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# Legislative Bulletin.................................................April 3, 2008

**Contents:**

**H.R. 4847---**United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of
2008 and Amendments

H.R. 4847---United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of
2008 (*Mitchell, D-AZ*)

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled to be
considered on Thursday, April 3, 2008, subject to a structured rule
([H.Res. 1071](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.Res.1071:))
making three amendments in order (summarized below).

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 4847 would reauthorize the U.S. Fire
Administration (USFA) at \$292 million for USFA programs over the FY
2009 through FY 2012 period. Below is a comparison between the funding
authorization levels in H.R. 4847 and the funding levels in the last
USFA reauthorization bill.

  ----------------- ------------------------ ----------------- -----------------------
  Authorized                                 Authorized        
  funding levels in                          funding levels in 
  the\                                       the\              
  U.S. Fire                                  U.S. Fire         
  Administration                             Administration    
  Reauthorization                            Reauthorization   
  Act of 2003                                Act of 2007       

  2005              \$63 million             2009              \$70 million

  2006              \$64 million             2010              \$72 million

  2007              \$66 million             2011              \$74 million

  2008              \$68 million             2012              \$76 million
  ----------------- ------------------------ ----------------- -----------------------

In addition to providing funding for the USFA, H.R. 4847 would expand
the training activities carried out by the National Fire Academy (NFA)
to include training for fighting large scale fires, multiple fires in a
general area, wildland fires, port fires, and urban fires. The bill
would also require the USFA's administrator to detail any changes to the
NFA's curriculum in every third USFA annual report. To carry out its
training program, H.R. 4847 would allow the NFA to enter into contracts
with qualified organizations to provide on-site training for
firefighters.

H.R. 4847 would authorize up to \$5 million of appropriated funds for
the USFA administrator to update the National Fire Incident Reporting
System to an Internet-based system with real-time reporting
capabilities.

H.R. 4847 would allow the USFA administrator to provide fire technology
assistance and research to address fire prevention and control in areas
at a high risk for wildfires. The bill also requires the administrator
to make USFA funded, fire-related research available to the public via
the Internet.

The bill would require the administrator to promote the adoption of
national voluntary consensus standards for firefighter's health and
safety by educating firefighters about such standards. H.R. 4847 would
also require the administrator to encourage state and local governments
to adopt such standards.

Finally, H.R. 4847 would require the USFA, to the extent practicable, to
utilize existing government programs, data, information, and facilities
to carry out its duties. To that end, the bill would require the
administrator to provide liaisons to state and local governments,
agencies, and departments related to fire prevention and control or
emergency medical services.

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: The USFA is a federal agency
within the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) focused on reducing "life and economic losses
due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy,
coordination and support." Established in 1974, the USFA offers training
services to local emergency responders, awards grants for research and
educational programs, and develops response tactics for firefighters. At
its inception, the agencies stated goal was to reduce fire related
deaths by half, which occurred in 1988 when the number of people killed
in fires fell to approximately six thousand. Currently, the USFA trains
over 80,000 firefighters each year.

[According to House Report
110-559](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr559)),
3,245 Americans were killed by fire in 2006 while 16,400 more were
injured. Approximately 81 percent of all fire U.S. deaths occur in
residences. In addition, the USFA reports that property damage and loss
that occurred in 2006 as a result of fire totaled over \$11 billion. In
addition, the USFA states that an average of 100 firefighters are killed
in the line of duty annually. Of the 1.6 million fires reported in 2006,
an estimated 31,000 were intentionally set and resulted in the deaths of
305 civilians.

According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the USFA is
performing adequately. OMB states that the USFA, "the program serves a
specific need and has expanded services to address a wide range of
hazards. Thus, a clarification of the program's purpose to avoid overlap
and confusion would be beneficial as the program continues to expand."
For the OMB's complete evaluation of the USFA, visit the program
assessment page:
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary/10003627.2006.html>.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 4847 was introduced on December
19, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Science and Technology's
Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. On February 7, 2008, the
subcommittee held a mark-up and forwarded the bill to the full
committee, as amended, by voice vote. On February 27, 2008, a full
committee mark-up was held and the bill was reported, as amended, by
voice vote.

**[Administration Position]{.underline}**: A Statement of Administration
Policy (SAP) was not available at press time

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 4847 would
authorize \$70 million in FY 2009 and \$292 million over the FY 2009
through 2013 period.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}** The Science and
Technology, in [House Report
110-559](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr559)),
states that, "H.R. 4847 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9
of rule XXI."

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: The Science and Technology,
in [House Report
110-559](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr559)),
cites constitutional authority in Article I, Section 8, but does not
cite a specific clause. However, House Rule XIII, Section 3(d)(1),
requires that all committee reports contain a statement citing the
*specific* powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the
law proposed by the bill or joint resolution. *\[emphasis added\]*

Amendments Made in Order Under the Rule

[Order of Business]{.underline}: H.R. 4847, the United States Fire
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008, is scheduled to be
considered on the House floor on Thursday, April 3, 2008, subject to a
structured rule ([**H.Res.
1071**](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.Res.1071:)) making
the following three amendments in order, each debatable for 10 minutes.

***[Pascrell (D-NJ)]{.underline}***: Authorizes the administrator of the
USFA, working through the National Fire Academy Training Program, to
train firefighters in response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with
national catastrophes, including terrorist-caused national catastrophes
and incidents that involve weapons of mass destruction.

**[Sali (R-ID)]{.underline}**: Requires the administrator of the USFA to
provide information and training to relevant federal departments and
agencies on the importance of clearing biomass in wildland areas of
federal lands to promote the safety of firefighters. Wildland biomass,
such as cut logs, small diameter trees and woody brush, is often
responsible for the spread of wildfires.

***[Langevin (D-RI)]{.underline}***: States that "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." On March 28, 2008, USFA
administrator Gregory Cade announced the USFA's formal position that
"all homes should be equipped with smoke alarms and automatic fire
sprinklers.'

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.