Harry Carter Commentary Another Meatless Bone for the Red-headed Stepchild The Fire Service - America's Red Carpet Major Fire Service Bills Weldon Amendment to HR3908 HR 1168 S 1941 Online Resources NVFC: About the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act Bill Overview How to Contact Congress Open Letter to President Congressional E-Mail Directory Congressional Fire Services Institute House of Representatives Online Senate Online White House Web Site Discuss the FIRE Bill Firehouse.Com Forums Also See Roll Call Results on Weldon's HR 3908 Amendment Release: Weldon Wins Approval of $100 Million for Firefighters Federal Funding Urged For Fire Service FEMA Asks Congress For $3.6 Billion 2001 Budget Firehouse.Com Poll

The $13 billion emergency spending package was approved as a whole by the House later Thursday. From there, it will be up to the Senate to determine if its upheld or changed and forwarded on to the President.

"This is an historic victory for the American fire service," said Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), a former volunteer fire chief who founded and Co-Chairs the Congressional Fire Service Caucus. "Day in and day out, first responders put their lives on the line to protect our families and communities. At last, Congress has stood up for the 1.2 million fire and emergency services personnel across the nation -- most of whom are volunteers -- and provided them with the support and resources they need to do their jobs."

Conservatives in the Senate may be against the Supplemental Appropriations bill overall. But Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute stressed "the problem [in the Senate] is not with [the fire service] amendment ... A lot of it will be out of our control ..."We're getting closer to putting money into the fire service."

The Appropriations Committee plans to write a roughly $6 billion version of the House bill next week, despite long-running opposition by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss

"It's a problem in terms of the schedule" of the Senate, "and it's way out of control in terms of cost," Lott told the Associated Press Thursday, referring to the Supplemental Appropriations in general, not the emergency services amendment specifically.

But Lott is under growing pressure to reverse himself and the effort is supported by President Clinton, strong majorities of both parties in the House and many senators.

Webb added that if the bill does not pass the Senate, the strategy to obtain the funding will likely switch to getting it included in the FY2001 general budget, as well as moving forward strongly toward adoption of the FIRE Bill itself.

In addition to the fire and rescue service amendment, the legislation provides money for popular causes like American soldiers and drug-fighting overseas and road-building, natural disaster recovery and farmers at home.

Advocates for the fire and rescue service all hailed the funding as a good first step in the movement to increase overall federal support for fire services and programs.

"It is the first time the federal government has ever dedicated funds specifically to help Fire Departments purchase fire equipment, said Hoyer, Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. "While being on the forefront of helping law enforcement purchase new technologies, the Congress has never passed such an historic program with respect to the fire services."

"All over America, firefighters are putting their lives on the line with only outdated equipment standing between them and deadly fires," he said. "Nationally, we lose about 100 firefighters every year and while this funding won't erase the hazards they face, it will help to cut down on the needless injuries and fatalities."

"While this amendment does not go nearly far enough, it is certainly a beginning; a recognition that the days of ignoring our 'first responders' and our overburdened local taxpayers is over. We are making great progress in ending the days of our more than 32,000 fire departments being the 'forgotten part of the public safety equation,'" stated Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ). "Now we need to take the further step and pass a comprehensive grant program as I have proposed in my FIRE Bill, which an overwhelming majority of the House supports."

"Our longtime work to give firefighters and EMS personnel their rightful place took a giant step forward with this amendment," said Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ). "I am proud to work for the men and women who are America's first line of defense."

"This amendment recognizes that our Nation is well served by the 1.2 million men and women who work in the fire and emergency services -- 80 percent of whom serve as volunteers," Congressman Nick Smith (R-MI) said.

"I'm proud that by adopting this amendment, the House has demonstrated its firm commitment to these emergency first-responders who literally put their lives on the line each day."

Members of the Congressional Fire Caucus have long been advocating for an increase in federal funding for fire services. Caucus members point out that the federal government annually spends about $11 billion a year on law enforcement programs, but only about $50 million for fire services.

So while this funding is a major victory, they feel it is important to point out that this funding discrepancy still exists and they will continue to call for more federal investments in our nation's firefighters.

Wildfire Teams, Burn Programs and Fire Departments To Be Funded

The $100 million is designated for the following three areas of fire services:

• Volunteer Fire Assistance Program: $10 Million
  This funding will be utilized mainly by volunteer fire departments that are routinely involved in fighting forest fires. Due to lack of resources, many volunteer firefighters are forced to combat wildfires without the specialized equipment needed for these kinds of fires. With this funding, volunteer fire departments will be able to purchase new equipment and get proper training.
• Burn Prevention and Treatment Programs: $10 Million
  A competitive grant program will be set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to administer this funding. The grants will be awarded in three different categories of programs; burn prevention, research for the treatment of burns and after care for burn victims.
• Fire Departments: $80 Million
  This funding will also be distributed in the form of grants administered by FEMA, but this funding will go directly to Fire/Rescue Departments in the form of competitive grants (to be matched by state and local resources).

  The funding can be is for the following uses:

  • Turnout gear
  • Breathing apparatus
  • Communications equipment
  • Wellness and fitness programs
  • Computer and technology improvements for record keeping and training purposes
  • Training in fire-fighting, emergency response and arson prevention
  • Improving the enforcement of fire codes
  • Modifying fire stations and fire training facilities to protect the health and safety of the firefighter personnel.

Amendment Supported by All Sides

The International Associated of Fire Fighters commended Weldon, Hoyer, and the other members of Congress who worked to pass the amendment.

Last week, nearly 800 IAFF members from every state visited their representatives on Capitol Hill, urging support of the FIRE Bill. They were in Washington attending the IAFF's 18th annual Legislative Conference.

Among the representatives were two from Worcester, Mass., a department which lost six of its own in a December warehouse fire. The blaze was the largest single loss of firefighters in a structure fire in over 20 years.

Local 1009 President Frank Raffa and Worcester firefighter Donald Courtney visited with dozens of Hill leaders personally, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

"The IAFF views this $100 million amendment included in the House's supplemental appropriations bill as the initial installment of long overdue federal funding for the fire service and it doesn't negate the need to pass the FIRE Bill," spokesman George Burke said. "Our focus now turns to the Senate."

"This is a major victory for the fire service and demonstrates that the federal government does have a role in supporting firefighters and EMS personnel in this country," said National Volunteer Fire Council Chairman Fred G. Allinson. "However, it is only the first step toward our final goal which is passage of the FIRE Bill."

"This would not have been possible without the overwhelming support the FIRE Bill has received throughout in Congress and throughout the country, Allinson added. "With continued grassroots action by the fire service and leadership by our friends in Congress, the FIRE Bill will soon be a reality."

Down Payment

"The amendment offered today is but a down payment on a much larger obligation we have to our firefighters and to our communities. It would not have happened without the FIRE Bill, and the overwhelming bipartisan support it has received from across the country," said Congressman Pascrell.

"Without our push, this first step would not have occurred, pure and simple, and I am very proud of that."