ICHIEFS News Release

Fairfax, VA -- The Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2003 Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Independent Agencies appropriations bill, clearing the way for consideration by the full Senate. The Committee has included the entire amount authorized-$900 million-for the Assistance to Firefighters grant program, commonly referred to as the FIRE Act.

Grant E-Mail Updates Sign up now for e-mail instant updates of FEMA and other grant information Enter Your E-Mail Address 2002 Grant Success Stories Map: Grants by State List: 2002 Success Stories Submit: Grant Awardee Press Releases or Article Links Forums: Discuss the Program Recent 2002 Grants News 517 Depts. Awarded $31M in Round 5 $23M for Nearly 360 Depts. Elation for Round 3 Winners, Bad News for Some The List: Round 3 Winners USFA to Begin Turndown Notifications President Signs Bill Adding $150M To FIRE Act USFA: Grant Award Process Q&A IAFC: Senate Committee OKs $900M for 2003 Fire Act Press Release: Firefighters Get Massive Funding Boost Extra $150 Million For 2002 Grants Possible Nearly 300 Departments Awarded $22M Departments Share Elation on First Round of Grant Announcements FEMA Announces First 72 Fire Grant Awards Grant Awards Become A Waiting Game Grants: More Depts Request Less Money Full Coverage: FIRE Act In-Depth >>> All Related Stories & Resources More Online Resources Firehouse.com's FIRE Act Section USFA Grants Page ICHIEFS IAFF National Volunteer Fire Council

The bill will now be considered by the full Senate. The House is expected to act upon this appropriations bill when it returns from summer recess. Once it does, the two chambers will meet to iron out any discrepancies between the House and Senate versions. Then a final vote by both chambers will approve the conference committee's report and send the bill to the president for his signature.

Needless to say, we still have a long way to go to get final approval. The IAFC is encouraging the House to fund the FIRE Act at the same level that the Senate has.

It is very important to note not only that the Senate action to date fully funds the FIRE Act, but also that the program has remained a separate grant program. It has not been rolled into a larger "first responder" grant program as some in the administration proposed. This is a crucial point that the IAFC and the other major fire service organizations have been working on and will continue to do so.

Including the funding for the FIRE Act, the VA/HUD bill provides $1.5 billion for first responders, including:

• $900 million for the FIRE Act grant program
• $180 million for interoperable communications equipment
• $180 million for state and local emergency operations centers
• $75 million for search and rescue teams
• $75 million for state and local emergency planning grants
• $60 million for emergency responder training
• $15 million for community emergency response teams
• $15 million for state and local mutual aid agreements.

For additional information, please contact the Government Relations Department of the International Association of Fire Chiefs at 703-273-0911.