I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4229
To authorize a Federal grant program to local governments to better enable
them to protect public safety against fire and fire-related hazards.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 15, 1998
Mr. PASCRELL (for himself, Mr. ANDREWS, and Mr. HOYER) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science
A BILL
To authorize a Federal grant program to local governments
to better enable them to protect public safety against
fire and fire-related hazards.
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 ‘‘21st Century Fire and
Public Safety Act’’.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) AUTHORITY.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c),
the Administrator of the United States Fire Administra-
tion (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Administrator’’) may
make grants on a competitive basis to local governments
to enable them to better protect public safety against fire
and fire-related hazards.
(b) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator
may make a grant under subsection (a) for a fiscal year
only on the condition that the local government receiving
the grant matches for the fiscal year—
(1) 10 percent of the Federal funds, if the local
government represents a community of 25,000 resi-
dents or fewer;
(2) 15 percent of the Federal funds, if the local
government represents a community of more than
25,000 but not more than 100,000 residents; and
(3) 25 percent of the Federal funds, if the local
government represents a community of more than
100,000 residents.
(c) COMMUNITY SIZE.—In making grants for a fiscal
year under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure
that grants are made to local governments representing
communities of each size described in subsection (b) for
which there are eligible applicants.
(d) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A grant made to a local
government under subsection (a) may only be used—
(1) to hire additional firefighters;
(2) to acquire additional fire trucks and other
firefighting equipment;
(3) to train firefighters in rescue and first aid
procedures;
(4) to fund the creation of rapid intervention
teams to protect firefighters at the scenes of fires
and other emergencies;
(5) to enforce fire codes;
(6) to certify fire inspectors;
(7) to train fire department personnel in arson
prevention and detection;
(8) to educate the public about arson preven-
tion and detection;
(9) to fund emergency medical services provided
by fire departments;
(10) to acquire personal protective equipment
required for firefighters by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, and other personal pro-
tective equipment for firefighters;
(11) to fund fire prevention programs for youth
and the elderly;
(12) to train firefighters in the handling of haz-
ardous materials; or
(13) to train people to provide any of the train-
ing described in this subsection.
(e) LIMITATION
ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—A
local government receiving a grant under subsection (a)
may use not more than 10 percent of the total amount
of the grant in each fiscal year for the administrative costs
of carrying out this section.
(f) REPORT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR.—Each local
government receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall
transmit a report to the Administrator with respect to
each fiscal year for which a grant was received. The report
shall describe how the grant funds were used.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For the purposes of carrying out this Act, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator
$1,000,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1999 through
2004.
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