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A hearing Tuesday before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will discuss, S. 1941, the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act.

This legislation, currently cosponsored by 34 Senators, would authorize $5 billion in direct grants to volunteer, paid and combination fire departments for training, equipment, communications, public education and personnel. S. 1941, was introduced in November 1999 by Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Mike DeWine (R-OH).

The hearing will be held at 9:30am in Room SR-253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

As an amendment (S.AMDT.3753) to the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (S2549), the FIRE Act made it through the Senate. But this amendment cut the total suggested appropriation down to $3.1 billion and stretched the payout to six years.

This amendment will accompany the Defense Authorization Act to conference since nothing similar came out of the House. Conference will determine a compromise bill for the House and Senate to vote on, which may or may not include the FIRE Act amendment.

Senator Dodd worked to get this amendment not knowing where the original bill would go. Now, as commerce committee chairman Senator John McCain (R-AZ) had promised, the original bill will get its committee hearing Tuesday.

Bill Webb of Congressional Fire Services Institute said the hearing gives an opportunity to the fire service people to present their case. And even though positive action on this bill in this Congress is unlikely, it could provide some momentum going into the next congress.

Following is the tentative witness list (not necessarily in order of appearance):

• Honorable Christopher Dodd, U.S. Senator, Connecticut
• Honorable Mike Dewine, U.S. Senator, Ohio
• Chief Luther Fincher, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs
• Mr. Fred Allinson, Chairman, National Volunteer Fire Council
• Mr. Alfred K. Whitehead, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters
• Chief James Whitworth, Miami Township Fire & Emergency Services, Buttler County, Ohio
• Chief Dennis Budd, Worcester Fire Department, Worcester, Massachusetts