568 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTE1 ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



CONGRESSMAN STEELE CARRIES THE BALL 



Early in 1972, it became apparent to some Members of Congress, 

 particularly Representative Robert H. Steele (Republican of Connecti- 

 cut) that more aggressive action would have to be taken to stem the 

 rising loss of life and property caused by fires. Steele advocated a Fire 

 Academy, akin to the FBI Academy, for training fire officials in the 

 most advanced techniques, and offered a comprehensive education 

 program to alert the citizenry on the serious dangers which might be 

 avoided through precautionary steps. 



Mosher, after a number of conversations with Steele, became con- 

 vinced after passage of the new authorization bill in April that the 

 committee should be doing a great deal more in the area of lire safety. 

 On May 1, Mosher wrote a pointed letter to Chairman Miller, urging 

 that the committee hold additional hearings on fire safety and in 

 particular consider new legislation which Steele had introduced and 

 had been referred to the committee. Mosher added this about Con- 

 gressman Steele: 



I can testify not only to his intense personal interest in this area but, in addition, 

 to the impressive effort that went into his work. In fact, in the preparation of the 

 bills he assigned four of his staff members for four months full time in researching the 

 field. 



Mosher and Steele also talked with Davis, who agreed to hold the 

 hearings if they met with Miller's approval. The green light came in 

 the early fall of 1972 as two days of oversight hearings were held by 

 the subcommittee to coincide with National Fire Prevention Week. 



MILLER THROWS A BLOCK 



Steele was the lead-off witness on October 10. He outlined his 

 plans for an academy, criticized the antiquated clothing and equip- 

 ment available to most firefighters, and asked for a NASA-type co- 

 ordinated nationwide drive for better fire safety and better design of 

 buildings to prevent the rapid spread of fires. Steele observed: 



I would say that most fires are not an act of God such as a hurricane or a tornado. 

 Fires are caused and can be prevented by man. 



As a member of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and 

 Control, which annually presented him with a gaudy fireman's hat, 

 Miller seemed to resent the idea that this young whippersnapper of a 

 noncommittee member was barging in and telling him what his 

 committee ought to be doing. When Steele had finished rattling off 

 impressive statistics and innovative ideas, Miller took him to task: 

 I am surprised, Mr. Steele, that you are not familiar with the fact that this 

 committee has gone into this matter in great depth. * * * The implication is that we 



