Assistance to Firefighters Program

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

The Assistance to Firefighters Program, also known as the FIRE Act grant program, was established by Title XVII of the FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 106-398). Currently administered by the Office for State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (OSLGCP) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the program provides federal grants directly to local fire departments and unaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations to help address a variety of equipment, training, and other firefighter-related and EMS needs.

The FY2005 Homeland Security Appropriations bill (P.L. 108-334) provided $650 million for fire grants and an additional $65 million for the "SAFER Act" which establishes a federal grant program to provide funding to fire departments for hiring personnel. Meanwhile, Congress approved the reauthorization of the fire grant program as part of the FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act (Title XXXVI of P.L. 108375). The Administration's FY2006 budget proposal requests $500 million for fire grants in FY2006, a cut of 23% from the FY2005 appropriated level. No funding is requested for SAFER grants in FY2006. On May 17, 2005 the House passed H.R. 2360, the FY2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The House appropriation is $650 million for firefighter assistance, including $575 million for fire grants and $75 million for SAFER Act grants. An ongoing issue likely to receive attention during the 109th Congress is the focus of the fire grant program. This report will be updated as events warrant.