Washington, DC (September 3, 2008) – Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded the City of McAllen Fire Department a grant in the amount of $651,200 under the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program. This year, the City of McAllen applied as the lead applicant for a regional radio project with its collaborative partners: the cities of Edinburg, San Manuel-Linn, Mission and Pharr.

Congressman Hinojosa said, “After the area suffered from wild land fires this year in the Northern Hidalgo County area, we found that our firefighters in the surrounding area quickly needed to be equipped with an advance operable radio technology. I commend these cities for collaborating and coming together to apply for this grant.” said Hinojosa. “It will enhance our first responders’ capabilities by giving them the tools and training they need so they can better serve our communities.”

The Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program is an important component of the Administration’s larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards. The FY 2008 AFG provides approximately $500 million in competitive grants to fire departments

and nonaffiliated EMS organizations.

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