ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Houlahan asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 3370, a bill originally introduced by Representative Sherrill, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
The PROTECT Firefighters Act directs the U.S. Fire Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy improving equipment, training, and staffing standards for Rapid Intervention Teams—specialized firefighting crews trained to rescue firefighters in danger at fire scenes. The strategy must assess current conditions nationwide, identify gaps in training quality and frequency, evaluate access to modern safety equipment, and analyze staffing levels and response times, with particular focus on teams responding to port and maritime facility fires. Within one year of passage, the Fire Administrator must submit detailed findings to Congress that include a review of firefighter fatality records from the past five years to determine whether lack of equipment, training, or staffing contributed to deaths, along with specific recommendations for federal legislation to address identified shortfalls. An additional briefing to Congress is due within 18 months. The bill does not authorize specific funding amounts but establishes a process to identify financial and logistical barriers preventing fire departments from equipping and training these specialized rescue teams adequately.
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