(c)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new
paragraph:
``(2) The Administrator is authorized to conduct, directly or
through contracts or grants, studies of the operations and management
aspects of fire service-based emergency medical services and
coordination between emergency medical services and fire services. Such
studies may include the optimum protocols for on-scene care, the
allocation of resources, and the training requirements for fire
service-based emergency medical services.''.
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974
(15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Administration'' and
inserting ``Administration, who is the Assistant Administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and'';
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) as
paragraphs (7), (8), and (9), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new
paragraph:
``(6) `hazardous materials' has the meaning given such term
in section 5102(2) of title 49, United States Code;''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(10) `wildland-urban interface' has the meaning given
such term in section 101(16) of the Healthy Forests Restoration
Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511(16)).''.
SEC. 10. SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF FIRE SPRINKLERS.
Congress supports the recommendations of the United States Fire
Administration regarding the adoption of fire sprinklers in commercial
buildings and educational programs to raise awareness of the importance
of installing fire sprinklers in residential buildings.
Passed the House of Representatives April 3, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.