What legislative issues considered in the 109th session of Congress could have the greatest impact on the nation's local fire and emergency service departments and their personnel?

Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), founder of the Congressional Fire Caucus, and Rep. Bill Pascrell, (D-N.J.) original author of the FIRE Act, highlighted what's on the landscape in Capitol Hill in a roundtable discussion with fire chiefs from across the nation on April 7.

Legislative issues to keep on your radar screen include:

Homeland Security Appropriations. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations are currently preparing measures to fund the Department of Homeland Security, including funding for many important fire service programs under DHS, such as the U.S. Fire Administration and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Both Weldon and Pascrell commended fire service leaders for rallying around the FIRE Act, which has now provided an estimated $2.6 billion to 22,000 local fire departments. “Most of the folks down here didn't know what hit them,” said Pascrell. “You did it on $2.6 billion dollars in four years, going on five, for all firefighters in the United States, paid and volunteer. We no longer can afford to get involved in petty disputes between paid and volunteer firefighters. Washington profited when we were all at each other's throats. We are all on the same page. That's the reality now, but you can't rest on your laurels. There is much to be done.”

Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 21). This legislation would reorganize homeland security grant programs by establishing a baseline level of funding for each state that will be supplemented by risk-based grants. It also would streamline and enhance the homeland security grant process and deliver federal homeland security grants to local first responders more expeditiously.

Staffing for Adequate Firefighter and Emergency Response Act. Pascrell and Weldon agreed the SAFER Act needs to be high on the legislative agenda. It's appropriated a modest $65 million to help fire department with staffing shortfalls. As authorized, SAFER will provide five-year federal grants to fire departments for staffing, with a total maximum grant of $100,000 to help fire departments hire, recruit and retain firefighters. Obviously, fire departments need more.

“We're there but it's not enough,” said Weldon. “I mean, when you compare support for the fire service and support for the police, we're spending $3 billion to $4 billion a year for local law enforcement in America. So we have to continue to push.”

Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2005 (S. 512 and H.R. 1131). One of the most promising fire prevention bills to be introduced, this legislation will provide a tax incentive to reclassify the retrofit of automatic fire sprinkler systems as five-year property for the purposes of tax depreciation. Weldon introduced the House version of the bill on March 3. “What my bill does is reduces the [tax] write-off from a business standpoint of that sprinkler system from 20 years to five years,” Weldon said.

At this time, the bill needs cosponsors. It's currently assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee, which will consider it among tax measures and tax reform this year.

Safe Intersections Act of 2005 (S. 564 and H.R. 1122). This legislation prevents the unauthorized sale and possession of an electronic device that gives the driver of a vehicle the ability to change a traffic light from red to green. Sellers and users may be penalized with a fine of $10,000, imprisonment or both. Those found in unauthorized possession of the device face the same penalties.

Cigarette Safe Act of 2005 (S. 389). Another try at setting ignition standards for cigarettes causing them to self-extinguish if left unsmoked, preventing thousands of smoking related fires, a leading cause of fire fatalities every year. Canada and New York have passed similar fire-safe cigarette bills and several states are considering them.