REP. ANDREWS CHALLENGES FIREFIGHTERS FUNDING CUTS

America’s firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and property from the devastation of fire, terrorism, and natural disaster.  We owe these dedicated men and women the tools necessary to perform their duty safely.  The Administration’s proposed budget, however, shortchanges our first responders and will deprive them of the life saving tools necessary to protect themselves and the public.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, enacted in 2001, funnels federal funds directly to our fire departments in greatest need.  This grant program eliminates most of the red tape our firefighters struggle with in order to obtain vital equipment such as air packs, protective clothing, and pumper trucks. The President’s proposed budget cuts this program by $252 million; this is the third year in a row it has been cut by at least $100 million.  Furthermore, this budget completely cuts funding for the SAFER program. Modeled after the successful COPS program, which put over one-hundred thousand additional police officers on our streets, the SAFER program has put countless more firefighters in our stations. SAFER is being threatened with the same fate as COPS, elimination through a lack of funding.

I have joined with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and my fellow Fire Caucus Co-Chairs and have written President Bush, the Budget Committee Chair, and the Appropriations Committee Chair asking that funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program be increased to a respectable level of $750 million, and to allocate $500 million to the SAFER program.  It is unconscionable that our first responders be left without the tools necessary to do their noble work.  I will work tirelessly to make sure that these valuable programs are not undercut and that our firefighters are given the equipment they rightfully deserve. 

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