The following is a select list of fire service legislation. Click on the bill number for further information on the legislation, including details on the status of the legislation, a list of co-sponsors, or to read the text of the bill. You may also visit Thomas, the Library of Congress Legislative Database, or the House Legislative Research Center at (202) 226-5200, fax (202) 226-4362 or the Senate Document Room at (202) 224-7860, fax (202) 228-2815.
Title |
Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act of 2008 |
Bill Number |
S. 3375 |
Sponsor |
S. 3375 Introduced by Senator Ron Wyden on July 31, 2008. |
Summary |
The legislation prohibits the manufacture, importation, and sale of toy-like “novelty” lighters. |
| Title |
Fiscal Year 2009 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act |
Bill Number |
S. 3181 |
Sponsor |
S.3181 Introduced by Senator Robert Byrd on June 23, 2008. |
Summary |
Appropriates funds for programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2009. |
| Title |
Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 2160
S. 1840 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 2160 Introduced by Congressman Peter King (NY-3) on May 3, 2007.
S. 1840 Introduced by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) on July 20, 2007. |
Summary |
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow sponsors of certain deferred compensation plans to elect to include length of service award plans for bona fide volunteers providing fire fighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, and emergency rescue services. |
| Title |
Federal Fire Fighters Fairness Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 1442
S. 1924 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 1442 Introduced by Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) on February 16, 2007.
S. 1924 Introduced by Senator Thomas Carper (DE) on August 1, 2007. |
Summary |
Amends federal law to provide that, in the case of an employee in fire protection activities: (1) heart disease, lung disease, specified cancers and infectious diseases shall be presumed to be proximately caused by the employee's employment; (2) the disability or death of an employee in fire protection activities due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of such employee's duty; and (3) such presumptions may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence. |
| Title |
Community Building Code Administration Grant Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 4461
S. 2458 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 4461 Introduced by Congressman Dennis Moore (KS-3) on December 12, 2007.
S. 2458 Introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) on December 12, 2007. |
Summary |
Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award grants, on a competitive basis and with federal matching funds, to qualified local building code enforcement departments to increase staffing, provide staff training, increase staff competence and professional qualifications, support individual certification or departmental accreditation, or for capital expenditures specifically dedicated to department administration. |
| Title |
Safe Building Code Incentive Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 3926 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 3926 Introduced by Congresswoman Doris Matsui on October 22, 2007. |
Summary |
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to enhance existing programs providing mitigation assistance by encouraging States to adopt and actively enforce State building codes, and for other purposes. |
| Title |
Legislation to Ban Novelty Lighters |
Bill Number |
H.R. 6488 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 6488 Introduced by Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-5) on July 14, 2008. |
Summary |
The legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate a final consumer product safety rule banning novelty lighters. |
| Title |
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 4847
S. 2606 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 4847 Introduced by Congressman Harry Mitchell (AZ-5) on December 19, 2007.
S. 2240 Introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) on February 7, 2008. |
Summary |
Authorizes programs and activities of the United States Fire Administration. |
| Title |
Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 1643
S. 2240 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 1643 Introduced by Congressman Robert Andrews (NJ-1) on March 22, 2007.
S. 2240 Introduced by Senator Thomas Carper (DE) on October 25, 2007. |
Summary |
Prohibits any employee from being terminated, demoted, or discriminated against because the employee is absent or late as a result of serving as a volunteer firefighter or providing volunteer emergency medical services as part of a response to a federally declared emergency or major disaster. |
Title |
Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act |
Bill Number |
S. 582
H.R. 1742 |
Sponsor |
S. 582 Introduced by Senator Gordon Smith (OR) on February 14, 2007.
H.R. 1742 Introduced by Congressman James Langevin (RI) on March 28, 2007. |
Summary |
The legislation will classify the retrofit of automatic fire sprinkler systems as five-year property for purposes of tax depreciation. |
Title |
Automated Defibrillation in Adam's Memory Reauthorization Act |
Bill Number |
S. 693 |
Sponsor |
S. 693 Introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (WI) on February 27, 2007. |
Summary |
The legislation will reauthorize the Automated Defibrillation in Adam’s Memory Act through 2011. The Adam Act authorizes the use of grant funds to establish a national information clearinghouse that provides information to increase public access to defibrillation in schools. |
Title |
Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 943
S. 1466 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 943 Introduced by Congressman John Larson (CT) on February 8, 2007.
S. 1466 Introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) on May 23, 2007. |
Summary |
The legislation will amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from income and employment taxes any property tax rebates or other benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders. |
Title |
College Fire Prevention Act |
Bill Number |
HR 642 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 642 Introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH) on January 23, 2007. |
Summary |
Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to private or public colleges or universities, fraternities, or sororities for up to half the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities. |
Title |
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 |
Bill Number |
H.R. 980
S. 2123 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 980 Introduced by Congressman Dale Kildee (MI-5) on February 12, 2007.
S. 2123 Introduced by Senator Judd Gregg (NH) on October 1, 2007.
|
Summary |
Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments. |
Title |
Nursing Facility Fire Safety Act of 2007 |
Bill Number |
H.R. 2521
S. 1615 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 2521 Introduced by Congressman John Larson (CT-1) on May 24, 2007.
S. 1615 Introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) on June 13, 2007. |
Summary |
Establishes direct grants and loans for retrofitting nursing facilities with automatic fire sprinkler systems. |
Approved Legislation
|
Title |
Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 592
S. 354 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 592 Introduced by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) on January 19, 2007.
S. 354 Introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) on January 22, 2007. |
Summary |
Requires colleges and universities to provide to all current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request, an annual fire safety report containing specified information about the campus fire safety practices and standards of that institution.
*This legislation was included in the passage of H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, on July 31, 2008. |
Title |
Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 2638
S. 1644 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 2638 Introduced by Congressman David Price (NC-4) on June 6, 2007.
S. 1644 Introduced by Senator Robert Byrd (WV) on June 18, 2007. |
Summary |
Appropriates funds for programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2008. *Passed as part of H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. |
Title |
Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 2764 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 2764 Introduced by Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-18) on June 18, 2007. |
Summary |
Consolidates 11 spending bills to appropriate funds for programs and activities for fiscal year 2008, including those under the Department of Homeland Security. |
Action |
|
Title |
Establishment of September as Campus Fire Safety Month |
Bill Number |
H. Res. 95
S. Res. 105 |
Sponsor |
H. Res 95 Introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH) on January 24, 2007.
S. Res. 105 Introduced by Senator Joseph Biden on March 14, 2007. |
Summary |
A resolution supporting the establishment of September as Campus Fire Safety Month. |
Action |
H. Res. 95 approved by House on September 25, 2007.
S. Res. 105 approved by Senate on June 20, 2007. |
Title |
Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act |
Bill Number |
H.R. 1
S. 4 |
Sponsor |
H.R. 1 Introduced by Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS) on January 5, 2007.
S. 4 Introduced by Senator Harry Reid (NV) on January 4, 2007. |
Summary |
The legislation implementation of recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission) including “risk-based” allocation of first responder grants and establishing interoperable communications systems. |
Action |
President signed into law on August 3, 2007. |
Title |
Resolution to Memorialize Fallen Firefighters |
Bill Number |
S. Res. 171 |
Sponsor |
S. Res. 171 Introduced by Senator Susan Collins (ME) on April 25, 2007. |
Summary |
A resolution memorializing America’s fallen firefighters and calling on flags at all federal facilities to be flown at half-staff on the day of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. |
Action |
S. Res. 171 approved by Senate on June 11, 2007. |
