News

President’s FY 2012 Budget Request Cuts Funding for AFG, U.S. Fire Administration

Published Date: 02.23.2011

The same week that the House voted to restore FY 2011 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, President Obama issued his budget request for FY 2012. The treatment of programs providing assistance to the fire service was mixed as the President asked for $420 million for SAFER, an increase of $105 million over the FY 2011 budget request, but only $250 million for AFG. The President’s budget would also reduce funding to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) by approximately $3 million, from $45.5 million to $42.5 million.

“I am extremely disappointed in the President’s budget request,” said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “Two years ago, President Obama asked Congress to slash AFG by nearly $400 million. Congress eventually restored all but $175 million, but that still constituted the largest single funding cut that AFG has sustained since the program was created. The President’s budget request has consequences, and the volunteer fire service needs to let him know that we do not appreciate his continued assault on the AFG program.”

On February 15 the NVFC issued an Action Alert through Cap Wiz calling on our members to contact the President to express their disappointment in his budget request for AFG.

“The budget request is just the first step in the appropriations process each year,” said Stittleburg. “The NVFC will work closely with our allies on the Hill and other like-minded organizations to obtain adequate funding for AFG, SAFER, USFA, and other critical programs.”

The NVFC will continue to keep you informed as developments transpire regarding FY 2012 appropriations. We’ll also let you know when critical votes are taking place and post alerts using Cap Wiz to make it easy for you to contact your elected officials and ask them to support the volunteer emergency services.

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