National Fire Academy RESCUE Act

Key Points

• This bill helps local fire departments get their money back if a government shutdown cancels their training. When the federal government stops working because of budget fights, classes at the National Fire Academy are often called off.
• Fire departments would be paid back for travel costs and the money they spent on overtime to cover for the firefighters who were supposed to be away at training. These costs can be very high for small towns with tight budgets.
• FEMA would have to send the money back within 90 days after the shutdown ends or after the fire department sends in their list of expenses. Fire departments must submit their request within 30 days of the government reopening.
• The bill covers all types of training, including in-person classes, off-site programs, and online courses. It also covers conferences and meetings hosted by the Academy.
• Reimbursement would not happen if the class was canceled for other reasons. This includes things like an instructor getting sick, a building closing for repairs, or a separate national emergency.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.