109th Congress
108th Congress

Legislation Passed in 109th Congress

• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006
  (H.R. 2360) Introduced by Congressman Harold Rogers (KY) on May 13, 2005.
  Summary: Appropriates funds for programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2006.
  

Legislation Considered in 109th Congress

• Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2005
  (S. 512) Introduced by Senator Rick Santorum (PA) on March 3, 2005.
  (H.R. 1131) Introduced by Congressman Curt Weldon (PA) on March 3, 2005.
  Summary: The legislation will classify the retrofit of automatic fire sprinkler systems as five-year property for purposes of tax depreciation.
  
• Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 2005
  (S. 389) Introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (IL) on February 15, 2005.
  (H.R. 1850) Introduced by Congressman Edward Markey (MA) on April 26, 2005.
  Summary: The legislation will set ignition standards for cigarettes causing the cigarette to self-extinguish if left un-smoked.
  
• Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2005
  (HR 2637) Introduced by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) on May 25, 2005.
  (S. 1196) Introduced by Senator Jon Corzine (NJ) on June 8, 2005.
  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.
  Note: H.R. 2637 was attached to HR 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act, which was approved by the House of Representatives on March 30, 2006.
  
• Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act
  (H.R. 3949) Introduced by Congressman Michael Castle (DE) on September 29, 2005.
  (S. 2399) Introduced by Senator Thomas Carper (DE) on March 9, 2006.
  Summary: Prohibits any person from being terminated, demoted, or discriminated against in the terms or conditions of employment because the employee is absent or late as a result of responding as a volunteer firefighter or performing volunteer emergency medical services in an official capacity to a Presidentially declared disaster.
  
• College Fire Prevention Act
  (HR 128) Introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH) on January 4, 2005.
  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.
  
• SAVE LIVES Act
  (S. 1237) Introduced by Senator John McCain (AZ) on June 14, 2005.
  Summary: Creates a hard date of December 31, 2008 for the transfer of spectrum for the use by public safety.
  Note: S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 contained language setting a hard date of February 17, 2009 for the transfer of spectrum for the use by public safety. The President signed S. 1932 on February 8, 2006.
  
• HERO Act
  (H.R. 1646) Introduced by Congresswoman Jane Harman on April 14, 2005.
  Summary: Creates a hard date of December 31, 2006 for the transfer of spectrum for the use by public safety.
  Note: S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 contained language setting a hard date of February 17, 2009 for the transfer of spectrum for the use by public safety. The President signed S. 1932 on February 8, 2006.
  
• Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act of 2005
  (S. 21) Introduced by Senator Susan Collins (ME) on January 25, 2005.
  Summary: The legislation would streamline and enhance coordination of Homeland Security grant programs.
  
• Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005
  (H.R. 1544) Introduced by Congressman Christopher Cox (CA) on April 12, 2005.
  Summary: The legislation would streamline and enhance coordination of Homeland Security grant programs.
  
• Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
  (H.R. 1817) Introduced by Congressman Christopher Cox (CA) on April 26, 2005.
  Summary: The legislation authorizes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2006.
• Establishment of September as Campus Fire Safety Month
  (S Res 224) Introduce by Senator Mike DeWine (OH) on July 29, 2005
  (H Res 295) Introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH) on May 24, 2005
  Summary: A resolution supporting the establishment of September as Campus Fire Safety Month.

Legislation Passed in 108th Congress

• Consolidated Appropriations Resolution of 2003
  (H.J. Res.2) Introduced by Congressman C.W.Bill Young (FL) on 1/07/03
  Description: Consolidates non-defense related appropriations for FY2003 [Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-State, District of Columbia, Energy and water development, Foreign operations, Interior, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative branch, Transportation, Treasury-Postal Service, VA-HUD]. Includes $750 million more for long-term health monitering of emergency service personnel who responded to the World Trade Center, and $2.1 billion for wildfire management.
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004
  (H.R. 2555) Introduced by Congressman Harold Rogers (KY) on 6/23/03.
  Description: Makes appropriations for the department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending in September 30, 2004, including $750 M for the FIRE Act Grant Program.
• Automatic Defibrillation in Adam's Memory Act
  (H.R. 389) Introduced by Congressman John Shimkus(IL) on 1/27/03
  (S. 231) Introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (WI) on 1/29/03
  

  Description: Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the use of certain grant funds to establish a national information clearinghouse that provides information to increase public access to defibrillation in schools.

• Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003.
  (H.R. 1770) Introduced by Congressman Richard Burr(NC) on 4/11/03.
  Description: Under the legislation, volunteers who are permanently disabled as a result of receiving the smallpox vaccination will receive up to $50,000 annually in lost wages, with no lifetime cap. Volunteers who are temporarily or partially disabled can receive the same annual compensation, but they face a lifetime limit of $262, 100 An amount of $262,000 would be paid to spouses of volunteers who die as a result of receiving the vaccine. Dependents of those who are killed can receive $262,000 in a lump sum, or $50,000 annually unril they are 18.
• United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003.
  (S. 1152) Introduced by Senator John McCain (AZ) on 5/23/03.
  (H.R. 2692) Introduced by Congressman Nick Smith (MI) on 7/10/03.
  Description: The legislation reestablishes the position of the United States Fire Administrator and authorizes appropriations for the United States Fire Administration through the fiscal year 2008.
• Firefighter Research and Coordination Act
  (S. 321) Introduced by Senator John McCain (AZ) on 2/5/03.
  (H.R. 545) Introduced by Congressman Dave Camp (MI) on 2/5/03.
  Description: The legislation directs certain federal agencies, in cooperation with national voluntary consensus standards organizations, to develop a scientific basis for the private sector development of standards for new fire fighting technology. The legislation also directs the United States Fire Administration (USFA) to provide technical assistance and training to state and local jurisdictions in developing state, regional and national mutual aide agreements. In addition, the bill gives the National Fire Academy more latitude in the types of terrorism training programs it conducts for our nation's first responders and authorizes USFA to study the issue of a national credentialing system. Note: This bill was attached to the USFA Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law on December 6, 2003.
• Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003
  (S. 459) Introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (VT) on 2/26/03.
  (H.R. 919) Introduced by Congressman Bob Etheridge (NC) on 2/26/03.
  Description: To ensure that a public safety officer who suffers a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of public safety officer survivor benefits.
• Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Firefighters Act of 2003
  (H.R. 1118) Introduced by Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (NY) on 3/06/03.
  (S.544) Introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) on 3/5/03.
  Description: Authorizes the U.S. Fire Administrator to make direct four-year grants for the hiring of firefighters in career, volunteer, and combination fire departments.
  Note: This bill was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 which was sign into law on November 24, 2003.
• Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.
  (H.R. 1904) Introduced by Scott McInnis (CO)on 5/01/03.
  Description: To improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to plan and conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System Lands and Bureau of Land Management lands aimed at protecting communities, watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire,and to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire.
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2005
  (H.R. 4567) Introduced by Congressman Harold Roagers (KY) on 6/15/2004.
  (S. 2537) Introduced by Senator Thad Cochran (MS) on 6/17/04.
  Description: Makes appropriations for the department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending in September 30, 2005.
• The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Reauthorization Act of 2004
  (H.R. 4107) Introduced by Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (NY) on 4/1/04.
  (S. 2411) Introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) on 5/11/04.
  Description: The legislation authorizes Congress to make appropriations for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) for fiscal years 2005 through 2007 at $900 million per year. This bill was attached to the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 which was sign into law on October 28, 2004.

   

• 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act/National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004
  (H.R. 10) Introduced by Congressman J. Dennis Hastert (IL) on 9/24/04.
  (S. 2845) Introduced by Senator Susan M. Collins (ME) on 9/23/04.
  Description: Implements recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission) including intelligence reform, distribution of first responder homeland security grants, interoperable communications, and spectrum reallocation.
• Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act
  (H.R. 1824) Introduced by Congressman Curt Weldon (PA) on 3/11/03.
  (S. 1566) Introduced by Senator Jon Corzine.
  Description: The legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to declassify automatic fire sprinkler systems as 5-year property for purposes of depreciation, creating an incentive for the retro-fit of automatic sprinkler systems in commercial properties.
• Homeland Emergency Response Operations (HERO) Act
  (H.R. 1425) Introduced by Congresswoman Jane Harman (CA) on 3/25/03.
  Desription: The legislation will to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting any extension beyond December 31, 2006, for the reassignment of the frequencies assigned for public safety services.
• Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 2004
  (H.R. 4155) Introduced by Congressman Edward Markey (MA) on 4/2/04.
  Description: The legislation will set ignition standards for cigarettes causing the cigarette to self-extinguish if left un-smoked.
• Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2003
  (H.R. 3266) Introduced by Congressman Christopher Cox (CA) on 10/8/03.
  Description: Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a State and Regional First Responder Grant Program under which the Secretary may make grants to States and eligible regional entities on the basis of the threat to a State or region's population and critical infrastructure, as determined by the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection.
• Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2003.
  (H.R. 2683) Introduced by Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ) on 7/09/03.
  (S. 1385) Introduced by Senator Jon Corzine (NJ) on 7/09/03.
  Description: Legislation to provide for disclosure of fire safety standards and measures with respect to campus buildings, and for other purposes.
• Rural Fire Department Equipment Priority Act of 2003
  (H.R. 1311) Introduced by Congressman Mike Ross (AR) on 3/18/03.
  (S. 641) Introduced by Senator Blanche Lincoln (AR) on 3/18/03.
  Description: The legislation increase the priority level of rural and volunteer fire departments excess property from the Department of Defense is available in the Federal Excess Personal Property Program.
• Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2003.
  (S. 32) Introduced by Senator Jon Kyl (AZ) on 1/07/03
  (H.R. 2696) Introduced by Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ) on 7/10/03 Description: To establish Institutes to demonstrate and promote the use of adaptive ecosystem management to reduce the risk of wildfires, and restore the health of fire-adapted forest and woodland ecosystems of the interior West.
• Fallen Heroes Act of 2003
  (H.R. 527) Introduced by Congressman Peter King (NY) on 2/04/03.
  (S.534) Introduced by Senator George Allen (VA) on 3/05/03.
  Description: To provide Capitol-flown flags to the immediate family of fire fighters,law enforcement offices, emergency medical technicians,and other rescue workers who are killed in the line of duty.
• Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2003
  (H.R. 814) Introduced by Congressman Dale Kildee (MI) on 2/13/03.
  Description: Legislation to provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.
• Public Lands Fire Regulations Enforcement Act
  (H.R.1038) Introduced by Congressman Thomas Tancredo (CO) on 2/27/03.
  (S. 833) Introduced by Senator Wayne Allard (CO) on 4/9/03.
  Description: The legislation increases the penalties to be imposed for a violation of fire regulations applicable to the public lands, National Park System lands, or National Forest System lands when the violation results in damage to public or private property.
• Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2003.
  (H.R. 1101) Introduced by Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX) on 3/05/03.
  (S. 530)Introduced by Senator John Kerry (MA) on 3/05/03. Description: Legislation assuming the disability or disease of a federal fire protection employee to be caused by the employee's occupation, and that the disability ofr death of an employee due to such illness is considered to be the result of the employee's performance of duties.
• Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act
  (H.R. 1787) Introduced by Congressman Michael Castle(DE) on 3/11/03.
  Description: The legislation states that a person (including a govermental or other entity) who donates fire control or fire rescue equipment to a volunteer fire company shall not be liable for State or Federal civil damages for personal injuries, property damage or loss, or death proximately caused by the equipment after the donation caused by the equipment after after the donation. If the person's act or omission causing the injury, damage, loss, or death constitutes gross negligence, or intentional misconduct; or if the person is the manufacturer of such equipment, this act is waived.
• College Fire Prevention Act
  (H.R. 1613) Introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Tubb Jones (OH) on 4/03/03.
  Description: The legislation establishes a grant program to be administered by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the United States Fire Administration (USFA), to award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppressio or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Act of 2003.
  (S. 930) Introduced by Senator James Inhofe (OK) on 4/28/03.
  Description: The legislation establishes a program to provide assistance to prepare for and respond to all hazards.
• Public Safety Officer Protection Act of 2003.
  (H.R. 1960) Introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (CA)on 5/06/03.
  Description: The legislation broadens the Public Safety Officer Survivor Benefit to cover a public safety officer who dies or becomes permanently disabled as a result of cancer.
• Vaccine Compensation Bill/Project Bioshield Act of 2003
  (H.R. 2122) Introduced by Congressman Billy Tauzin (LA) on 5/15/03.
  (S.1504) Introduced by Senator Judd Gregg (NH) on 7/30/03.
  Description: To enhance research, development, procurement,and use of biomedical countermeasures to respond to public health threats affecting national security.
• Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act of 2003.
  (S.1245) Introduced by Senator Susan Collins (ME) on 6/12/03.
  Description: The legislation would create an Interagency Committee to coordinate and streamline Homeland Security grant programs, allow States to reallocate funds from the ODP grant,and would move the Office of Domestic Preparedness(ODP) and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant to the Department of Homeland Security's Office for State and Local Goverment Coordination.
• Enhanced 911 Emergency Communications Act of 2003.
  (S.1250) Introduced by Senator Conrad Burns (MT)on 6/12/03.
  (H.R.2898) Introduced by Congressman John Shimkus (IL) on 7/25/03.
  Description: The legislation would create a task force to facilitate coordination between federal, state, and local communications systems, authorizes $500 million per year for grants to enhance emergency communications through planning, infrastructure improvements, equipment purchases in consultation with the United States Department of Homeland Security.It would also require states to certify that no E9-1-1 fees are being used for other purposes.