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SAFER Grants To Be Used to Rehire, Prevent RIFs
May 22, 2009 – Congress is expected to give final approval in early June
to an IAFF proposal that would allow the use of federal funding to rehire laid
off fire fighters and prevent fire department staffing reductions. The Senate
has approved its version of a special Supplemental Appropriation containing
language that allows the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
to waive the current rules for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response
(SAFER) grants that have prevented using the money to save the jobs of IAFF
members.
The Senate action virtually assures that the provision will become law, since
the House of Representatives had previously approved similar language in its
version of the Supplemental Appropriation that funds the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The final step is for the House and Senate to reconcile the few
differences between their competing versions of the Supplemental Appropriation.
Final passage is expected shortly after Congress returns from a week-long
Memorial Day recess. President Obama has pledged to promptly sign the bill into
law.
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger met with DHS Secretary Janet
Napolitano to discuss how the new flexibility will be used to protect fire
fighter jobs. Napolitano agreed to postpone the application process for SAFER
grants until the new waiver authority is in place. This move will assure that
the $210 million that Congress appropriated for SAFER can be used to address the
current wave of staffing cuts.
"I applaud the House and Senate for passing this critical legislation, and look
forward to working with DHS Secretary Napolitano to implement the new rules,"
says Schaitberger.
Under the law as it's currently written, communities could only receive a SAFER
grant if they planned to increase their fire department staffing levels. Fire
fighters hired with SAFER grants would have to be retained for at least five
years, and the fire department could not reduce staffing levels during this
period. Moreover, each grant is capped at $100,000 for the five years, far below
the salary of most entry level fire fighters.
These restrictions have combined to prohibit fire departments from using SAFER
grants to prevent layoffs, and have discouraged fire departments from applying
for SAFER grants during the current economic downturn.
Once the IAFF’s proposed language is signed into law, each of these restrictions
can be waived.
Related stories:
Funding to Protect Fire
Fighter Jobs Moves Forward
Obama Calls for Doubling
Funding for SAFER
Congressional Panel
Approves Use of SAFER Grants for Rehire, Retention
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