From November 2, 2022
Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Dan Kildee (D-MI), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) announced last Friday the introduction of the Fire Grants and Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and increase federal resources for local fire departments across the nation. The legislation would boost critical federal funds for local fire departments to address staffing shortages, purchase new equipment, and improve training and emergency services. Fire departments across Maine, particularly in rural areas, are experiencing significant losses in staffing and slowing interest in the volunteer fire fighting work that is critical to smaller communities [source, source].
“The Mainers who make up our fire departments put their lives on the line to protect their neighbors,” said Congressman Golden. “The federal government has a responsibility to ensure they have what they need to do their job and do it well. Increasing access to these resources – especially at a time of staff shortages throughout Maine – is just common sense. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help advance this funding for departments in the Second District and across the country.”
The Fire Grants and Safety Act would reauthorize funding for three key initiatives: the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. Since 2021, Maine fire departments have been awarded over $4 million in SAFER grants to assist in hiring new staff and more than $14 million in AFG grants. Without Congressional intervention, all three programs are set to expire starting in 2023 – endangering future recruitment, training, retention, and outfitting efforts. The bill is companion legislation to a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH).
“As a former fire fighter and Chief of the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department, I know firsthand how crucial these vital programs and resources are to adequately prepare firefighters to respond to emergencies and protect our communities,” said Congressman Giménez. “In the past, both Monroe County and Miami-Dade County have benefited immensely from such initiatives. In Congress, it is our responsibility to support firemen as they make every effort to keep communities in South Florida and across the country safe.”
“Our fire fighters keep us safe, and we must ensure they have the resources necessary to protect our communities,” said Congressman Kildee. “That’s why I’m working with Republicans and Democrats to provide critical federal funding for local fire departments. This bipartisan legislation will support mid-Michigan fire departments and fire fighters so they can be ready when our community needs them.”
“Communities across our country rely on local fire departments to keep residents safe in the event of a life-threatening crisis,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to co-lead bipartisan legislation that will support volunteer fire departments and assist with volunteer recruitment and retention.”
Advocates and members of the national and Maine firefighting community voiced their support for the bill:
“Fire fighters across the State of Maine rely on the AFG and SAFER programs to ensure they have the staffing and tools to safely and effectively respond to emergencies,” said Michael Crouse, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine. “We appreciate Rep. Golden’s consistent support of firefighters and his leadership in advancing legislation to reauthorize these critical programs. The Fire Grants and Safety Act also allows the US Fire Administration to continue accomplishing its important mission of educating the fire service and representing fire departments’ needs at the highest levels of government. The PFFM applauds Rep. Golden for his dedication to fire fighters and encourages Congress to reauthorize these programs this year.”
“In a big state like Maine, volunteer fire fighters are invaluable.” said Ken Desmond, President of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters. “The funding that Representative Golden is working to secure will go a long way to making sure that our communities all across Maine are served by brigades, both professional and volunteer, with the best equipment, staffing, and training possible. The Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters is proud to support this legislation.”
“Many fire departments across the State of Maine and our Nation are struggling to maintain basic response capabilities,” wrote Darrell White, President of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, in a letter of support. “This program has been extremely beneficial to many communities here in Maine who have received grants for much needed equipment, apparatus, staffing and training that would not have been possible without the AFG funding.”
“These grants are critical to public safety agencies across the country,” said Darren Woods Director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management and Fire Chief of the North Lakes Fire and Rescue. “These programs have done a lot of good in ensuring that public safety officials have the proper equipment to protect citizens at the community level across the United States.”
“I thank Representatives Golden and Giménez for introducing the Fire Grants and Safety Act,” said Chief Donna Black, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “This bill is a companion to Senate legislation, which we hope will pass this year. The Assistance to Firefighters and SAFER grant programs provide peer-reviewed matching grants directly to local fire departments. They help fund critical training, equipment, and staffing to ensure the safety of our fire and EMS personnel and our citizens. The bill also would authorize more funding for the U.S. Fire Administration, empowering it to better serve the needs of local fire chiefs.”
“The IAFF is grateful to Representatives Golden, Kildee, Gimenez, and Fitzpatrick for introducing the Fire Grants and Safety Act, legislation that would reauthorize the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA),” said International Association of Fire Fighters General President Edward Kelly. “These programs are vital to ensuring fire departments are fully staffed by trained and equipped firefighters to respond to any emergency that threatens our communities. Studies and our own experiences have proven that proper staffing levels are key to safe and effective emergency responses. "The IAFF also applauds these members of Congress for advancing legislation that would strengthen the USFA’s role in educating the fire service and gathering the data we need to better protect our communities. The IAFF urges Congress to pass this critical legislation at the first opportunity."
“NFPA is pleased to support the bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration as well as the AFG and SAFER grant programs that are so critical to first responders across our country,” said Jim Pauley, President and CEO of the National Fire Protection Association.
“FSI thanks Representatives Golden, Gimenez, Kildee, and Fitzpatrick for introducing the House companion to the Fire Grants and Safety Act and we look forward to working with them to reauthorize AFG, SAFER, and USFA this Congress,” said Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. “AFG and SAFER are vital to America’s fire and emergency services and help to support proper staffing, training, and equipping of fire and EMS personnel. In addition, the U.S. Fire Administration is an essential voice of the fire and emergency services at the federal level, working every day to provide data, research, education, and training to the fire and emergency services and the general public.”
In May, Golden voted to pass the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, which would address the unjust burden of proof firefighters face when applying for disability retirement. Since joining Congress, he has also voted to pass the PFAS Action Act – bipartisan legislation that would help protect firefighters from exposure to dangerous "forever chemicals" – and joined Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) to introduce bipartisan legislation to help improve infrastructure at America's fire stations. Golden is a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
Original source can be found here.
