FLAME Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5326
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-26T15:35:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The FLAME Act (H.R. 5326) aims to clarify and expand the authority of the U.S. Fire Administration's Administrator to cancel or delay training courses and programs at the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control (the Academy), while ensuring transparency through notifications to Congress and affected parties. It also mandates reimbursements for certain costs and requires a study on the impacts of such cancellations. The bill underscores the Academy's vital role in training firefighters amid growing wildfire threats.
Key Provisions
- Authorization for Cancellations:
- Allows the Administrator to cancel or delay "large-scale" actions, defined as canceling at least 25% of the Academy's planned courses or programs in a fiscal year.
- Covers in-person (on- or off-campus) and virtual (synchronous or asynchronous) training programs for firefighters and first responders.
- Notification Requirements:
- For large-scale cancellations: Submit detailed notice to Congress at least 60 days in advance (or as soon as possible in urgent situations), including affected courses, registered personnel by department, total numbers, and reasons for cancellation.
- Notify enrolled students and fire department heads at least 45 days before the start date (or as soon as possible in urgent cases) for large-scale actions; 30 days for smaller cancellations by the Academy's Superintendent.
- Reimbursement for Expenses:
- Fire departments can apply for reimbursement of "covered expenses" (e.g., travel costs or "backfill" costs like overtime pay to cover absent staff) within 30 days after a planned course date.
- FEMA's Administrator must reimburse within 90 days, unless the cancellation was for "good cause" (e.g., facility closure, instructor illness, or national emergency).
- GAO Study:
- Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report by March 30, 2026, on the effects of any 2025 large-scale cancellations, including impacts on fire department readiness, negative outcomes, the Academy's role in standardizing emergency responses, student enrollment trends over the prior three years (broken down by delivery method), and the most popular courses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 7 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206) by adding new subsections (n) through (q) on cancellation authority, notifications, reimbursements, and definitions.
- Previously, the law established the Academy for firefighter training but did not explicitly address large-scale cancellations, notifications, or cost reimbursements, leaving potential gaps in oversight and support during disruptions.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration's flexibility to manage resources during crises but adds reporting burdens to Congress and GAO, potentially increasing administrative costs.
- On Citizens and Fire Departments: Improves firefighter preparedness by protecting access to training, while reimbursements could reduce financial strain on local departments (career and volunteer) from unexpected cancellations, benefiting community safety amid rising wildfire risks.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic fire training; however, it could indirectly strengthen U.S. emergency response capabilities for cross-border mutual aid in disasters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Fire Departments and Firefighters: Primary beneficiaries, as they receive training and potential reimbursements; over 40,000 participants annually could face disruptions but gain protections.
- U.S. Fire Administration and FEMA: Gain explicit cancellation powers but must comply with strict notifications and reimbursements.
- Congress: Receives advance notices and a GAO study, enabling oversight of training program integrity.
- GAO: Tasked with conducting and reporting the required study.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Provides clear definitions (e.g., "large-scale cancellation," "good cause") to reduce ambiguity in federal fire training operations, potentially preventing disputes over authority during emergencies. Reimbursement provisions create enforceable obligations on FEMA, subject to appropriation of funds.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) by directing federal resources for public safety without infringing on state or local fire services.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Rep. McClain with diverse co-sponsors) highlights consensus on firefighter support; the bill's emphasis on wildfires may influence future disaster policy debates, but the GAO study could reveal implementation challenges or lead to further reforms. Referred to House committees on Science, Space, and Technology, indicating focus on technical and homeland security aspects.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Firefighter Learning And Management Education Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (10 pages)