Sponsors (24)
The bill increases transparency and gives policymakers better data to target training and funding for fire departments (especially volunteers and rural units), but imposes reporting burdens that could divert Academy staff time and resources and risk reputational harm for small departments.
Congress, taxpayers, and state/local governments will receive an annual, disaggregated report (by State, department, career vs. volunteer, attendance, awards, cancellations) on FEMA Academy training, giving lawmakers timely data to oversee capacity and funding decisions.
Fire departments and personnel — especially volunteer and rural departments — can get better-targeted resources and policy support because reporting distinguishes career vs. volunteer attendance and highlights where awards and training reach are lacking.
Greater program transparency (annual, standardized reporting on cancellations and attendance) creates oversight that can help identify capacity shortfalls or recurrent course cancellations and prompt operational improvements at the Academy.
FEMA and Academy staff will incur additional administrative workload and costs to prepare detailed annual reports, which could divert staff time and funding away from training operations.
Public reporting of department-level participation and cancellations could create privacy or reputational harm for small or rural departments with low attendance or cancelled courses.
If reporting requirements are overly burdensome, the Academy may reduce program offerings or shift resources toward compliance work instead of expanding training and student awards.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires FEMA to send Congress an annual report on National Fire Academy courses, attendance by career/volunteer personnel, cancellations, and award amounts.
Official title: To amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to require annual reports to Congress regarding courses and programs offered by the Academy, and for other purposes.
Requires the FEMA Administrator to submit an annual report to Congress on courses and programs offered by the National Fire Academy. The report, due each November 30 beginning the first full year after enactment, must list participating fire departments by State, counts of career and volunteer attendees, total courses offered and cancelled, and grant amounts awarded under two specified Academy funding subsections.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by April McClain Delaney · Last progress July 23, 2025