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Senate Panel Matches SAFER, FIRE Funding Levels in House
June 19, 2009 – A U.S. Senate panel has provided $420 million for the
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program and $380
million for Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) grants in 2010. The funding was
approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in its draft Homeland Security
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 on a unanimous vote.
The funding provided by the Senate panel for SAFER doubles the current funding
level, and matches the amount being considered by the U.S. House of
Representatives in its draft appropriations bill, as well as the level proposed
by President Obama in his 2010 budget. The funding provided for FIRE Act grants,
although less than was appropriated for 2009, is more than double what was
included in the administration’s budget request.
“Communities nationwide are struggling to maintain their fire department
budgets, and as a result are making the tough choice to lay-off fire fighters,”
says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “By providing the means to
shore up fire department budgets, these sorely-needed funds will help
communities avoid layoffs as well as enable them to fund other significant
priorities.”
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on Homeland Security, was instrumental in providing the generous funding.
The SAFER appropriation is especially significant in light of a
new law that would expand the use of SAFER
grants. Language contained in a supplemental appropriation bill, which has
passed both chambers of Congress and is expected to be signed into law, would
allow fire departments to use SAFER funds to rehire fire fighters who were laid
off and restore cuts made to staffing as a result of the financial crisis, in
addition to providing grants to grow fire departments.
The draft bill also provides significant funding for other IAFF priorities,
including $887 million for Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants and $50
million for Interoperable Communications grants.
The Homeland Security Appropriations Act is expected to be considered by both
chambers of Congress the week of June 22. |
