Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am proud to once again cosponsor the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act. I am pleased to join with Senators LIEBERMAN, BROWN, and CARPER in this effort to reauthorize these vital programs. I have always been an ardent supporter of our Nation's fire services. In addition to serving as a cochair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I was a cosponsor of the original FIRE Act, and an original cosponsor of the FIRE Act reauthorization bills in 2004 and in 2010. Unfortunately, last year's bill did not become law.

The FIRE Act grants program provides fire departments with the support they need to purchase equipment and vehicles, and to conduct the training and exercises necessary to perform their jobs well. Indeed, this is one of the most successful programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

The FIRE Act grants program is an efficient and effective model for delivering grant funding because it has a competitive process for evaluating applications, which are peer-reviewed. It is also successful because monies are provided directly to local fire departments. This bipartisan legislation would retain and build upon these aspects of the FIRE Act program that made it successful in the first place.

In visits across the State of Maine, I have seen first-hand how these grants build the critical response capabilities of local fire departments. Maine has received more than $50 million through the FIRE Act grants program--a testament to the needs of our often rural, volunteer fire departments and proof that the program is succeeding in delivering funds to communities that need it most.

Independent analyses have confirmed that the FIRE Act grants program has been effective. To quote a 2007 study by the National Academy of Public Administration, ``From the standpoint of administrative efficiency, there is broad agreement among stakeholders and observers that the program has been well run. It is a positive case study in the management of a grant program by a government agency.''

I believe this bill will increase the capabilities of our Nation's fire services, and protect the thousands of firefighters and EMTs who put their lives on the line every day.

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