Community Corner
Your Legislators: House OKs Amendment to Restore Funds to Programs that Back Local Fire Departments
Rep. Bill Pascrell sponsors amendment.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment Wednesday to a bill that ensures more than $600 million for programs that provide grants to local fire departments.
The amendment restores funding to the Assistance to Firefighters (AF) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs for the 2012 fiscal year.
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8) co-sponsored the amendment. The House voted 333-87 in favor of it. The amendment received support from both Democrats and Republicans.
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AFG provides grants to fire departments to purchase equipment and vehicles, train members, promote fire safety awareness, and fund fire-safety related research.
SAFER money is used to retain and rehire firefighters.
Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We all understand the financial realities that this county faces. But we cannot afford to sacrifice our county’s security at the altar of spending cuts,” Pascrell said in a statement. “I’m prepared to work across the aisle to find common solutions that bring down our debt in a fair and balanced way.”
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