Lemont, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today joined local firefighters at a Lemont station to present two local fire protection districts with federal fire safety grants.  The Homer Township and Lemont Fire Protection Districts received $948,000 and $316,000, respectively.  On hand to accept the checks were Lemont Chief Carl Churulo and Homer Township Chief Michael Schofield.
 
             “Our firefighters put it on the line for us every day,” said Biggert.  “Making sure they are well-equipped, well-staffed, and well-protected is the least we must do.”
 
             The grants awarded today came from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program, which provides extra resources to local fire districts to hire and train additional front-line personnel.  Biggert also discussed with local fire officials the importance of the DHS’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, which provides local districts with funds for critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other needs.  On March 19th, Biggert sent a letter to House Appropriators in support of additional funding for both SAFER and AFG. 
 
             “The Lemont Fire District has received a SAFER grant to hire 3 new firefighters,” said Chief Churulo.  ” This is a great help to any fire department that is awarded a grant.  All too often we have to go to our residents to seek tax hikes and this is a tremendous help in supplementing our budgets and tax dollars with.”
 
             “This gets us that much closer in having a safer number of firefighters ready to respond to our residents needs with when they call for help,” continued Churulo.  “Congresswoman Biggert has always been a friend to the Fire Service and we could not be happier with the help we get from her and her staff.”
 
             With Biggert’s support, Congress has provided the AFG program with $4.2 billion since 2001.  However, funding last year dropped to $560 million, far less than the $750 million it received in fiscal years 2003 and 2004.  SAFER was funded at a historic level of $190 million last year, but the administration has proposed zero funding for the program in fiscal year 2009.
 
             “We cannot short-change our first-responders,” said Biggert.  “People with the courage to risk their lives to protect others should have the best equipment available to meet whatever challenges they face. Our firefighters should have no less.”

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