United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008

UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 22, 2008)

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of S. 2606, a bill reauthorizing the United States Fire Administration. It's a companion bill to H.R. 4847, which passed the House in April with unanimous support after moving through the Committee on Science and Technology by regular order.

This act authorizes the activities of the United States Fire Administration for fiscal year 2009 through 2012. USFA provides critical support to our Nation's firefighters through training, through research and development and through logistical support. For instance, the USFA provides firefighter training to over 80,000 firefighters per year; it compiles nationwide data on fire control and prevention activities, and it oversees the fire grants programs that have dramatically improved the capabilities and the preparedness of our Nation's fire services.

This is an extremely important agency in our committee's jurisdiction. I'd like to thank Mr. Mitchell and Dr. Gingrey, vice chair and ranking member of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, for their hard work over the past year on this matter.

The United States Fire Administration does a wonderful job of providing support to first responders across the country. The reauthorization of this agency is an important priority for me, and I urge the passage of S. 2606.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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