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FIRE / SAFER Reauthorization
The Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs are
among the most efficient federal grant programs, and have provided
significant resources to help local fire departments afford critically-needed
equipment and training, as well as add additional fire fighters to their ranks. Despite the programs' success, improvements are needed to ensure that
federal funding is spent in a way that maximizes the benefit to public safety
and that grants are distributed more equitably among fire departments.
The FIRE and SAFER grant programs are
due to be reauthorized during the 111th Congress. The U.S. House of
Representatives recently took the first step in this process by passing H.R.
3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. H.R. 3791 makes
significant improvements to both grant programs.
The U.S. Senate, too, has taken the
first steps toward passing their version of the bill. The Fire Grants
Reauthorization Act of 2010, S. 3267, was recently approved by the Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and is now awaiting
consideration by the full Senate.
The IAFF will continues its advocacy
to improve the programs' effectiveness and ensure that communities with the
greatest need can use them to their best advantage, and will continue working
with Congress to pass a final version of this critical legislation.
Read more about H.R. 3791 and its
passage in the U.S. House of Representatives:
House Passes
Legislation Improving FIRE / SAFER Grant Programs
Read more about S. 3267 and its
passage in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
FIRE Act / SAFER
Reforms Move Forward
For more
information about the FIRE and SAFER grant programs and efforts to improve the
programs, click here:
Fact Sheet
Learn
more about the need to reauthorize the FIRE and SAFER grant programs:
Key Points
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House Action
On July 8, 2009, the House
Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing on reauthorizing the
FIRE and SAFER grant programs.
Read More...
On October 13, 2009,
H.R. 3791 was introduced in
the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Science and
Technology. Read
More...
On
October 14, 2009, the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation approved
H.R. 3791 with an amendment by voice vote.
On
October 21, 2009, the House Committee on Science and Technology approved H.R.
3791 with an amendment by voice vote.
On
November 18, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted H.R. 1499, the
Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act, as an amendment to H.R. 3791 by a vote of
358-75. Learn more about the Firefighter Fatality
Reduction Act.
On
November 18, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 3791 by a
vote of 395-31.
Read More...
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Senate Action
On April 27, 2010,
S. 3267 was introduced
in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
On April 28, 2010, the Senate Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved S. 3267 with an amendment by
voice vote.
Read More...
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