The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870). It will now move on to the U.S. Senate for final passage.
This bill prevents the termination of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG; commonly known as the “FIRE Grant”) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs. It also authorizes congressional funding for future analytical programs at the U.S. Fire Administration.
Specifically, the bill’s sponsors seek:
- The authorization of $750 million in funding for the AFG and SAFER grant programs from FY 2024 through FY 2028.
- A delay of the sunset date for both programs to September 30, 2030.
- The authorization of $95 million in federal funding for the USFA, specifically to aid in the development of the National Emergency Response Information System; to develop EMS programs at USFA; and to fund an effort to examine the cause of major fires and report on best practices to prevent them in the future.
S. 870 also includes provisions to promote the development of nuclear energy in the United States.
The Senate must now consider and pass S. 870. The bill passed the full Senate on April 20, 2023, but was then amended in the House. So, it needs to be passed again in the Senate. The IAFC looks forward to working with our supporters in the Senate to ensure final passage of this important legislation.
