" ! SENATE 110TH CONGRESS

2d Session 

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 


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(II) 

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut, Chairman 

CARL LEVIN, Michigan 

DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii 

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware 

MARK L. PRYOR, Arkansas 

MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana 

BARACK OBAMA, Illinois 

CLAIRE MCCASKILL, Missouri 

JON TESTER, Montana 

SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine 

TED STEVENS, Alaska 

GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio 

NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota 

TOM COBURN, Oklahoma 

PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico 

JOHN WARNER, Virginia 

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 


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69–010 

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 


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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 midand 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 wideranging 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 


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1For 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). 2 15 U.S.C. § 2201 et seq. 

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

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. 

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. 


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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 PostKatrina 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. 


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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 wildlandurban 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 wildlandurban interface. The wildland urban interface, defined in section 

101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 

§ 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 

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3See Section 515 of the Homeland Security Act, 6 U.S.C. § 321d. 

juries, 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

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, standalone 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. 


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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. § 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 


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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), multijurisdictional 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. 


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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 

§ 2203. Definitions 

As used in this Act, the term—

(1) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(3) ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator of the United 

States Fire øAdministration¿ 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; øand¿ 

(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 

Statesø.¿; 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). 

* * * * * * * 

§ 2204. * * * 

§ 2205. * * * 

§ 2206. National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control 

(a) * * * 

(b) * * * 

(c) POWERS OF SUPERINTENDENT.—The Superintendent is authorized to—


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(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) øresponse,¿ tactics, and strategies for dealing with 

øterrorist-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; 

ø(I)¿ (M) use of and familiarity with the Federal Response Plan; 

ø(J)¿ (N) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated management systems operations and integrated response; 

ø(K)¿ (O) applying new technology and developing strategies and tactics for fighting øforest¿ wildland fires; 

ø(L)¿ (P) integrating the activities of terrorism response 

agencies into national terrorism incident response systems; 

ø(M)¿ (Q) øresponse¿ tactics and strategies for fighting 

fires at United States ports, including fires on the water 

and aboard vessels; and 

ø(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 ø4 per 

centum¿ 7.5 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated 

in each fiscal year pursuant to section 17 of this Act ø15 USCS 

§ 2216¿. 

(g) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(m) ON-SITE TRAINING.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

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ards 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. 

§ 2207. Fire technology 

(a) 

* * * * * * * 

(d) øRURAL 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—


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(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. 

§ 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 


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$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). 

§ 2209. * * * 

* * * * * * * 

§ 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 ø15 USCS 

§§ 2210¿, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 

purposes of this Act ø15 USCS §§ 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); øand¿ 

(D) $68,800,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $2,476,000 

shall be used to carry out section 8(f)ø.¿; 

(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). 

§ 2217. * * * 

* * * * * * * 

§ 2218. Administrative provisions 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(e) øCOORDINATION.—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 approVerDate Aug 31 2005 09:29 Jul 15, 2008 Jkt 069010 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\PICKUP\SR411.110 SR411

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14 

priate 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. 

§ 2219. * * * 

* * * * * * * 

§ 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. 

§ 2223a. * * * 

* * * * * * * 

§ 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. 

Æ 


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