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Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, soon, the Senate will have an opportunity to ensure that essential Federal resources remain available to fire departments all across our country.

Every day, firefighters risk their health and safety to protect our communities. They don't just respond to fire emergencies; they also help keep us safe from threats like chemical hazards, terrorist attacks, and even active shooters.

The Fire Grants and Safety Act gives our firefighters the support they deserve. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes two vital grant programs administered by FEMA. These programs help fire departments purchase safety equipment, address staffing needs, train their staff, and provide cancer screenings to first responders.

The bill also reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration, which represents firefighters at the Federal level. The USFA helps ensure that our local fire departments get the proper support, and it takes the lead on data collection, research, education, and training for the fire service.

Federal programs like these enable fire departments to do their jobs safely and effectively, and I have seen it firsthand while visiting local departments across my home State of Michigan. Without these programs, many fire departments would simply not have the resources and equipment they need to stay safe in the line of duty. Every day, firefighters have our backs, and now we can do the same for them.

I would like to thank Ranking Member Paul, Senator Carper, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Collins for their help in advancing this legislation. I would also like to acknowledge Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for their work to get this bill passed out of the House of Representatives.

Now it is time to finish the job. Let's finish the job and send this bipartisan legislation to the President and help firefighters everywhere keep our communities safe.

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