Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act
5/11/2023, 3:45 PMSummary of Bill HR 7077
Bill 117 HR 7077, also known as the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act, is a piece of legislation that aims to strengthen and support the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The USFA is an agency within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that provides training, resources, and support to fire departments across the country.The bill includes provisions to enhance the USFA's ability to provide training and education to firefighters, improve data collection and analysis related to fire incidents, and increase coordination between federal, state, and local agencies in responding to fires and other emergencies.
Additionally, the bill seeks to increase funding for the USFA to ensure that it has the resources necessary to carry out its mission effectively. This includes funding for research and development of new firefighting technologies, as well as grants to support fire departments in purchasing equipment and training personnel. Overall, the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act is aimed at improving the capabilities and effectiveness of the USFA in supporting firefighters and protecting communities from the dangers of fires and other emergencies.
Congressional Summary of HR 7077
Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act
This act authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to conduct on-site fire safety investigations of major fires and other fires under other specified circumstances.
In the case of a major fire, the USFA may send incident investigators (e.g., safety specialists, fire protection engineers, codes and standards experts, researchers, and fire training specialists) to the site. Any such investigation shall (1) be conducted in coordination and cooperation with appropriate federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities; and (2) examine the previously determined cause and origin of the fire and assess broader systematic matters.
Upon concluding any such investigation, the USFA must issue a public report to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities on the findings of such investigation or collaborate with another investigating federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial agency on that agency's report. The act makes an exception where issuing a report would have a negative impact on a potential or ongoing criminal investigation.
Additionally, the USFA may send fire investigators to conduct fire safety investigations at the site of any fire with unusual or remarkable context that results in losses less severe than those occurring as a result of a major fire, in coordination and cooperation with the appropriate federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities.
