text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``United States Capitol Fire 
  Protection Act of 2000''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
              (1) although progress has been made in recent years, the 
          Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, and Library of 
          Congress still do not provide staff and visitors with the fire 
          safety and protection they deserve;
              (2) the Architect of the Capitol must place great emphasis 
          on the need to ensure that these and other properties 
          administered by the Architect, and individuals who visit or 
          work in these properties, enjoy the maximum protection that 
          modern technology and human diligence can provide against fire 
          and related threats to life and property; and
              (3) properties and structures of the United States Capitol 
          Complex are of historical and architectural significance and 
          are an essential public and national resource, and it is 
          essential that they be preserved and rehabilitated in such a 
          manner as to retain their historical and architectural 
          significance.
      (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish the 
  position of the Director of Fire Safety and Protection to assist the 
  Architect of the Capitol in meeting the Architect's responsibilities 
  for fire safety and protection so that the properties of the United 
  States Capitol Complex will be protected from fire and serve as a safe 
  environment for those who work or visit there.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF FIRE SAFETY AND 
                PROTECTION.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the Office of 
  the Architect of the Capitol the position of Director of Fire Safety 
  and Protection.
      (b) Appointment; Compensation.--
              (1) Appointment.--The Director of Fire Safety and 
          Protection shall be appointed by the Architect of the Capitol 
          from among individuals with the knowledge, skills, and 
          abilities necessary to carry out the duties described in this 
          Act.
              (2) Compensation.--The Architect of the Capitol shall fix 
          the rate of basic pay and benefits for the Director of Fire 
          Safety and Protection at such rate as the Architect considers 
          appropriate, except that such rate may not be less than the 
          rate of pay and benefits for the Director of Engineering under 
          the Architect of the Capitol.
      (c) Duties.--
              (1) In general.--Working under the direction and control of 
          the Architect of the Capitol and reporting directly to the 
          Architect, the Director of Fire Safety and Protection shall--
                      (A) be responsible for all fire safety and 
                  protection activities of the Architect of the Capitol;
                      (B) ensure that Architect properties meet the 
                  applicable codes and standards established by the 
                  National Fire Protection Association, except that the 
                  Architect may modify the application of such codes to 
                  the properties to take into account the historic and 
                  architecturally significant features of such properties 
                  so long as a reasonable degree of safety and protection 
                  is maintained; and
                      (C) carry out the duties specified in paragraph 
                  (2).
              (2) Duties specified.--The duties specified in this 
          paragraph are as follows:
                      (A) The routine periodic testing and maintenance of 
                  all fire alarm, fire suppression, and fire protection 
                  systems in all Architect properties.
                      (B) The conduct of comprehensive inspections and 
                  risk assessments on a regular basis (but not less 
                  frequently than once each year) of all Architect 
  properties to identify conditions which constitute fire hazards and to 
  develop plans for the prompt abatement of such conditions, in 
  accordance with the requirements specified in paragraph (1)(B).
                      (C) The development and implementation of programs 
                  to train employees of the Architect of the Capitol and 
                  others in the proper use and maintenance of fire alarm, 
                  fire suppression, and fire protection systems and in 
                  the proper use and storage of hazardous chemicals and 
                  materials.
                      (D) The identification of structural changes and 
                  repairs which may be necessary to assure maximum fire 
                  protection and safety in Architect properties, and the 
                  development of comprehensive plans to carry out such 
                  changes.
                      (E) The preparation of semi-annual reports on the 
                  efforts made by the Director to carry out the duties 
                  required under this subsection.
                      (F) Consultation with experts in fire safety and 
                  protection regarding the modification of codes and 
                  standards carried out pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) and 
                  such other matters relating to the Director's duties as 
                  the Director considers appropriate.
                      (G) Such other steps as may be reasonably necessary 
                  to protect Architect properties from fire and provide a 
                  safe environment for employees and visitors.
  
  SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ARCHITECT.
  
      (a) In General.--The Architect of the Capitol shall provide the 
  Director of Fire Safety and Protection with such staff and other 
  resources as the Director may reasonably require to carry out duties 
  under this Act, except that the Architect of the Capitol shall assign 
  not fewer than 12 full-time-equivalent employees to the Director for 
  carrying out such duties.
      (b) Budget Request.--Beginning with fiscal year 2002, the Architect 
  of the Capitol shall include in the budget request for the Architect 
  for a fiscal year a separate statement of the total amount to be used 
  to carry out the duties of the Director of Fire Safety and Protection 
  in the fiscal year.
      (c) Submission of Reports.--The Architect shall submit to the 
  Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and 
  Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
  Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
  the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Rules and 
  Administration of the Senate the semi-annual reports prepared by the 
  Director of Fire Safety and Protection under section 3(c)(2)(E).
  
  SEC. 5. ARCHITECT PROPERTIES DEFINED.
  
      In this Act, the term ``Architect properties'' means any properties 
  under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, including the 
  Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, the Library of Congress, 
  the United States Botanic Garden, and the Capitol Power Plant.
target: Directs the Architect of the Capitol to assign at least 12 full-time employees to the Director.
feat_title: United States Capitol Fire Protection Act of 2000