Hearing of the House Committee on Science and Technology - Reauthorization of the FIRE Grant Programs

Statement

Opening Statement By Vice Chairman Ben Ray Lujan

Good morning. Today's hearing addresses a key program in increasing public safety and protecting the safety of first responders. The FIRE Grants help fire departments across the country increase their capabilities to fight fires, respond to medical emergencies, handle disasters, and better confront all that is asked of the modern fire service.

The authorizations for the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response—or SAFER program—are both facing expirations. These grant programs provide funding for local fire departments, ones in every state and every district, to obtain equipment and training, and to increase their ranks of firefighters.

The FIRE grants were created to help local communities keep up with the needed manpower and equipment to handle the increasing array of tasks falling to local fire departments. The growing duties include emergency medical services, fighting fires at the wildland-urban interface, and serving as first responders to terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

In this economy, maintaining the equipment, training, and personnel to safely and swiftly respond to all calls is increasingly difficult, or impossible, in many jurisdictions. Fire departments around the country have been forced to lay-off firefighters and forego needed equipment and training. Therefore, the over $6 billion of grants that have gone to fire departments since 2000 has been integral to maintaining public safety in many communities. This year and last, fire departments in my district in New Mexico have benefited from a half a million dollars of this funding.

Fire remains a serious problem in the U.S. More people die in fires in the U.S. than from all other natural disasters combined. On average, 3,700 citizens die in structure fires each year, and over 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty. In addition to these fatalities, there are thousands of injuries and over $10 billion dollars in property lost each year. Fires are often a surprise to their victims but the statistics tell us that fire fatalities and injuries are not random. Demographics shape who is most likely to die in fires; vulnerable populations, like the poor or the elderly suffer the most. Males are more likely to die than females, as are minorities, and those without a high school education. I hope the witnesses today will offer insight on why fires disproportionately affect these individuals and how these trends can be changed.

I would also like to learn today how we can improve upon the contribution FIRE grants make to public safety and the safety of first responders. I hope the witnesses will also offer insight on the best balance to serve the needs of fire departments and the populations they protect. And, I hope to learn how any proposed changes would affect the fire service.

I will now recognize Ranking Member Smith for his opening statement.

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