News

Legislative Victory! House Votes to Restore AFG/SAFER Funding to FY 2010 Levels

Published Date: 02.23.2011

On February 16 the House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) to fiscal year (FY) 2011 appropriations legislation (H.R. 1) restoring funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs to their FY 2010 levels of $390 million and $420 million, respectively. H.R. 1 as introduced provided only $300 million for AFG and no funding for SAFER.

“I’d like to thank Congressman Pascrell and those members of the House who voted for his amendment for their support of AFG and SAFER,” said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “These programs are by far the most significant sources of federal assistance to the volunteer fire service. With fire department budgets across the country being strained by the current economic conditions, the proposed cuts to AFG and SAFER could not have come at a worse time.”

On February 15 the NVFC issued an Action Alert through Cap Wiz calling on our members to contact their Representatives and Senators to ask them to provide a combined $810 million for AFG and SAFER in FY 2011. The NVFC, along with a number of other fire service organizations, sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators last week making the same request.

H.R. 1 passed the full House of Representatives on February 19 and now goes to the Senate, which is expected to act on FY 2011 appropriations legislation in the near future. The federal government is currently operating under the terms of a continuing resolution that expires on March 3.

Media

Search