Congressman Higgins Votes for Fire Grant Reauthorization Act
November 18, 2009 2:41 pm
Ex
Expands Program that has Delivered Over $13 Million to District
Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in approving the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3791). Congressman Higgins is an original cosponsor of this legislation and a strong supporter of the program which has delivered $13.164 million dollars to fire departments in his district over the last 5 years.
“The federal fire grant program has a direct impact on our community, delivering vital resources to our local first responders,” said Congressman Higgins. “Extension and expansion of this program will help to recruit and protect our firefighters and better equip our departments to keep neighborhoods in Erie and Chautauqua Counties safe.”
The new Fire Grant Reauthorization Act significantly expands the current program providing additional assistance over the next five years to local first responders through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program (SAFER).
The bill provides $1 billion per fiscal year from 2010 to 2014 for the AFG program – nearly doubling last year’s allocation. AFG makes funds available for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to station and facilities.
The legislation also provides $1.194 billion per year for the next five years for SAFER grants which are aimed at increasing the number of firefighters and enhancing their ability to ensure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire related hazards.
Program changes included in the bill lower the local match for the AFG program from 20 percent to 10 percent for fire departments serving over 20,000 and 5 percent for districts serving less.
Each year Congressman Higgins hosts a workshop and invites local fire departments to learn first hand how to write a qualifying application from a Department of Homeland Security Fire Grant Specialist. All fire grant applications are then submitted to DHS and go through a non-partisan, merit based review ranked by factors established by a panel of service professionals. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.
