U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN ANNOUNCES $142,000 FOR NORTH ATTLEBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT

Contact: Michael Mershon
(202) 225-6101

August 20, 2003

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern today announced that the North Attleboro Fire Department has been awarded $142,305 in Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety funding under the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program. To date, over 2600 fire departments have received almost $170 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.

"I'm very pleased that North Attleboro will be receiving this funding," Rep. McGovern said. "I believe that homeland security starts with hometown security. It's critical that we provide local first responders with the resources they need to protect our communities. The federal government must be a partner in that effort. I will continue to be a strong supporter of this Assistance to Firefighter Grant program, and I'll work to maintain its funding in Congress."

The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. These funds are used by the nation's firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, fire fighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs, and fire prevention and safety programs.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.