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President’s Jobs Legislation with SAFER Funding Fails in the Senate

Published Date: 10.25.2011

House not expected to take up ‘American Jobs Act’

This month, two separate attempts to cut off debate and vote on different versions of legislation proposed by President Barack Obama that would have provided $1 billion in funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program failed to obtain the 60 votes necessary for passage in the U.S. Senate. SAFER grants are made directly to fire departments to help with hiring and re-hiring of career firefighters and recruitment and retention of volunteers.

The first vote, on October 11, failed 50-49 and would have allowed the Senate to vote on the full $447 billion legislation proposed by the President, including $1 billion in funds for the SAFER grant program. The second vote, on October 19, failed 50-50 and would have allowed the Senate to vote on a $34.99 billion package that included the SAFER funding as well as grants for hiring/re-hiring teachers and police officers.

The result of the Senate votes makes it almost certain that the additional $1 billion the President proposed for SAFER will not be provided by Congress. Even if the Senate had voted to pass the legislation it was unlikely to be passed by the House, which Republicans control and leadership has indicated that they have no plans to bring the President’s jobs proposal up for consideration.

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