United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1152
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Authorization
Building construction
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
EBB Terrorism
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Equipment and supplies
Executive reorganization
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal officials
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fire departments
Fire fighters
Fire prevention
Fires
Forest fires
Forestry research
Foundations
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Harbors
Housing and Community Development
Insects
International Affairs
Interstate relations
Labor and Employment
Law
Marine safety
Monuments and memorials
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Smoke
Social Welfare
Standards
Strategic planning
Technological innovations
Technology assessment
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Urban affairs
Urban areas
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-23
text: United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 - Re-establishes the position of United States Fire Administrator.
Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration.
action_date: 2003-08-26
text: 

Title I: United States Fire Administration Reauthorization - 
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 - (Sec. 102) Re-establishes the position of Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
 
(Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize FY 2004 through 2008 appropriations for the United States Fire Administration. Obligates specified FY 2004 through 2006 appropriations for firefighting equipment grants using foam in remote areas without water access.
 

Title II: Firefighting Research and Coordination - 
Firefighting Research and Coordination Act - (Sec. 202) Amends the Act to direct the Administrator to: (1) develop new, and utilize existing, measurement techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating firefighting technologies; (2) evaluate the compatibility of new and existing equipment and technology; and (3) support the development of new standards through national voluntary consensus standards organizations for new firefighting technologies. 
 
Includes research into methods of containing insect infested forest fires and measuring and tracking resultant fine particle smoke within fire technology research.
 
(Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to State and local fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems for dealing with national emergencies; and (2) develop and make model mutual aid plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance available to State and local fire service officials.
 
Requires the Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response (Department of Homeland Security) to revise the Federal Response Plan to incorporate terrorist response plans, particularly in urban areas.
 
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control to train fire service personnel in: (1) strategies for building collapse rescue; (2) the use of technology in response to fires; (3) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with terrorist-caused national catastrophes; (4) use of and familiarity with the national plan; (5) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated management systems operations and integrated response; (6) strategies and tactics for fighting forest fires; (7) integration of terrorism response agencies into the national terrorism incident response system; and (8) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at U.S. ports, including fires on the water and aboard vessels. 

action_date: 2003-11-20
text: 

Title I: United States Fire Administration Reauthorization - 
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 - (Sec. 102) Re-establishes the position of Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
 
(Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize FY 2004 through 2008 appropriations for the United States Fire Administration. 
 

Title II: Firefighting Research and Coordination - 
Firefighting Research and Coordination Act - (Sec. 202) Amends the Act to allow the Administrator, at the request of other Federal agencies, to provide assistance in fire prevention and control technologies, including methods of containing insect-infested forest fires and measuring and tracking fine particle smoke resulting from fires of insect-infested fuel. Directs the Administrator to: (1) develop new, and utilize existing, measurement techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating firefighting technologies; (2) evaluate the compatibility of new and existing equipment and technology; and (3) support the development of new standards through national voluntary consensus standards organizations for new firefighting technologies. 
 
Requires the Administrator, by regulation, to require that new equipment or systems purchased through the assistance program established by the Act meet or exceed established applicable voluntary consensus standards. Allows the Administrator, under specified conditions, to waive this requirement.
 
Requires a grant applicant, who proposes to purchase with assistance provided under the grant new equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards, to include in the application an explanation of why such equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or systems that do meet or exceed such standards. Allows a grant applicant to include a second grant request in the application to be considered by the Administrator in the event the primary grant request is not approved on the grounds of the equipment not meeting such standards. 
 
(Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to State and local fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems for dealing with national emergencies; and (2) develop and make model mutual aid plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance available to State and local fire service officials.
 
Requires the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees on the need for a strategy concerning deployment of volunteers and emergency response personnel, including a national credentialing system, in the event of a national emergency.
 
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to specified congressional committees on plans for revisions to the Federal Response Plan and its integration into the National Response Plan, including how the revised plan will address response to terrorist attacks, particularly in urban areas, including fire detection and suppression and related emergency services.
 
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control to train fire service personnel in: (1) strategies for building collapse rescue; (2) the use of technology in response to fires; (3) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with terrorist-caused national catastrophes; (4) use of and familiarity with the Federal Response Plan; (5) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated management systems operations and integrated response; (6) strategies and tactics for fighting forest fires; (7) integration of terrorism response agencies into the national terrorism incident response system; and (8) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at U.S. ports, including fires on the water and aboard vessels. 
 
Requires the Superintendent to offer at the Academy and at other sites courses and training assistance as necessary to accommodate all geographic regions and needs of career and volunteer firefighters.
 
(Sec. 205) Repeals establishment of an office in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to administer the grant assistance provided under the Act for fire prevention programs. Requires the Director [sic] of the United States Fire Administration to establish specific criteria for the selection of assistance recipients and provide grant-writing assistance to applicants.
 
Allows such grants to be used for: (1) training of firefighting personnel in maritime firefighting; and (2) the acquisition of equipment for fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water. Makes specified funds available each year through FY 2008 for such equipment.
 
(Sec. 206) Revises the composition of the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to increase its membership from nine to 12, which shall include nine (currently, six) individuals who have a demonstrated interest in the fire service. Requires members' terms to be staggered so that the terms of four (currently, three) expire every two years.
 
Allows the annual basic rate of pay of the officers and employees of the Foundation to be no more than 15 percent above the GS-15 level of the General Schedule.
 
Makes permanent the authority of the Administration to provide administrative services to the Foundation.

action_date: 2003-11-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 20, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 

Title I: United States Fire Administration Reauthorization - 
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 - (Sec. 102) Re-establishes the position of Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
 
(Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize FY 2004 through 2008 appropriations for the United States Fire Administration. 
 

Title II: Firefighting Research and Coordination - 
Firefighting Research and Coordination Act - (Sec. 202) Amends the Act to allow the Administrator, at the request of other Federal agencies, to provide assistance in fire prevention and control technologies, including methods of containing insect-infested forest fires and measuring and tracking fine particle smoke resulting from fires of insect-infested fuel. Directs the Administrator to: (1) develop new, and utilize existing, measurement techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating firefighting technologies; (2) evaluate the compatibility of new and existing equipment and technology; and (3) support the development of new standards through national voluntary consensus standards organizations for new firefighting technologies. 
 
Requires the Administrator, by regulation, to require that new equipment or systems purchased through the assistance program established by the Act meet or exceed established applicable voluntary consensus standards. Allows the Administrator, under specified conditions, to waive this requirement.
 
Requires a grant applicant, who proposes to purchase with assistance provided under the grant new equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards, to include in the application an explanation of why such equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or systems that do meet or exceed such standards. Allows a grant applicant to include a second grant request in the application to be considered by the Administrator in the event the primary grant request is not approved on the grounds of the equipment not meeting such standards. 
 
(Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to State and local fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems for dealing with national emergencies; and (2) develop and make model mutual aid plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance available to State and local fire service officials.
 
Requires the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees on the need for a strategy concerning deployment of volunteers and emergency response personnel, including a national credentialing system, in the event of a national emergency.
 
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to specified congressional committees on plans for revisions to the Federal Response Plan and its integration into the National Response Plan, including how the revised plan will address response to terrorist attacks, particularly in urban areas, including fire detection and suppression and related emergency services.
 
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control to train fire service personnel in: (1) strategies for building collapse rescue; (2) the use of technology in response to fires; (3) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with terrorist-caused national catastrophes; (4) use of and familiarity with the Federal Response Plan; (5) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated management systems operations and integrated response; (6) strategies and tactics for fighting forest fires; (7) integration of terrorism response agencies into the national terrorism incident response system; and (8) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at U.S. ports, including fires on the water and aboard vessels. 
 
Requires the Superintendent to offer at the Academy and at other sites courses and training assistance as necessary to accommodate all geographic regions and needs of career and volunteer firefighters.
 
(Sec. 205) Repeals establishment of an office in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to administer the grant assistance provided under the Act for fire prevention programs. Requires the Director [sic] of the United States Fire Administration to establish specific criteria for the selection of assistance recipients and provide grant-writing assistance to applicants.
 
Allows such grants to be used for: (1) training of firefighting personnel in maritime firefighting; and (2) the acquisition of equipment for fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water. Makes specified funds available each year through FY 2008 for such equipment.
 
(Sec. 206) Revises the composition of the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to increase its membership from nine to 12, which shall include nine (currently, six) individuals who have a demonstrated interest in the fire service. Requires members' terms to be staggered so that the terms of four (currently, three) expire every two years.
 
Allows the annual basic rate of pay of the officers and employees of the Foundation to be no more than 15 percent above the GS-15 level of the General Schedule.
 
Makes permanent the authority of the Administration to provide administrative services to the Foundation.

action_date: 2003-12-06
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 20, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 

Title I: United States Fire Administration Reauthorization - 
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 - (Sec. 102) Re-establishes the position of Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
 
(Sec. 103) Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize FY 2004 through 2008 appropriations for the United States Fire Administration. 
 

Title II: Firefighting Research and Coordination - 
Firefighting Research and Coordination Act - (Sec. 202) Amends the Act to allow the Administrator, at the request of other Federal agencies, to provide assistance in fire prevention and control technologies, including methods of containing insect-infested forest fires and measuring and tracking fine particle smoke resulting from fires of insect-infested fuel. Directs the Administrator to: (1) develop new, and utilize existing, measurement techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating firefighting technologies; (2) evaluate the compatibility of new and existing equipment and technology; and (3) support the development of new standards through national voluntary consensus standards organizations for new firefighting technologies. 
 
Requires the Administrator, by regulation, to require that new equipment or systems purchased through the assistance program established by the Act meet or exceed established applicable voluntary consensus standards. Allows the Administrator, under specified conditions, to waive this requirement.
 
Requires a grant applicant, who proposes to purchase with assistance provided under the grant new equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed applicable voluntary consensus standards, to include in the application an explanation of why such equipment or systems will serve the needs of the applicant better than equipment or systems that do meet or exceed such standards. Allows a grant applicant to include a second grant request in the application to be considered by the Administrator in the event the primary grant request is not approved on the grounds of the equipment not meeting such standards. 
 
(Sec. 203) Directs the Administrator to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to State and local fire service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems for dealing with national emergencies; and (2) develop and make model mutual aid plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance available to State and local fire service officials.
 
Requires the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees on the need for a strategy concerning deployment of volunteers and emergency response personnel, including a national credentialing system, in the event of a national emergency.
 
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to specified congressional committees on plans for revisions to the Federal Response Plan and its integration into the National Response Plan, including how the revised plan will address response to terrorist attacks, particularly in urban areas, including fire detection and suppression and related emergency services.
 
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the Superintendent of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control to train fire service personnel in: (1) strategies for building collapse rescue; (2) the use of technology in response to fires; (3) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with terrorist-caused national catastrophes; (4) use of and familiarity with the Federal Response Plan; (5) leadership and strategic skills, including integrated management systems operations and integrated response; (6) strategies and tactics for fighting forest fires; (7) integration of terrorism response agencies into the national terrorism incident response system; and (8) response tactics and strategies for fighting fires at U.S. ports, including fires on the water and aboard vessels. 
 
Requires the Superintendent to offer at the Academy and at other sites courses and training assistance as necessary to accommodate all geographic regions and needs of career and volunteer firefighters.
 
(Sec. 205) Repeals establishment of an office in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to administer the grant assistance provided under the Act for fire prevention programs. Requires the Director [sic] of the United States Fire Administration to establish specific criteria for the selection of assistance recipients and provide grant-writing assistance to applicants.
 
Allows such grants to be used for: (1) training of firefighting personnel in maritime firefighting; and (2) the acquisition of equipment for fighting fires with foam in remote areas without access to water. Makes specified funds available each year through FY 2008 for such equipment.
 
(Sec. 206) Revises the composition of the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to increase its membership from 9 to 12, which shall include 9 (currently, 6) individuals who have a demonstrated interest in the fire service. Requires members' terms to be staggered so that the terms of 4 (currently, 3) expire every 2 years.
 
Allows the annual basic rate of pay of the officers and employees of the Foundation to be no more than 15 percent above the GS-15 level of the General Schedule.
 
Makes permanent the authority of the Administration to provide administrative services to the Foundation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-06
text: Became Public Law No: 108-169.
action_date: 2003-12-06
text: Became Public Law No: 108-169.
action_date: 2003-12-06
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-12-06
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-11-25
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-11-25
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H12129-12130)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H12129-12130)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1152.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12129-12133)
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Mr. Boehlert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-20
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S15307-15310; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S15307-15308)
action_date: 2003-08-26
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 250.
action_date: 2003-08-26
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/29/03 legislative day 07/21/03 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-126.
action_date: 2003-08-26
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/29/03 legislative day 07/21/03 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-126.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2003-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7147)
action_date: 2003-05-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7146-7147)
action_date: 2003-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 108-169