Congressional Panel Approves Use of SAFER Grants for Rehire, Retention 

May 7, 2009 – The House Appropriations Committee has approved legislation that would enable fire departments to use Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants to rehire laid off fire fighters and avoid reductions in force (RIFs). The language, which was crafted and proposed by the IAFF, would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to waive various requirements on SAFER grants that prevent grants from being used to address cuts in fire department staffing.

The provision is included in a must-pass supplemental appropriation that has been placed in the legislative fast track. The bill must still be considered by the full House of Representatives and the Senate, but congressional leadership is committed to sending the bill to the White House for President Obama’s signature by Memorial Day.

“This is a tremendous victory for the IAFF, and proves once again the importance of having pro-fire fighter elected officials,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Once we told our friends in Congress and the administration about the layoffs and cutbacks our members are facing, they stepped up to the plate and provided the tools we need to save our members’ jobs.”

The Economic Stimulus bill (HR 1) that passed Congress in February contained language waiving the local matching requirement for SAFER grants, but that provision failed to meet the needs of local governments facing cutbacks. The additional waiver authority contained in the new supplemental appropriation would allow waivers from several other requirements, including the length of the grant -- currently set at five years -- and the amount of funding per position -- currently set at $110,000. In addition, the language allows waivers from the requirement that fire fighters hired with SAFER grants must add to the total number of positions, and that fire departments must retain their staffing levels.

Taken together, the waiver authorities contained in the legislation will enable fire departments to use SAFER grants to rehire fire fighters who have been laid off and fill positions eliminated through attrition.

Representative Dave Obey (D-WI), chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Representative David Price (D-NC), chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, worked closely with the IAFF in assuring the language was included in the bill and remained in after Republican committee members objected. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the Democratic Majority leader and longtime fire service champion, played a key role in moving the issue forward, and the strong support of the Obama administration proved crucial. Other members who actively supported the proposal included Representatives John Larson (D-CT), Steve LaTourette (R-OH), Betty Sutton (D-OH) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA).

Although the supplemental appropriation is certain of becoming law, work still remains to be done to ensure that the SAFER wavier language remains in the package. The IAFF is working closely with Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), as well as Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Inouye (D-HI) and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV), to secure Senate support for the provision.