I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4366
To establish in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol the position of
Director of Fire Safety and Protection to assume responsibility for fire
safety and protection activities of the Architect of the Capitol, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 3, 2000
Mr. HOYER (for himself, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, and Mr. ANDREWS)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To establish in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol
the position of Director of Fire Safety and Protection
to assume responsibility for fire safety and protection
activities of the Architect of the Capitol, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Capitol
Fire Protection Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) although progress has been made in recent
years, the Capitol, House and Senate Office Build-
ings, and Library of Congress still do not provide
staff and visitors with the fire safety and protection
they deserve;
(2) the Architect of the Capitol must place
great emphasis on the need to ensure that these and
other properties administered by the Architect, and
individuals who visit or work in these properties,
enjoy the maximum protection that modern tech-
nology and human diligence can provide against fire
and related threats to life and property; and
(3) properties and structures of the United
States Capitol Complex are of historical and archi-
tectural significance and are an essential public and
national resource, and it is essential that they be
preserved and rehabilitated in such a manner as to
retain their historical and architectural significance.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to estab-
lish the position of the Director of Fire Safety and Protec-
tion to assist the Architect of the Capitol in meeting the
Architect’s responsibilities for fire safety and protection
so that the properties of the United States Capitol Com-
plex will be protected from fire and serve as a safe environ-
ment for those who work or visit there.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF
FIRE SAFETY AND PROTECTION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established in
the Office of the Architect of the Capitol the position of
Director of Fire Safety and Protection.
(b) APPOINTMENT; COMPENSATION.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Director of Fire Safe-
ty and Protection shall be appointed by the Archi-
tect of the Capitol from among individuals with the
knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to carry out
the duties described in this Act.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Architect of the
Capitol shall fix the rate of basic pay and benefits
for the Director of Fire Safety and Protection at
such rate as the Architect considers appropriate, ex-
cept that such rate may not be less than the rate of
pay and benefits for the Director of Engineering
under the Architect of the Capitol.
(c) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Working under the direction
and control of the Architect of the Capitol and re-
porting directly to the Architect, the Director of Fire
Safety and Protection shall—
(A) be responsible for all fire safety and
protection activities of the Architect of the Cap-
itol;
(B) ensure that Architect properties meet
the applicable codes and standards established
by the National Fire Protection Association, ex-
cept that the Architect may modify the applica-
tion of such codes to the properties to take into
account the historic and architecturally signifi-
cant features of such properties so long as a
reasonable degree of safety and protection is
maintained; and
(C) carry out the duties specified in para-
graph (2).
(2) DUTIES SPECIFIED.—The duties specified
in this paragraph are as follows:
(A) The routine periodic testing and main-
tenance of all fire alarm, fire suppression, and
fire protection systems in all Architect prop-
erties.
(B) The conduct of comprehensive inspec-
tions and risk assessments on a regular basis
(but not less frequently than once each year) of
all Architect properties to identify conditions
which constitute fire hazards and to develop
plans for the prompt abatement of such condi-
tions, in accordance with the requirements spec-
ified in paragraph (1)(B).
(C) The development and implementation
of programs to train employees of the Architect
of the Capitol and others in the proper use and
maintenance of fire alarm, fire suppression, and
fire protection systems and in the proper use
and storage of hazardous chemicals and mate-
rials.
(D) 
The 
identification 
of 
structural
changes and repairs which may be necessary to
assure maximum fire protection and safety in
Architect properties, and the development of
comprehensive plans to carry out such changes.
(E) The preparation of semi-annual re-
ports on the efforts made by the Director to
carry out the duties required under this sub-
section.
(F) Consultation with experts in fire safety
and protection regarding the modification of
codes and standards carried out pursuant to
paragraph (1)(B) and such other matters relat-
ing to the Director’s duties as the Director con-
siders appropriate.
(G) Such other steps as may be reasonably
necessary to protect Architect properties from