Washington, DC - Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) voted to support local firefighters by giving them the tools needed to upgrade crucial equipment and maintain adequate levels of personnel.  H.R. 3791, The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act, invests $2.2 billion a year in grants for vital firefighter assistance programs allowing local fire departments to provide training, purchase equipment and vehicles, and hire personnel. The bill passed 395-31.  Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery on the House floor:

“Madam Speaker:  I rise today to support H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act.  This Act reauthorizes the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.  These two successful programs provide critical support for our nation’s fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, thus enabling our firefighters and emergency personnel to adequately respond to fire emergencies in our communities.

“H.R. 3791 authorizes $1 billion per year for the AFG program for fiscal years (FY) 2010 through 2014 and $1.2 billion per year for the SAFER program for FY 2010 through FY 2014.  The AFG program, created in 2000, provides grants to local fire departments and related EMS organizations to provide them needed equipment, training, vehicles and other resources. The SAFER, created in 2004, program provides grants to local fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities.

“Both programs have proven highly successful.  In 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Leadership Development Academy Executive Potential Program independent assessment of the AFG program concluded it was "highly effective in improving the readiness and capabilities of firefighters across the nation."  Since that time, the program has received high marks from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General as well as the Bush Administration’s budgetary program evaluation tool.  And since 2004, the SAFER program has been ensuring that our local fire departments can provide 24-hour staffing to so that they can respond to our communities during emergencies.

“Unfortunately, during times of economic hardship, public safety budgets are often hard hit.  Thus, the importance of continued federal support for these programs cannot be underestimated.  That is why this legislation lowers the matching requirement from 20 percent to 10 percent for the AFG program and allows the DHS to waive cost share requirements for the SAFER program in times of economic hardship.

“In addition, H.R. 3791 ensures that funding to our career and volunteer fire departments is equitable by requiring that AFG funds are apportioned in the following way:  25 percent to career fire departments, 25 percent to combination fire departments, and 25 percent to volunteer fire departments, ten percent for open competition among all types of fire departments, and the remaining 15 percent for certain other important functions, including fire prevention and safety grants.

“Madam Speaker, the fire grants program has directly benefited the 15th Congressional District of Michigan, including Frenchtown Township, Ypsilanti, Monroe, Woodhaven, Flat Rock, Romulus, and many other communities I have the honor of representing.  Clearly, these programs are a boon to other communities across our country.  That is why I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in voting “yes” on H.R. 3791.”