Schumer: Upstate NY Fire Departments 2nd Hardest Hit By Budget Proposal Which Underfunds Fire Grant Program By $707 Million

New York fire departments could lose out on $31 million for equipment, training, and vehicles under a new federal budget proposal, US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today. Schumer unveiled his plan to restore full funding for Assistance to Firefighters Grant program (also known as FIRE grants) that has provided fire departments throughout New York $102 million since it began in 2001 but is now slated for severe cuts.

New Yorks firefighters risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe and sound, Schumer said. We must do everything we can to give them the tools they need to protect us and keep our communities safe. New York fire departments facing huge budget gaps have been able to use this program to pay for fire trucks, train their staff, and fill their equipment needs. We need to restore funding to this program and I'm going to fight to make sure we do just that.

At Schumer's urging, fire departments across New York have taken advantage of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, and used funds for hiring additional firefighting personnel; specialized emergency response training; the creation of wellness and fitness programs for firefighters; equipment and facility upgrades; new fire trucks; and fire prevention programs. These grants are distributed through the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Domestic Preparedness and are a main component of the federal governments efforts to aid local first responders.

Because of its dramatic success in improving fire safety, Congress has raised the amount of money authorized for the program from $100 million for FY2001 to $950 million in FY 2006 and $1 billion in FY 2007. The program has been consistently underfunded, getting $542 million in FY 2006. This is the third year in a row that the Administration has proposed cutting the program. Last year the Administration proposed cutting to $500 million from $650 million in FY 2005. Congress restored funding to $542 million, but this still fell short of the $950 million authorized for the program in FY2006. For FY2007, Congress has authorized $1 billion for the program, $707 million more than the $293 million included in the Administrations budget proposal. The Administrations proposal for $293 million is 46% less than last years appropriation of $542 million. Schumer said that if the federal government fails to fully fund the authorization, the impact of local budget crunches on fire departments in New York will be exacerbated dramatically next year. His budget analysis revealed that the proposed budget could impact fire departments in the state at the following levels:

" Capital Region fire departments could lose out on approximately $3.9 million;
" Central New York fire departments could lose out on approximately $3 million;
" Rochester/Finger Lakes fire departments could lose out on approximately $3.8 million;
" Hudson Valley fire departments could lose out on approximately $4.8 million;
" North Country fire departments could lose out on approximately $4.6 million;
" Southern Tier fire departments could lose out on approximately $4.4 million;
" Western New York fire departments could lose out on approximately $6.3 million.

In response, Schumer today said that he would join with Senate colleagues later this year to support an amendment to the budget that would restore the entire $1 billion to the FIRE grants program. Schumer urged the Congress and the White House to adopt this increase by sending the full $1 billion promised to fire departments by Congress and including approximately $31 million more to upstate New York than is in the current proposal. In fact, Senator Schumer and some of his colleagues are sending a letter to the Appropriations Committee asking for full funding of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant program.

Schumer is also launching a grassroots campaign, sending petitions to every fire department in the state, asking firefighters to join his call to restore funding. Schumer today said since this is a program that puts lifesaving equipment in the hands of firstresponders, mobilizing firefighters across the state could be an effective way to show how critical these grants are to localities that need them.

Its important that Members of Congress hear directly from the men and women on the front lines, Schumer said. I hope every firefighter in the state signs this petition. We funded this bill because it can cost over $4,000 just to outfit a firefighter and up to $500,000 for a modern fire truck. People in small towns and big towns deserve the most modern firefighting equipment.

Schumer helped create the original Grants to Firefighters Program, cosponsoring legislation in 2001 that led to its establishment. This program was passed with bipartisan support including Senator Chris Dodd (DCT,) Senator John McCain (RAZ,) Senator Susan Collins (RME,) and many others. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program was established to provide funding to career and volunteer fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services providers to help with the rising costs of equipment, vehicles and training. However, soon after the programs establishment, Schumer played a central role in preventing the Bush Administration from eliminating funding for the program from the 2001 budget. Schumer also cosponsored the 2004 reauthorization, which set full funding levels for the program at $1 billion in FY 2007.

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