This bill was the first comprehensive legislation dedicated to meet the special needs of America's 32,000 volunteer, paid and part-paid fire departments. Grants would be awarded directly to local fire departments best able to identify their needs to be used to hire new personnel, initiate education and training programs, or to purchase new equipment.
Firefighters are our nation's 'first responders' and very often they are the last to leave.
Yet, until passage of the FIRE Act, the federal government has shown very little commitment to them and to the communities they serve. I invite you to stay in contact with me as we move forward and work toward establishing the grant program.