Measure extends federal support for local fire departments

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently introduced legislation that seeks to aid local fire departments with staffing, equipment, training, and emergency medical services improvement needs.

Specifically, the Fire Grants and Safety Act reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) until 2030.

“Brave and courageous firefighters depend on critical federal programs to safeguard Michiganders and people across the nation from fires and other emergencies,” said Peters, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman. “By extending these important programs, this bipartisan legislation will help the federal government ensure dedicated first responders have the resources they need to safely fight fires and effectively protect communities.”

Per the bill, $95 million would be authorized for USFA, representing an increase of nearly $20 million from present levels while maintaining currently authorized funding levels for the SAFER and AFG programs.

“Firefighters across Maine and the country courageously and selflessly put their lives on the line to serve their towns and cities,” Collins said. “I helped create FEMA’s firefighter grant programs in 2003 as part of a bipartisan effort to ensure that firefighters have adequate staffing, equipment, and training to do their important jobs as effectively and safely as possible. By reauthorizing these programs, we can continue to deliver this critical assistance to fire departments and support firefighters as they work to protect lives and property.”

Murkowski said the bill helps provide funding opportunities to help fire departments with the resources they need to protect their communities.