NVFC Asks Congress to Provide Adequate Funding for AFG and SAFER Grant Programs
March 26, 2012
Also asks for level funding for U.S. Fire Administration
On March 9 the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joined with other national fire service organizations to ask House and Senate appropriators to provide $405 million each for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. Both programs provide direct funding in the form of matching grants to local fire departments to purchase equipment, apparatus, and training (AFG) and to hire/re-hire career firefighters and recruit/retain volunteer firefighters (SAFER).
AFG and SAFER received $405 million, respectively, in FY 2011 but Congress cut the funding level for each program to $337.5 million in FY 2012 appropriations legislation. The President requested an additional cut to $335 million each for AFG and SAFER in his FY 2013 budget proposal.
The letter also requests $44.038 million for the U.S. Fire Administration, the same level of funding provided in FY 2012. The President’s budget request reduces funding for USFA to $42.5 million.
