The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved S. 1152, the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003, on June 19. The legislation authorizes appropriations for USFA through FY 2008 as well as re-establishes the position of U.S. fire administrator, which was inadvertently eliminated when Congress passed the Homeland Security Act.

The committee amended the legislation by adding S. 321, the Firefighting Research and Coordination Act, which directs certain federal agencies and other organizations to develop measurement techniques and testing methodologies, and to support the development of voluntary consensus standards through national standards development organizations for evaluating the performance, compatibility and safety of new firefighting equipment.

The legislation directs the fire administrator to work with states and municipalities to establish mutual aid systems.