Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-3791
Sponsor: Rep. Mitchell, Harry E. [D-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2009-10-13 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Department of Homeland Security
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Fires
Health programs administration and funding
Housing industry and standards
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-10-13
text: 
Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to reauthorize through FY2014 the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. 
 
Modifies the scope of the AFG program, including by permitting the use of grant funds for volunteer, non-fire service emergency medical services organizations and for certifying fire and building inspectors employed by a fire department or serving as a volunteer building inspector with a fire department. 
 
Increases: (1) funding for fire prevention and firefighter safety programs; and (2) maximum AFG grant amounts. Lowers matching and maintenance of expenditure requirements and authorizes the Administrator of FEMA to waive or reduce such requirements for applicants facing demonstrated economic hardship. 
 
 Revises grant allocation requirements to require 25% of grant amounts for a fiscal year to be allocated to each of: (1) career fire departments; (2) volunteer fire departments; (3) combination fire departments. Requires the remaining 25% to be awarded on a competitive basis among such fire departments. 
 
Revises grant limits based on jurisdiction populations. Sets forth new limits on awards to state fire training academies. Limits grant amounts used to obtain training to training that complies with applicable national voluntary consensus standards.
 
Amends SAFER program provisions to: (1) limit the period of program grants to three years; (2) require grantees to commit to retaining firefighters hired for the entire grant period, with an economic hardship exception; and (3) limit to 80% the portion of the cost of hiring firefighters for each fiscal year that may be provided under a grant. 

action_date: 2009-11-18
text: 
Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to reauthorize through FY2014 the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. 
 
Modifies the scope of the AFG program, including by permitting the use of grant funds for volunteer, non-fire service emergency medical services organizations and for certifying fire and building inspectors employed by a fire department or serving as a volunteer building inspector with a fire department. Prohibits providing program funds to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations. 
 
Increases: (1) funding for fire prevention and firefighter safety programs; and (2) maximum AFG grant amounts. Lowers matching and maintenance of expenditure requirements and authorizes the Administrator of FEMA to waive or reduce such requirements for applicants facing demonstrated economic hardship. 
 
 Revises grant allocation requirements to require 25% of grant amounts for a fiscal year to be allocated to each of: (1) career fire departments; (2) volunteer fire departments; (3) combination fire departments. Requires remaining amounts to be awarded on a competitive basis among such fire departments.
 
Revises grant limits based on jurisdiction populations. Sets forth new limits on awards to state fire training academies. Limits grant amounts used to obtain training to training that complies with applicable national voluntary consensus standards.
 
Amends SAFER program provisions to: (1) limit the period of program grants to three years; (2) require grantees to commit to retaining firefighters hired for the entire grant period, with an economic hardship exception; and (3) limit to 80% the portion of the cost of hiring firefighters for each fiscal year that may be provided under a grant. 
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator of FEMA to make grants directly to career, volunteer, and combination fire departments for the purpose of increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments that antedate the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Association, to conduct and report to Congress on a study to: (1) define the current roles and activities associated with the fire services on a national, state, regional, and local level: (2) identify the equipment, staffing, and training required to fulfill such roles and activities; (3) conduct an assessment to identify gaps between what fire departments currently possess and what they require on a national and state-by-state basis; and (4) measure the impact of the AFG program in meeting the needs and filling the gaps identified. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) conduct a survey to ascertain whether each career fire department, volunteer fire department, and combination fire department in the United States is in compliance with the national voluntary consensus standards for staffing, training, safe operations, personal protective equipment, and fitness; and (2) establish a Task Force to Enhance Firefighter Safety. 
 
(Sec. 6) Prohibits using any funds appropriated to carry out this Act for a congressional earmark.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-11-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 395 - 31 (Roll no. 901).
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 395 - 31 (Roll no. 901).
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H13100-13103)
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3791.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H13113-13115)
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3791 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: On motion that the Committee now rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Mr. Gordon (TN) moved that the Committee now rise.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 909, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cardoza amendment.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 909, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holden amendment.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Gordon demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 909, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake amendment.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Perlmutter amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (NE) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 909, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perlmutter amendment.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 909, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Titus amendment.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3791.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Jesse L. Jackson Jr. to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 909 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3791 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution. (consideration: CR H13100-13103)
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 909. (consideration: CR H13093-13107)
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Rule H. Res. 909 passed House.
action_date: 2009-11-17
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 909 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3791 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution.
action_date: 2009-11-07
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 191.
action_date: 2009-11-07
text: Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
action_date: 2009-11-07
text: Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
action_date: 2009-11-07
text: Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Homeland Security for a period ending not later than Nov. 7, 2009 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(i), rule X.
action_date: 2009-11-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on 111-333, Part I.
action_date: 2009-11-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on 111-333, Part I.
action_date: 2009-10-21
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2009-10-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-10-14
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2009-10-14
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-10-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
action_date: 2009-10-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
action_date: 2009-10-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-10-13
text: Introduced in House