Date: 1999-05-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. the Fire Administration has long enjoyed the bipartisan support of the Congress because of its vital mission: to improve safety for all of our citizens. I would like to acknowledge the collegial approach taken by the gentleman from Michigan . the chairman of the Subcommittee on Basic Research. in developing H.R. 1550. It has been a pleasure working with him on the bill. I also want to thank the chairman of the committee. the gentleman from Wisconsin . and the ranking Democrat member. the gentleman from California . for their efforts in moving the bill through the committee and in bringing it expeditiously before the House for its consideration. The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 was intended to address a serious problem affecting the safety of all Americans. Much progress has been made during the past 25 years in public education about fire safety. improvement in the effectiveness of fire services. and the wider use of home fire safety devices. Nevertheless. the United States still has one of the highest fire death rates among advanced nations. In 1997. 4.000 Americans died and 24.000 were injured in fires. Moreover. the approximately 2 million fires reported each year result in direct property losses estimated well over $8 billion. with total direct and indirect costs reaching $100 billion annually. The bill before the House seeks to reinvigorate the efforts of the Fire Administration. I am pleased that it endorses the Presidents fiscal year 2000 proposal for a 40 percent funding increase and provides an additional 7 percent increase in the second year. Although these increases will raise the fire budget nearly $50 million. it still pales compared to the scale of activity originally contemplated for the agency. The landmark report. "America Burning". which was the genesis for the 1974 act. recommended an initial budget for the Fire Administration of $124 million in 1974 dollars. H.R. 1550 is a good start for providing the level of resources the Fire Administration needs to carry out its important mission. In addition to resources. the bill provides for the agency to develop a management plan and establish the program priorities that will help to ensure the increased resources are used to maximize effect. H.R. 1550 will enable the Fire Administration to increase support for its critical responsibility of firefighter training through the National Fire Academy. Moreover. the budget growth will enable the agency to reverse the steep decline in support for fire research and for public education programs. Greater research is absolutely necessary so that we can help prevent firefighter injury and death nationally. including those that claimed the lives of three firefighters from the DallasFort Worth area earlier this year. Regarding public education. the Fire Administration must enlarge and improve its efforts to reduce losses for the population groups most at risk from fire death and injury. We know that the elderly. the very young and the poor are most vulnerable. I included language in the report accompanying the bill tasking the Fire Administration to carefully assess whether research and additional data collection activities could improve understanding of the factors that lead to increased fire risk. Effective targeted fire prevention campaigns can be developed only from a sound base of knowledge. Also. I asked the Fire Administration to look into the current use of security bars. which are often called burglary bars. These devices offer protection from criminals but can become fire traps in the event of fire. as has recently been the case in Texas and other States. The Fire Administration could help prevent such tragedies by disseminating information about ways to install the security bars properly that also will allow for easy departure from a building in a fire emergency. In addition to funding authorizations. H.R. 1550 establishes the requirement for a 5year program plan for the agency. This plan will constitute the formal documentation of Fire Administrations response to the recommendations of the blue ribbon panel convened last year by FEMA Director Witt to review the agencys management and programs. I am particularly concerned about the recent decision the FEMA director made to create the position of chief operating officer for the Fire Administration. The incumbent for this position. a civil service employee. would report directly to the FEMA director but assist rather than report to the administrator. I understand the reasons that led to the creation of this new position and generally support the position. The problem lies in the tangling of lines of authority within the Fire Administration and confusing the roles of two officials. This arrangement. in my view. will create confusion in the line of authority within the Fire Administration that maybe harmful to the functioning of the agency. I believe the fire administrator is committed to carrying out reforms at the agency consistent with the blue ribbon panels recommendations. I will be following this situation closely to be sure the fire administrator plays an important role in developing and implementing the FEMA directors final respbfige to the blue ribbon panel report. One part of the process required by H.R. 1550 for developing the 5year will include consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the fire service organizations to establish a prioritized set of research goals. I am particularly interested in seeing that this research prioritization places adequate emphasis on development of firefighter protection equipment. Firefighters put their lives on the line every day. It is only right they have the equipment that will allow them to do their jobs effectively and as safely as possible. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 1550 is a useful bill that comes to the floor with bipartisan support and that authorizes programs that advance public safety. I am pleased to recommend the measure to my colleagues for their approval. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.