House Passes Legislation Improving FIRE Act/SAFER Grant Programs 

November 18, 2009 – By a bipartisan vote of 395-31, on November 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3791, the FIRE Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. The bill makes improvements to both the Assistance to Fire Fighters (FIRE Act) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs that will significantly benefit professional fire departments in the United States.

The House also adopted the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act as an amendment to H.R. 3791. The amendment, offered by Representative Ed Permutter (D-CO) promotes fire department compliance with industry consensus standards -- a top IAFF priority. The amendment passed by a vote of 358-75.

“Reauthorizing the FIRE Act and SAFER and enacting the Perlmutter amendment are of critical importance to protecting the health and safety of IAFF members,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Passing both through the House brings us one step closer to ensuring our nation’s professional fire departments have the tools and support they need to protect public safety.”

H.R. 3791 would make important changes to the way FIRE Act grants are awarded to the benefit of professional fire departments. Specifically, the bill would significantly increase the amount of funding for which larger departments may apply, and reduce the local match from 20 percent to 10 percent. The proposal also allows the match to be waived for communities facing financial hardship, and eliminates the local match entirely for departments applying for a fire prevention grant.

Perhaps most importantly, the bill also guarantees professional and combination fire departments a minimum percentage of funding under the FIRE Act. To date, professional departments have enjoyed no such guarantee and have been significantly shortchanged in FIRE Act grants awards.

The bill also simplifies the rules governing SAFER, making it significantly easier for municipalities to commit to a SAFER grant. Amendments include shortening the grant period from five to three years, implementing an across-the-board 20 percent local match, and eliminating the current funding cap. It also makes permanent the temporary authorities to waive the SAFER local match and other restrictions.

The U.S. Senate is currently working to craft companion legislation, which it is expected to consider before the new year.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who did not support the IAFF and the nation's fire fighters in this vote are:

Todd Akin (R-MO)
Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Paul Broun (R-GA)
John Campbell (R-CA)
John Carter (R-TX)
Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
Mike Coffman (R-CO)
Mike Conaway (R-TX)
John Culberson (R-TX)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Wally Herger (R-CA)
Bob Inglis (R-SC)
Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Sam Johnson (R-TX)
Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Steve King (R-IA)
Jack Kingston (R-GA)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
John Linder (R-GA)
Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Connie Mack (R-FL)
Tom McClintock (R-CA)
John Mica (R-FL)
Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
Ron Paul (R-TX)
Ed Royce (R-CA)
James F. Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
John Shadegg (R-AZ)
William Thornberry (R-TX)