LON SLEPICKA and HEATHER CASEY
Firehouse.Com News
President George W. Bush is calling for discontinued funding of the
Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act and abolishing
FEMA’s Project Impact in an early outline of his 2002 federal budget
proposal.
The White House sent to Congress today, "A Blueprint For New Beginnings,"
which on a basic level describes his vision of the federal spending in
FY2002.
The accompanying message says, "With a great sense of purpose, I present to
the Congress my budget. It offers more than a plan for funding the
Government for the next year; it offers a new vision for governing the
Nation for a new generation."
The plan, which is also called, "A Responsible Budget for America's
Priorities," describes under the section for Federal Emergency Management
Agency:
- Fire Grant Program: An additional $100 million in savings are achieved by
the non-renewal of a new fire grant program, which was authorized for only
two years and which does not represent an appropriate responsibility of the
Federal Government.
-
Project Impact: $25 million in savings are achieved by canceling the Project
Impact disaster preparedness campaign, which has not proven effective.
Since its inception in 1997, nearly 250 communities and 2,500 business
partners have embraced Project Impact. Instead of waiting for disasters to
occur, Project Impact communities initiate mentoring relationships, private
and public partnerships, public outreach and disaster mitigation projects to
reduce damage from potentially devastating disasters.
The FIRE Act
The FIRE Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.
(D-N.J), and co sponsored by Curt Weldon (R-PA). Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT.)
and Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH.) introduced Pascrell's bill in the Senate.
FIRE Act is the first comprehensive national legislation dedicated to
provide direct grants to America's 32,000 volunteer, paid and combination
fire departments. The initiative, administered by FEMA received an $100
million appropriation for fiscal year 2001, and $300 million was authorized
for fiscal year 2002.
The statement in the President’s budget does not bother the current $100
million, which FEMA is presently getting ready to distribute through a grant
program. The document refers to savings of $100 million in 2002, but that
money, which is actually $300 million in the authorization, has not been
appropriated by Congress and does not represent a budget savings.
In a press release, Congressman Pascrell lambasted the President proposed
fiscal year 2002 budget, saying that its massive cuts to public safety
programs are totally unacceptable.
"The President is calling his budget 'a Blueprint for New Beginnings,' but I
call it 'a Recipe for Disaster,'" stated Pascrell.
"President Bush is going to have a fight on his hands. We fought like hell
to get the FIRE program established and funded and he is going to have to
answer to the hundreds of thousands of firefighters across the nation for
his decision to kill this most worthy program. If the President thinks we
are going to take this laying down, he has never been more wrong," Pascrell
said. "The FIRE Act had overwhelming bipartisan support and many members of
his own party are going to have a big problem with this."
Press secretary Rosanne DuPras of Senator DeWine’s office said they had yet
to completely study the budget proposal and would have no comment at this
time.
Senator Chris Dodd said in a statement from his office, "I’m extremely
disappointed with the President’s decision to cut funding for our nation’s
firefighters. But more than that, I’m angry that the Administration
referred to this initiative as "unneeded." That’s wrong and a slap in the
face of every single firefighter who day in and day out risks their lives to
protect others. I intend to fight this move tooth and nail."
Congressman Weldon today also came out energetically supporting the FIRE Act
. "This is a misguided decision to not fund the grants program for out
nation’s firefighters. I will work with our allies in Congress to restore
funding while we educate the administration as to the importance of the
program. I feel this program is worthy of the federal government’s attention
and deserves funding."
Among the industry representatives, the IAFF said, "The International
Association of Fire Fighters is condemning a provision of President George
W. Bush's FY 2002 budget proposal that would eliminate funding for an
innovative fire service program passed with bipartisan support just last
year."
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger stated, "It is particularly
insulting that one day after he highlighted the administration's support for
additional funding for law enforcement, the President is taking an action
that cuts at the heart of the fire service, even before one single penny of
this year's appropriation is distributed to local fire departments."
Craig Sharman, National Volunteer Fire Council Government Affairs
Representative, said "every member of the fire service needs to be active
in the coming months to assure that this crucial program is not eliminated."
Project Impact
FEMA officials learned of the proposal to cut Project Impact from the White
House’s web site.
Spokeswoman Mary Margaret Walker said she doesn’t know why the project is up
for cancellation, or whether FEMA officials were involved in the decision
process.
"We have a new administration here -- the director has been in for about a
week. Basically we don’t know," she said.
Ross Fredenburg, PIO for FEMA’s Region III office, said he wasn’t completely
surprised to learn of the proposed cut. "With any new administration there’s
new philosophy," he said. Region III includes the District of Columbia,
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
"The president’s budget does not recommend any funding for [Project Impact]
in October and the language says that the project has not proven to be
cost-effective," Fredenburg. "It’s hard to put a cost-effectiveness on
Project Impact because the whole purpose is to prevent future damage."
Fredenburg said FEMA is continuing to work with communities involved in
Project Impact through 2001. Then, "If it ends up being zero’d out, that’ll
be what happens," he said.
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