Brad Miller: “I do want to applaud the work of the Science and Technology Committee on reauthorizing this program that has been…”

“I do want to applaud the work of the Science and Technology Committee on reauthorizing this program that has been remarkably effective. Fire is remarkably destructive, but we have made great strides under this program. In 1973, there were more than 6,000 Americans who died each year in fires, another hundred thousand were injured. Largely because of this program and the training and other support, we are now about to the point where about 16,000 a year are injured and between 3,000 and 3,500 die each year. That is obviously still too much, but is remarkable progress. And among the most dangerous work that anyone can do is fighting fires. The number of deaths each year among firefighters is a large number, and even more are injured every year. A great many firefighters never complete their term of service before qualifying for retirement because they suffer from disabling injuries. This bill does provide for additional training for fighting fires, particularly where wild areas come into contact or where urban areas and wildland areas meet.”