After attempting to attach an amendment that would claw back unobligated American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, the U.S. Senate passed a , the Fire Grants and Safety Act, without any amendments on Thursday. There is not yet a House companion, but the legislation is likely to be considered. Due to a sunset in the current law, these programs are scheduled for termination on September 30, 2024. The bill would:
- Authorize $95 million for the U.S. Fire Administration from Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 through FY 2030.
- Extends the sunset date for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs, and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to September 30, 2032.
The AFG and SAFER grant programs provide federal matching grants to local fire departments for critical training, equipment, and staffing. Local governments use these essential federal resources to:
- Build firefighter staffing capacity.
- Equip firefighters with portable radios, personal protective equipment, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs).
- Support firefighter training for responding to fires (including wildland fires), train derailments, and hazmat spills.
We will continue to monitor progress on this bill and report accordingly.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.