NFA and NIOSH Closure
The National Fire Academy (NFA) remains closed to in-person training. Please continue to contact your members of Congress and ask them to re-open the NFA.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) remains closed with most employees still on administrative leave. The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer remains minimally staffed and unable to accept new entries. Dr. John Howard, who was the director of NIOSH and, by statute, the director of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, was brought back to the agency, but only as the director of the WTC health program. The center remains limited in their abilities, but Dr. Howard has committed to ensuring WTC-related cancers will continue to be approved for the program. The Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program brought back staff to help release the remaining 20 reports the program was working on, but they are not currently starting any new investigations.
House Committee Moves on Lithium-Ion Battery Legislation
On April 8, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act (H.R. 973). Sponsored by Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY), this legislation would instruct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop federal safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in micromobility devices. These batteries are commonly found in e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards. Last year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly advanced this bill by a vote of 378-34.
The U.S. Senate also recently acted on the companion legislation, S. 389. This legislation is being led by Senator Kristin Gillibrand (D-NY). It passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on March 12. The next steps for both bills are to receive consideration in front of their full respective chambers.
Senate Committee Considers IAFC-Supported Nominees
Recently, the IAFC sent in letters of support for Ms. Arielle Roth and Ms. Olivia Trusty. Ms. Roth is being considered as Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Ms. Trusty is being considered as a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission.
On April 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation voted to confirm Ms. Roth as Administrator of the NTIA by a vote of 16-12. At the same meeting, the Senate committee held Ms. Trusty’s confirmation hearing. Ms. Trusty should receive a vote before the committee sometime soon. Both nominations will have to be considered by the full Senate.
Treatment in Place bill Introduced
On April 1, Representatives Mike Carey (R-OH), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and Carol Miller (R-WV), and Pat Ryan (D-NY) reintroduced the Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Act (H.R. 2538). The bill will allow for Medicare reimbursement for EMS treatment in place programs. The IAFC sent Representative Carey a letter in support of the bill and continues to push for action on this important legislation.
Senate Legislation Introduced to Address the Wildland Fire Problem
On April 10, Senators John Curtis (R-UT); John Hickenlooper (D-CO); Tim Sheehy (R-MT); and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced a new bill (S. 1462) to address the wildland fire problem. The bill is a bipartisan compromise to the House-passed Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471). The bill would enact almost 50 recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. It also will improve coordination of federal wildland fire preparedness efforts; promote the use of prescribed fires and other preventative measures to prevent WUI fires; and promote the development of new technologies to help local fire departments. The IAFC endorsed the bill.