International Association of Fire Chiefs

President Obama Proposes FY 2016 Budget

On February 2, President Obama released his fiscal year 2016 budget. The $4.066 trillion request must now be considered by Congress.

Here is how the budget request affects fire and emergency service programs:

Homeland Security Funding

In Millions ($)
Program FY 2014 FY 2015
(President’s
Request)
FY 2015
(H.R. 240)
Passed House
FY 2016
(President’s
Request)
USFA  44.00 41.40 44.000 41.582
FIRE  340.00 335.00 340.000 335.000
SAFER  340.00 335.00 340.000 335.000
SHSGP  466.30 *      467.000 *     
UASI  600.00 *      600.000 *     
DHS Office of Health Affairs  126.76 125.80 129.358 124.069
Urban Search and Rescue  35.18 27.50 35.180 27.513

The FY 2015 and FY 2016 budget requests proposed consolidating FEMA’s homeland-security preparedness grants into the National Preparedness Grant program.

The IAFC opposes this consolidation, because it would put control of the grants into the states’ hands without adequate local-government input.

In addition, the FY 2016 budget also recommends language authorizing the extension of the waivers to the requirements for the SAFER Grant program for another year.

Wildland Fire Suppression Funding

In Millions ($)
Program FY 2014 FY 2015
(President’s
Request)
PL 113-235 FY 2016
(President’s
Request)
DOI Wildland Fire 740.98 793.96 804.77 805.50
DOI FLAME 92.00 92.00 92.00 0.00
USDA Wildland Fire 2,162.00 2,265.00 2,333.00 2,354.00
USDA FLAME 315.00 315.00 303.06 0.00
Volunteer Fire Assistance 13.03 13.00 13.00 13.00
State Fire Assistance 78.00 78.00 78.00 78.01

The USDA Wildland Fire Management Account contains a request for $65 million for the acquisition of next-generation aircraft. The FY 2016 budget request also proposes funding 70% of the 10-year average wildland fire suppression costs within the discretionary cap. The remaining 30% would be funded through a budget cap adjustment to the Disaster Relief Fund.

The budget request also proposes eliminating the FLAME Account in order to fully fund wildland-fire operations within the discretionary budget cap and budget-cap adjustments.

Hazardous Materials Response Funding

In Millions ($)
Program FY 2014 FY 2015
(President’s
Request)
PL 113-235 FY 2016
(President’s
Request)
PHMSA Operational 21.6 22.2 22.2 21.0
Hazmat Safety 45.0 46.0 52.0 64.0
Pipeline Safety 119.0 158.0 146.0 156.0
Hazmat Emergency
Preparedness
Grant Program
28.0 28.0 28.0 28.0

The IAFC will support statutory changes to the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant program to allow for web-based training for hazmat response in addition to in-person training.

The IAFC will fight to protect funding for vital programs, such as the U.S. Fire Administration and the FIRE and SAFER Grant programs.

We urge you to attend the 27th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 16 and to use that opportunity to meet with your elected senators and representatives to educate them about the importance of these programs.

Ken LaSala is the IAFC's director of government relations and policy.

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