Fire Grants Reauthorization Act Of 2009
Floor Speech
Fire Grants Reauthorization Act Of 2009
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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to thank Chairman Gordon, Chairman WU and Mr. Mitchell for working to move this important legislation. Every Member of this body represents a community that is secured by a firehouse. But in recent times, too many fire stations have had to short change their own training or community fire awareness programs just to stay operational.
Today, we have the opportunity to reaffirm our support for our hometown first responders by supporting H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. This legislation seeks to enhance and improve two of FEMA's programs that directly award grants on a competitive basis to local fire stations and departments. This critical reauthorization will help ensure that departments large and small, volunteer and career, can continue to provide lifesaving services, including fire prevention and safety programs.
As a former volunteer firefighter, I'd like to thank Mr. Pascrell, the gentleman from New Jersey, the father of the Assistance to Firefighter Grants program, for working to help pioneer the original program and working diligently to help produce this legislation. The so-called AFG grant and the SAFER grant programs provide funding directly to local fire departments so they can purchase needed equipment, conduct fire awareness and prevention service activities, insure that personnel are well trained for all of the duties, assignments as required for certification. And, in the case of SAFER, recruit and hire and retain firefighters without bureaucratic delays.
This bill also authorizes an additional $9.8 billion in funding for these vital programs. Mr. Chairman, within the AFG program, this bill revises grant allocations so that career volunteer and combination fire departments will have access to equal slices of the available grant dollar pie.
Mr. Chairman, I'd also like to say that during these tough economic times, many communities across America are being forced to cut back on public service. Cutbacks to public services should be avoided at all costs. Again, Mr. Chairman, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Congressional Fire Service Institute, International Association of Volunteer Fire Fighters, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire Protection Association, all these organizations support this legislation.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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