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The Department of Defense Authorization Act was passed by the Senate Thursday and now heads to the White House for the President's signature. It was passed by the House earlier in the week.
The Act contains language for spending money in several areas of fire services, primarily the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act
Members of Congress would like to adjourn next week in order to head home for the last weeks of election campaigning. But first they need to find $100 million or the FIRE Act in 2001 will have been a nice thought but worth nothing.
The Act designates $100 million in 2001 and $300 million in 2002 to directly fund grants to fire services. This money is to be passed out by FEMA according to restrictions of matching funds, department size, paid or volunteer personnel, and other directives. The money can be used for equipment, personnel, training and many other things.
Members of Congress must secure the funding in an existing or additional appropriations bill. The language of an authorization act provides directions to the federal government for spending money. It does not appropriate the money.
The FIRE Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J), and co sponsored by Curt Weldon (R-PA). Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT.) and Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH.) introduced Pascrell's bill in the Senate, where it was successfully attached to and was finally included in the FY01 Department of Defense authorization conference report.
In addition the act also authorizes $10 million in 2001 and $20 million in 2002 for burn research. FEMA would administer this program.
In 2001, $10 million would be used by the Health and Human Services Department to study Hepatitis C and to screen and treat fire personnel and train those in elevated risk jobs.
The Secretary of Defense is directed to study the radio frequency spectrum including DOD restricted spectrum, to ensure adequate allocation for communications for the fire services and others. Also, the Secretary is to move fire services up on the list when considering surplus government property dispersal.
The Department of Defense will form a task force to decide how to make defense technology usable and available to civilian agencies. This task force will include representatives from fire service groups.
The Volunteer Fire Assistance Program is authorized to receive $10 million in 2001 and $20 million in 2002. It provides technical, financial and related assistance to rural fire departments for training and equipping firefighters.
The House and Senate have already approved the FY 2001 Interior Appropriations Bill conference report, which contained $13.28 million for the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program. That total includes $5 million in regular appropriations as well as $8.28 million in emergency spending and is a more than $10 million increase over the FY 2000 funding level.
In the case of VFA money, the Defense Authorization and Interior Appropriation will probably work together making the money available.
In a press release, Congressman Pascrell said, "This is truly my proudest day as a Member of Congress because today we are fulfilling our obligation to those who make the ultimate commitment to us every single day. Today signifies the day we stopped paying lip service to our firefighters at holiday parades -- without putting our money where our mouth the rest of the year. I have said repeatedly that the fire services have been the forgotten part of the public safety equation. That ends with this legislation."
Congressman Weldon also released a statement saying, "This legislation marks a new and well-earned commitment from the federal government to our nation's firefighters. Never before has the federal government taken steps even approaching this magnitude to aid the fire service. It is about time that America's heroes receive the assistance they so desperately need."
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