WASHINGTON, DC-Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Ranking Member of the House Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, today led the debate to pass H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act, legislation which reauthorizes the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. Included in the legislation is an amendment Smith successfully offered ensuring rural areas will continue to have adequate access to the grant programs.
The bill passed by a vote of 395 to 31.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants provide much-needed assistance to fire departments across the nation. The AFG program competitively awards funds to local fire departments to purchase emergency response equipment and training. The SAFER program funds the hiring, recruitment, and retention of firefighting personnel. Both AFG and SAFER are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and serve to defray the cost to local governments by helping purchase firefighting equipment and to pay salaries.
The House Science and Technology Committee maintains legislative and oversight responsibility for AFG and SAFER through its jurisdiction over the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974.
Earlier this year, Ed Carlin, Training Officer for the Spalding Rural Volunteer Fire Department, offered testimony before Smith's subcommittee regarding the reauthorization of the AFG program and the challenges facing rural fire departments.
"These grants provide needed assistance to fire departments across the nation. More specifically the AFG grants are absolutely necessary for small, rural fire departments. As my subcommittee learned from experts like Ed, the AFG program is frequently cited as a ‘lifesaver' and is often the only means by which many smaller departments acquire equipment and training for their firefighters. This legislation is tremendously important and I am proud to have helped move it forward," Smith said.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
House Passes Fire Department Grant Bill
WASHINGTON, DC-Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Ranking Member of the House Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, today led the debate to pass H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act, legislation which reauthorizes the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. Included in the legislation is an amendment Smith successfully offered ensuring rural areas will continue to have adequate access to the grant programs.
The bill passed by a vote of 395 to 31.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants provide much-needed assistance to fire departments across the nation. The AFG program competitively awards funds to local fire departments to purchase emergency response equipment and training. The SAFER program funds the hiring, recruitment, and retention of firefighting personnel. Both AFG and SAFER are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and serve to defray the cost to local governments by helping purchase firefighting equipment and to pay salaries.
The House Science and Technology Committee maintains legislative and oversight responsibility for AFG and SAFER through its jurisdiction over the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974.
Earlier this year, Ed Carlin, Training Officer for the Spalding Rural Volunteer Fire Department, offered testimony before Smith's subcommittee regarding the reauthorization of the AFG program and the challenges facing rural fire departments.
"These grants provide needed assistance to fire departments across the nation. More specifically the AFG grants are absolutely necessary for small, rural fire departments. As my subcommittee learned from experts like Ed, the AFG program is frequently cited as a ‘lifesaver' and is often the only means by which many smaller departments acquire equipment and training for their firefighters. This legislation is tremendously important and I am proud to have helped move it forward," Smith said.
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