Fire Grants Reauthorization Act Of 2009
Floor Speech
Fire Grants Reauthorization Act Of 2009
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Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009.
It has been almost 10 years since the Cerro Grande fire ripped through thousands of acres in my district in northern New Mexico with devastating effect for the wildlife, the environment and the people in its path. Drought conditions and high temperatures contributed to the size of this fire, while dry winds accelerated its path through Los Alamos. Each year, fires plague our communities. They hurt people. They devastate communities. They devastate families. But when we can come together and make sure that we are working to provide support for our local fire departments, for our first responders and for those that put their lives on the line every day, we are able to make a difference.
These FIRE grants will provide volunteer and career fire departments across the country with vital funding to increase firefighting capabilities, better respond to medical emergencies, handle natural disasters and operate more effectively.
Supporting local fire departments is more important now than ever before. Now that States are facing many budgetary shortfalls, it has become increasingly difficult for local governments to maintain the equipment and training necessary.
Mr. Chairman, as we came down today, I was reminded of a chief in New Mexico who lost his life responding to a fire about a week after he had just gotten word that he had received a grant for the fire district to replace the truck that broke down in the midst of a range fire that he lost his life in. These grants make a difference in people's lives. To his wife, to his spouse, that fought so hard with us in New Mexico to get a fire fund in place to be able to help us out locally, I commend my colleagues here, the chairman, Mr. Pascrell for making this happen, and for believing in firefighters and for making sure that we in Congress are doing our part to get funding to them.
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