The U.S. Senate currently is considering critical legislation to reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program (also known as the “FIRE Grant program”); the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program; and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The AFG and SAFER grant programs are scheduled to be terminated on September 30, 2024.
The Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 4882) would:
- Authorize $95 million for the USFA from Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 through FY 2030. This is an almost $20 million increase to authorized funding for USFA.
- Extend the termination date for the FIRE and SAFER grant programs to September 30, 2032.
- Extend the authorization for the AFG and SAFER programs until FY 2030.
The 117th Congress will end on December 31, so there is a limited time to pass this bill. It currently is being held up in the Senate.
The IAFC asks that its members contact their U.S. Representatives and Senators and ask them to pass S. 4882 this year! You can easily contact your representative and both Senators through the IAFC’s Legislative Action Center.
IAFC’s Legislative Action Center