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House Panel Approves Obama SAFER Funding Proposal
June 9, 2009 – The U.S. House of Representatives has taken
the first step toward increasing funding for Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response (SAFER) grants in 2010 by providing $420 million for the
program in a draft appropriations bill. The bill, the Homeland Security
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, was approved by the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
SAFER was funded at $210 million last year, and President Obama’s budget
proposed doubling funding for the program. After discussing the importance of
the program with IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, Appropriations
Subcommittee Chairman David Price (D-NC) included the full $420 million in his
draft bill, and convinced the rest of the subcommittee members to support the
increase.
“In these tough economic times, this investment in SAFER will help assure that
communities nationwide have the resources they need to create and save
good-paying fire fighter jobs, as well as better protect the public safety,”
says Schaitberger. “This legislation further cements the promise President Obama
made to our membership – that we would have the resources we need to do our
jobs.”
The funding is especially significant in light of separate legislation that
would expand the use of SAFER grants. Language contained in a supplemental
appropriation bill, expected to be signed into law in the near future, would
allow fire departments to use SAFER funds to rehire fire fighters who were laid
off and restore cuts made to staffing as a result of the financial crisis, in
addition to providing grants to grow fire departments.
The draft bill also provides significant funding for other IAFF priorities,
including $887 million for Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants, $50
million for Interoperable Communications grants and $380 million for the
Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grant program.
The funding provided for FIRE Act grants, although less than was appropriated
for 2009, is more than double what was included in the administration’s budget
request.
The Homeland Security Appropriations Act is expected to be considered by the
full House in the near future.
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