HR 5326 — FLAME Act

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html September 11, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill authorizes the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration to cancel or delay certain courses and programs offered by the Academy and establishes new notification and reimbursement processes.

• 15 U.S.C. 2206

  (n) Large-Scale Cancellation Action.-- (1) In general.--The Administrator is authorized to implement a large-scale cancellation action relating to a covered course or program. (2) Notice to congress.--Not later than 60 days before the date on which the Administrator implements a large-scale cancellation action pursuant to paragraph (1), or in the event of an exigent circumstance, as soon as practicable thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a notice that includes the following: (A) An identification of the covered courses or programs to be cancelled. (B) An identification of the fire departments and agencies with personnel registered for the covered courses or programs to be cancelled. (C) The total number of personnel registered for the covered courses or programs to be cancelled, disaggregated by the number of such personnel in each of such fire departments or agencies. (D) A justification for each such cancellation. (3) Notice to students.--If the Administrator implements under paragraph (1) a large-scale cancellation action relating to a covered course or program, the Administrator, not later than 45 days before the intended start date of such course or program, or in the event of an exigent circumstance, as soon as practicable thereafter, shall inform each student enrolled in such covered course or program, and the fire chief or other appropriate head of each fire department of such students, of such cancellation.

  This adds the authority for the Administrator to implement large-scale cancellations of courses and requires notifications to Congress and affected students.

• 15 U.S.C. 2206

  (o) Other Cancellation.--If the Superintendent cancels a covered course or program, the Superintendent, not later than 30 days before the intended start date of such course or program, or in the event of an exigent circumstance, as soon as practicable thereafter, shall inform each student enrolled in such covered course or program, and the fire chief or other appropriate head of each fire department of such students, of such cancellation.

  This establishes a requirement for notification by the Superintendent to students and fire chiefs when courses are canceled.

• 15 U.S.C. 2206

  (p) Reimbursement of Certain Expenses.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the Administrator of FEMA receives an itemization under paragraph (3) from a fire department relating to a covered course or program that is cancelled, the Administrator of FEMA, subject to paragraph (2), shall reimburse such fire department for any covered expense related to such course or program. (2) Good cause.--A reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a covered course or program that is cancelled if such covered course or program is cancelled for good cause. (3) Itemization of expenses.--Not later than 30 days after the intended start date of the course or program that was cancelled, the fire chief or other appropriate head of a fire department affected by such cancellation may submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application for reimbursement that includes an itemization of each covered expense such fire department incurred.

  This establishes a reimbursement process for fire departments when courses are canceled, setting specific timelines and conditions.

• 15 U.S.C. 2206

  (q) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Backfill expense.--The term `backfill expense' means an expense incurred for the following: (A) Staffing adjustments. (B) Overtime compensation. (2) Covered course or program.--The term `covered course or program' means a course or program that is offered by the Academy-- (A) in-person and on-campus; (B) in-person and off-campus; or (C) through synchronous or asynchronous virtual instruction. (3) Covered expense.--The term `covered expense' means any expense that a fire department incurred for the planned participation of the personnel of such fire department in a covered course or program, including the following: (A) Any travel expense. (B) Any backfill expense. (4) Good cause.--The term `good cause' includes the following: (A) The closure of a facility of the Academy. (B) The illness or unavailability of an instructor of the Academy. (C) A national emergency that impedes access to a facility of the Academy by a student or faculty member of the Academy. (5) Large-scale cancellation action.--The term `large-scale cancellation action' means an action taken by the Administrator whereby the Administrator cancels at one time at least 25 percent of the total number of covered courses or programs planned to be offered by the Academy in a fiscal year.

  This adds definitions relevant to cancellations and reimbursements for clarity in implementation.

• 15 U.S.C. 2206

  subsection (n) → subsection (r)

  This renumbers the existing subsection (n) to (r) to accommodate the insertion of new subsections.

Action History

1. September 11, 2025

   Introduced in House

2. September 11, 2025

   Introduced in House

3. September 11, 2025

   Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Sponsors

• April McClain Delaney · Primary
• Wesley Bell · Cosponsor
• Suzanne Bonamici · Cosponsor
• André Carson · Cosponsor
• Angie Craig · Cosponsor
• Emanuel Cleaver · Cosponsor
• Sharice Davids · Cosponsor
• Cleo Fields · Cosponsor
• Steny H. Hoyer · Cosponsor
• Raja Krishnamoorthi · Cosponsor
• Greg Landsman · Cosponsor
• Zoe Lofgren · Cosponsor
• Dave Min · Cosponsor
• Kweisi Mfume · Cosponsor
• Joe Neguse · Cosponsor
• Jamie Raskin · Cosponsor
• Greg Stanton · Cosponsor

Subjects