July 31, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 136 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
FIREFIGHTER EXCESS PERSONAL PROPERTY IN H.R. 6395, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2021; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 136
(Extensions of Remarks - July 31, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks] [Page E718] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] FIREFIGHTER EXCESS PERSONAL PROPERTY IN H.R. 6395, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2021 ______ HON. KIM SCHRIER of washington in the house of representatives Friday, July 31, 2020 Ms. SCHRIER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased that my amendment to assess the Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) implementation and best practices was included in final passage of H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. I would also like to include in the Record a letter of support for my amendment from the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The Department of Defense (DOD) Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) transfer excess equipment like hoses, trucks, and aircraft and vehicle parts to the U.S. Forest Service to be distributed to states. As the National Volunteer Fire Council notes, ``many of the fire departments that take advantage of FFP and FEPP are located in rural areas that have relatively small tax bases and therefore lack the resources to afford new specialized equipment and vehicles to respond to wildland fires and other unique vulnerabilities in the communities that they serve.'' The FFP and FEPP programs currently offer excess equipment on a first-come, first-served basis. As the nation is facing increasing threats of extreme fire events, states are not acquiring equipment in an equitable manner. This is due to a multitude of factors. My amendment requests an assessment of FFP and FEPP implementation and best practices, taking into account community need and risk, including whether a community is an at-risk community. It additionally requires consultation with state implementers and program recipients which will allow us to understand how these programs are operating on-the-ground, and more importantly, how we can improve access for volunteer and small fire and emergency service providers in rural communities. I am thankful to have the National Volunteer Fire Council's support for this amendment. I want to emphasize their request that the agencies carrying out the assessment required by this amendment ``establish a process for volunteer fire departments and state and national organizations representing the interests of volunteer fire departments to provide input into the assessment as part of consulting with `participants in the programs.' '' As the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act moves to conference, I ask that my colleagues work to include this important amendment in the final bill. National Volunteer Fire Council, Greenbelt, MD, July 22, 2020. Hon. Kim Schrier, MD, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Schrier: On behalf of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which represents the interests of the nation's volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services, I am writing regarding your amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 directing the Department of Defense (DoD), acting through the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), jointly with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to assess the Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP). As you know, the FFP and FEPP programs provide critical assistance to thousands of volunteer fire departments across the country each year by allowing them to acquire excess DoD property, including equipment and vehicles. Many of the fire departments that take advantage of FFP and FEPP are located in rural areas that have relatively small tax bases and therefore lack the resources to afford new specialized equipment and vehicles to respond to wildland fires and other unique vulnerabilities in the communities that they serve. These programs are extremely important to the volunteer fire service and I thank you for your interest in developing an assessment to evaluate ways that they can be improved. One issue that I hope can be examined as part of the assessment is the extent to which additional resources could increase access to and participation in the FEPP and FFP programs by volunteer fire departments. Based on anecdotal evidence from our members I believe that more assistance devoted to helping process applications to acquire surplus property and transport surplus property from where it is stored to the fire department requesting it would make it easier for some agencies to take full advantage of these programs. I am pleased that your amendment explicitly directs the agencies carrying out the assessment to ``. . . consult with State foresters and participants in the programs . . .'' State foresters play an important role in facilitating the acquisition of surplus property by fire departments in their states. Additionally, differences in state statutes authorizing fire department participation in the FEPP and FFP programs contribute to some of the variations we can observe in acquisition rates between states. All of these are important issues to be examined in the assessment. I would also encourage the Committee to direct the agencies carrying out the assessment to establish a process for volunteer fire departments and state and national organizations representing the interests of volunteer fire departments to provide input into the assessment as part of consulting with ``participants in the programs.'' Finally, I question the central role that DoD and DLA would play in developing the assessment under the amendment language. As you know, while DoD/DLA along with the General Services Administration are responsible for managing and disposing of a vast array of excess federal property, none of those agencies has anything to do with the management or administration of the FEPP or FFP programs, specifically. I encourage the Committee to clarify that each agency tasked with carrying out the assessment focus on aspects of the programs that are appropriate given the scope of their actual role in administering the programs. Thank you for your support for the FEPP and FFP programs, as well as the volunteer fire service generally. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Ron Roy, Chair, NVFC Wildland Committee, Division Chief, Douglas County Fire District #2, East Wenatchee, WA. ____________________