The National Fire Academy RESCUE Act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse fire departments for expenses related to training courses and activities that are cancelled due to federal government funding lapses (shutdowns). Fire departments can claim reimbursement for costs they incurred while planning to send personnel to National Fire Academy courses, including travel expenses and overtime costs paid to cover staff absences. Fire chiefs have 30 days after a funding lapse ends to submit itemized expense requests to FEMA, which must reimburse eligible costs within 90 days. The reimbursement requirement does not apply if courses are cancelled for other reasons, such as instructor illness, facility closures unrelated to the shutdown, or national emergencies. This bill addresses a gap where fire departments currently bear the financial burden when academy activities are cancelled due to congressional budget disputes.
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