(Due to FRI, the Washington Update was not published last week.)
The Senate Passes its Own Continuing Resolution
Before leaving town for the traditional August recess, the U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution (H.R. 6500) to keep the federal government open through December 11. The legislation also would delay implementation of the Trump Administration’s new regulations affecting federal grants. The House passed a different bill (H.R. 9770), which would keep the federal government funded through December 4. So, the House and Senate will have to reconcile these two CRs to keep the federal government open after the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
Cam Hamilton Confirmation
Before the recess, the U.S. Senate also confirmed Mr. Cameron Hamilton to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Mr. Hamilton joined the U.S. Navy in 2005 as a Hospital Corpsman and served on Navy SEAL Team Eight. Upon leaving the military in 2015 with an honorable discharge, Mr. Hamilton went to work for the U.S. Department of State where he supported crisis response teams and the Bureau of Counterterrorism. He was later recruited to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to work as the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Division. In this role, he was responsible for the oversight of nearly 4,000 EMTs, first responders, and operational medical programs that protect the homeland. His work included the development and implementation of all-hazard plans, including those for chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism and response-related events. He ran for Congress in Virginia in 2024. Previously, Mr. Hamilton was the acting FEMA Administrator from January to May 2025. He was fired after defending the need for FEMA at a Congressional hearing.
Senators Introduce IAFC-Endorsed Legislation to Ensure Safe Building During Post-Disaster Recovery Process.
On August 6, Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Joni Ernst (R-NE) introduced the Reducing Red Tape for Rebuilding Act (S. 5276). The bill would extend the direct assistance for building code enforcement from 180 days to two years. In addition, the two-year period would not automatically start with the date of the federal disaster declaration. The state or local government would be able to decide when to start the two-year period.
FEMA is authorized to provide direct assistance (e.g., contractors or FEMA personnel) to assist disaster-affected areas with building code enforcement. Unfortunately, FEMA has set an 180-day implementation period for this assistance.
The IAFC joined with other fire service and code organizations to object to this interpretation of the law in 2020. One issue arising from FEMA’s decision is that fire-impacted communities generally are unable to access this building code enforcement assistance, because they are still removing debris 180 days after a major wildland fire.
The IAFC endorsed S. 5276, because it would resolve this problem.
NIOSH Releases New LODD Reports
The NIOSH FFFIPP released the following documents:
Congress is in Recess – Use the IAFC Hot Sheet
Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will be on recess for most of the month of August. The Members of Congress will be at home, which presents an opportunity to meet with them. Please invite your Senators and Representatives to meet you at your fire station or meet them in their state or district office. This is a great time to establish a working relationship with your elected officials in Washington. The IAFC Hot Sheet is up to date and available to help you educate your Senators and Representatives and their staff about legislation that will help you serve your communities.