[DOCID: f:sr411.110]
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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
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
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:
<bullet> 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;
<bullet> promoting education and awareness for the general
public in fire safety through government agencies, national
associations, nongovernmental organizations, and the private
sector;
<bullet> 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;
<bullet> 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
<bullet> 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\
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\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).
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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.
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\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\
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\3\ See Section 515 of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C.
Sec. 321d.
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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
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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
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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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