Kennedy, Keating, Capuano Announce Fire Chief Workshop

Statement

Congressman Joe Kennedy (MA-4), Congressman Bill Keating (MA-9), and Congressman Michael Capuano (MA-7) today announced that they will sponsor a regional workshop for Massachusetts Fire Chiefs to learn about the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. On Tuesday, September 24, Congressman Kennedy will be joined at Stonehill College in Easton by FEMA Fire Grant Program Specialists to offer advice on applying to the 2013 AFG Program. The workshop will be held in Stonehill's Alumni Hall from 9:30AM-12:00PM.

"Firefighters serve as the backbone of any community in which they serve. They answer the call day or night, rain or shine, to keep our families safe," said Congressman Kennedy. "The AFG program provides funds to ensure our firefighters have the resources they need to protect our communities. I encourage all Fire Chiefs in the region to attend this workshop to learn about the resources available to them as they apply to the AFG program. I'd like to especially thank Easton Fire Chief Kevin Partridge for his help organizing this event and ensuring it is a productive collaboration between the local and federal level."

"As a Member of the Homeland Security Committee, it has been particularly disheartening to see public safety grants on the chopping block time and again," said Congressman Keating. "I have fought hard to preserve FEMA's critical resources to our firefighters. For this reason, now more than ever, we need to invest in our community's first responders. It is key that Massachusetts Fire Chiefs know the ins and outs of the system so that their local fire stations remain competitive against those applying across the country and continue to have the best chance possible to be recipients of these funds. I am proud to join with my colleagues to provide this important workshop that will help ensure our brave fire fighters have the resources they need to keep our communities -- and themselves -- safe. As always, my office and those of my colleagues also stand ready to provide support for those departments interested in these grants.