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IAFF LEGISLATIVE FACT SHEET
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FIRE / SAFER Reauthorization
The IAFF supports legislation reauthorizing and improving the FIRE
and SAFER grant programs to assure that federal assistance is used
more effectively to protect the public safety, and to distribute
grants more equitably among fire departments.
BACKGROUND
Since 2001, the Assistance to
Fire Fighters (FIRE) Grant program has aided thousands of fire departments
nationwide by providing more than four billion dollars in federal aid for
critically-needed training, equipment, health and wellness programs and other
fire service needs. Yet, despite the program’s overwhelming success, its
effectiveness has been curtailed by the uneven distribution of grants among
jurisdictions of varying sizes. Statutory restrictions inadvertently hamper
larger fire departments that protect the majority of the population from
receiving much-needed federal assistance. As a result, the majority of funds
under FIRE are currently being spent to protect a relatively small portion of
the population.
FIRE’s sister program, the
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, while
crucial to increasing the number of fire fighters nationwide, also faces a
number of significant restrictions under the law that threaten the program’s
mission. Specifically, the SAFER Act contains a number of administrative
restrictions that have complicated the ability of many jurisdictions to apply
for and maintain a grant, and prevented many jurisdictions from seeking a grant
at all. These difficulties have only been exacerbated by the current economic
crisis.
Both FIRE and SAFER grant
programs are due to be reauthorized in the current Congress. To address the
current deficiencies, the IAFF has proposed a series of amendments to the
programs as part of the reauthorization, including:
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Guaranteeing professional
fire departments receive a minimum percentage of funding under FIRE
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Increasing the amount of
funding for which larger departments may apply under FIRE
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Reducing the local match
under FIRE
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Simplifying SAFER by
shortening the grant period from five years to three years and implementing
an across-the-board 20% local match
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Permanently eliminating the
SAFER funding cap
In the last Congress,
legislation to reauthorize the FIRE and SAFER grant programs passed the House by
a wide margin. However, the Senate was unable to consider the bill before the
end of session.
CURRENT
LEGISLATION
Senate:
S. 550, the FIRE Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011
Sponsors: Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
View Cosponsors Here
Summary:
S. 550 reauthorizes and makes improvements to the FIRE and SAFER grant programs.
Amendments to FIRE include guaranteeing professional fire departments a minimum
percentage of funding, increasing the amount of funding for which larger
departments
may apply and reducing the local match. The bill also simplifies SAFER by
reducing the grant
period from four years to three years, implementing an across-the-board 25%
local match
and eliminating the current funding cap.
CONGRESSIONAL
ACTION
On March 10, 2011, S. 550 was
introduced in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
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