A bill to authorize appropriations for the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, and to change the name of the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration to the United States Fire Administration.
Public Law 95-422 · H.R. 11291 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 5, 1978 · Emergency Management
Sponsor: Rep. Olin Teague (D-TX-6)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Ronnie Flippo, Rep. Harold Hollenbeck
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments)
Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1979 of: (1) $24,352,000 to the United States Fire Administration; and (2) $5,600,000 to the Fire Research Center.
Changes the name of the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration to the United States Fire Administration.
Directs the Administrator of such Administration to: (1) develop arson detection techniques; (2) provide training and instructional materials in arson prevention, detection, and control to fire service and law enforcement personnel; (3) formulate methods for the collection of arson data; (4) develop programs for public education on the causes and prevention of arson; and (5) develop handbooks to assist fire service and law enforcement personnel in arson prevention and detection.
Directs the Administrator to submit a report to Congress on ways in which the Federal Government may better assist the States and local jurisdictions in providing for more effective arson prevention, detection, and control.
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct through grants or contracts scientific research on methods, procedures, and equipment for arson prevention, detection, and investigation.
Authorizes the Administrator to sell the former Marjorie Webster Junior College facility, in Washington, D. C., which was previously purchased as the site for the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control. Directs the Administrator to apply the proceeds from such sale, and any additional funds which may be appropriated, to the acquisition or construction of a new site, except that the total authorized for such expenditure may not exceed $9,000,000.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Oct 5, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-422.
- Sep 26, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Sep 25, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 22, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Sep 21, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments.
- Jun 13, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 1794.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 15, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #315 (360-11).House roll call 315
- Mar 20, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Mar 3, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.